Facility will ship products to Columbia stores nationwide UPS and Columbia Sportswear leaders “untied the laces” on a giant pair of Columbia hiking boots Aug. 5 to formally open a new distribution center in Louisville dedicated to the popular outdoor apparel, footwear and equipment retailer. SCS employees at the facility ship clothing and other products to nearly 140 Columbia retail stores across the country.
“UPS and Columbia began discussion early last year on ways UPS could support the tremendous growth Columbia was experiencing. UPS designed a solution that would improve delivery times and expand capacity in the Columbia network,” Jason Vaughn, SCS vice president of operations said.
Columbia has been a UPS small package customer since 1980. Until now the company has handled all of its U.S. distribution in house. But with volume growing, the retailer turned to UPS for help with its supply chain.
“We’re really excited. What it means for Columbia is the continuation of a partnership already in place with UPS, but now we move to a new capability with pick, pack and fulfillment,” Columbia Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Operations Lisa Kulok said.
With the distribution center’s central location in Louisville, Ground shipments now reach more than 50 percent of Columbia’s stores in two days or less, and all stores within four days, reducing the time it takes to replenish products on the shelves and improving the experience for Columbia’s customers.
The new facility came online quickly – the first outbound shipment took place just four months after the contract was in place. And with a phased implementation, the DC will be ready for a high volume of shipments in time for peak season.
The Columbia facility is the 13th SCS distribution center in Louisville, which is now home to more than five million square feet of warehouse space dedicated to the retail, healthcare and high-tech industries.
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