5/11/2009

PAUL SMITH EXPANDS RELATIONSHIP WITH GEODIS CALBERSON

Logistics solutions provider to extend bespoke distribution service to all stores across France

Top British fashion house Paul Smith has extended its relationship with international logistics solutions provider Geodis Calberson to expand its distribution service to all of its stores across France.

The new expanded distribution arrangement has resulted from the success of Geodis Calberson’s Top delivery service, over 24 and 48 hours, into Paul Smith’s stores in France.

Pat Wass Logistics Manager at Paul Smith commented: “Based on the success of the Top 24/48 delivery service, Paul Smith will plan to expand this service to all of the stores across France.”

Paul Smith uses Geodis Calberson, the UK subsidiary of French Parent Geodis, to deliver its high value clothes and accessories – from bags and belts to perfumes – securely on time and undamaged to highly demanding customers across France.

Geodis Calberson, which delivers integrated supply chain solutions across 120 countries in all five continents, has developed a comprehensive set of bespoke solutions in partnership with Paul Smith to meet the company’s unique requirements.

The company provides a host of bespoke service features to Paul Smith that means that all shipments are highly secure, visible and delivered when needed.

Via its ‘Top’ service, Geodis Calberson delivers goods door-to-door with daily departures and 48-hour transit times across Europe. The reliability of the Top product, through which Geodis Calberson handles 100 shipments per week for the fashion house, enables Paul Smith to coordinate deliveries at its stores and boutiques across France.

The high level of security provided by Geodis Calberson means that Paul Smith can be confident its high value goods will reach their destination safely. Geodis Calberson is vastly experienced in providing services to clients with specialist transport requirements, including high value cargo requiring bespoke security or client specific equipment needs. Geodis Calberson operates these high security services exclusively with the company’s own drivers and equipment. Vehicles boast a host of security features, including box trailers with extra thick walls, helicopter markings, slam locks and satellite tracking equipment. Since Paul Smith began using Geodis Calberson, the company has made fewer on-going insurance claims thanks to the high security of the Geodis Calberson service.

In addition, Geodis Calberson offers a variety of insurance packages to customers with high-value goods, including declared value insurance, covering the situation where the value of goods exceeds Geodis Calberson’s own contract limits.

To ensure that Paul Smith knows the location of its shipments at all times, the company has access to Geodis Calberson’s sophisticated track and trace system which provides 100% visibility with real-time updates of the location of goods in transit.

Geodis Calberson also provides Paul Smith with a dedicated customer service contact who proactively provides Paul Smith and its customers with up-to-the-minute information on delays or other problems as soon as they arise.

Pat Wass continued: “Geodis Calberson’s service provides everything that we, as a shipper of high-value goods, require, and the Geodis Calberson customer services team has developed a successful working relationship with Paul Smith logistics personnel.”

Jamie Cuthbert, Managing Director of Geodis Calberson, said: “The challenges posed by Paul Smith are varied and complex. In one season we can deliver as many as 1,000 shipments of high-value goods to France alone – that’s 4,500 cartons across the whole country.

“We have worked in partnership with Paul Smith to ensure the service we provide is a best-fit to their business. The security and visibility of our service, and our commitment to proactive customer service, means that Paul Smith can have peace of mind that their goods will be delivered to the correct location on time and intact exactly when they need them to be.”