Apparel Brands acquires, develops and manages a host of high-quality brands across lifestyle, fashion and sport - and it’s one of the fastest growing multi-brand owners and operators in the world.
Its portfolio includes iconic streetwear and fashion labels, including Bench, Nicce and kids’ favourite Just Hype, alongside distinguished names like Castore, Farah, Seafolly and Ed Hardy, which it builds and transforms to connect with new audiences.
Running alongside that, it has also created a network of licensees and established itself as a specialist in international wholesale and e-commerce distribution, with a customer base including some of the biggest names in global retail and a network stretching across more than 44 countries in the UK, Europe and North America.
Such an expanding and trusted business relies on speed and dependability - so when it needed the best warehouse storage solution for its new national distribution centre in Manchester, it naturally turned to Mowbray Workspace.
The project involved creating a bespoke storage solution for the empty 103m x 67m x 10m warehouse, which would provide everything they needed - not just now but in the future too.
Mowbray sales director Wayne Thomas discussed the requirements and potential solutions with Apparel Brands before designing and delivering a scheme that would accommodate a first phase of operation there and be ready to change and adapt as and when their needs did.
Listening to and understanding what Apparel Brands wanted, Mowbray fitted out around 70% of the warehouse footprint with pallet racking, which includes a labelling system.
A flexible approach means it covers any eventuality and the changing journey for such a reactive, growing business, leaving options for a multi-tier mezzanine floor and bespoke picking systems.
Wayne says: “We discussed a variety of options, choosing one which could be easily remodelled and repositioned if, and when, necessary.
“It means that it’s not going to hold them back or restrict them in anything they wish to do in the future.
“We were tasked with designing a scheme that would fulfil the initial brief and future growth against tight deadlines.”
And Mowbray achieved it, creating a cost-effective solution that was not only completed on budget but also ahead of schedule, taking only five weeks.
“They trusted us to provide the best current and ongoing solution - and that trust is important to us. We want people to know they can rely and depend on us,” adds Wayne.
In fact, so pleased were Apparel Brands that Mowbray’s solution is going to become the model for the rest of their business!
Mowbray will also continue to support the company with maintenance, such as repairs or additions.
Donna Burkinshaw, Operations & Logistics Director, Apparel Brands, says: “Heading up this project for Apparel Brands wasn’t going to be an easy task, initially just me and four walls that were to become our new wholesale warehouse.
“I chose Wayne and Mowbray over other companies due to a number of factors. The biggest determining factor for me was Wayne and Ian, who were extremely professional and friendly. Their attention to detail, along with a desire to understand the customer needs, was a real benefit, and I felt absolute reassurance that the result would be the best possible option for our business. From start to finish, nothing was too much trouble, and the end result is amazing.
“The service was exceptional and second to none, efficient, reliable, on time and within budget, with no disruption to our business.”
