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28th January 2021
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160-year old kitchenwares firm goes for high-tech inventory management tool
A multi award-winning kitchen, dining and housewares supplier with a 160-year history has opted for a high-tech solution to boost already impressive availability targets.
Kitchen Craft supplies more than 3,000 lines including cookware, state-of-the-art cutlery and kitchen tools and gadgets through specialist homeware and kitchen stores, independent retail specialists, high street chains and online retailers, and this month the Birmingham-based company that's still run by direct descendents of its founder underlined its determination to provide optimum service levels by commissioning advanced inventory management tool Slim4.
The Coventry-developed stock management programme has a track record of slashing inventory levels by up to 30% while boosting service and availability alongside improvements including higher margins, faster turnaround, increased productivity and return on investment.
Already viewed as a leading kitchenware distributor in the UK and consistent trade award winner scooping more than 30 product, marketing and innovation awards over the past decade, Kitchen Craft is recognised as a trailblazer in pioneering new lines of accessibility and communication to its 2,000 UK and overseas customers.
In May last year, on-time delivery was measured at 96.98% but recent initiatives including new widely-hailed interactive website, high-impact point-of-sale material, escalating social media activities, and 'How-to' You Tube channel have positioned the company as one of the UK's most progressive kitchenware suppliers.
Noted for forging special relationships with its trade outlets, the company has also recently introduced its 'Speed to Market' initiative geared towards making order processing a quick and easy process, assisting trade outlets to slash admin time, and virtually guaranteeing delivery to all UK customers within five working days.
The resulting upturn in activities sparked-off the call for inventory management software as part of the firm's total logistics management and distribution process at its 170,000ft2 Garrett's Green warehouse handling up to 1,000 container loads annually and manned by up to 70 staff at peak times.
Commissioned this month, Slim4 is regarded as a key element in boosting Kitchen Craft's service and availability beyond current levels: already, plans are in hand to introduce a second daily logistics shift as part of its ongoing commitment to customers.
With over 400 of Europe's major industrial and retail players now counting on Slimstock solutions to provide critical insight into inventory by delivering better and more efficient inventory planning, increased service levels and lower stock investment, Coventry-based Slimstock is actively gearing up for further gains both in the UK and throughout Europe.
Such is the technical supremacy of the tool that Slimstock actively guarantees to slash inventory levels by up to 30% yet still boost service and availability alongside improvements including higher margins, faster turnaround, increased productivity and return on investment.
UK gains throughout this year include Euro Car Parts, PaperLinx and Aurora Lighting, and typical results logged by Slim4 users include:
* 40% stock reduction without loss of service level for Van Leeuwen Wheeler's UK subsidiary
* significant increase on capital employed resulting in increased sales due to improved availability for Halfords
* 30% higher stock turn rate for the Kramp Group, located in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.
* 40% sales increase (CEALCO, one of Spain's biggest H & V and sanitary equipment companies)
* availability upped from 88% to 95% with significant reduction in obsolete stock for NRF (Netherlands Radiator Factory)
* €1,000,000 stock reduction alongside increased availability (Auto Distribution Nederland)
* stock turn increased from 8 to 11 for international trade and logistics group PGZ International
* 1 5% reduction in stock levels without loss of service for Belgian electrical technical equipment distributor Cebeo
T: +44 247 669 5577
F: +44 2476694861
E: [email protected]
W: www.slimstock.co.uk
3rd February 2012