Case Studies

A customer moved their Target fulfillment to Valley Distribution & Logistics in the fall of 2019 because of numerous chargebacks they were receiving from the prior 3PL. We set up a picking area dedicated to this customer and slotted the products (208 SKU’s) based on weight and volume. We implemented a case picking process specifically for this customer where we picked the orders by Target label. Our pickers were issued a batch or labels that equated an order and would pick those labels complete. The pallet was then moved directly to the wrap machines and prepped and marked for shipment.

This process reduced our customers picking error chargebacks 90+%.

This customer’s business is heavily focused on E-Commerce with some retail grocery shipments monthly. They work with a 3PL based in Oklahoma and that 3PL refused to work a weekend schedule. I explained that in the E-Commerce world, most orders are placed on weekends and evenings. Valley Distribution & Logistics works a 7-day per week schedule to ensure weekend orders are processed internally each day. Our ground network pick-up schedule is 6-days per week, but we never enter Monday with a backlog. Our carriers have the capacity to pick up multiple loads of ground freight per day if required to ensure we get the orders into the shipping network as quickly as possible.

I was talking with a prospect that had been in discussion with Amazon and wanted to use Amazon FBA. Because we ship to Amazon for FBA weekly, I was able to guide this prospect on the requirements Amazon has regarding packaging, labeling, routing, and freight. After the discussion, the customer determined that it would be easier and more cost effective to outsource the Amazon shipment preparation to Valley Distribution & Logistics as their team is very skilled at working with Amazon multi packs and Amazon label requirements. That customer’s volume has more than doubled since he started.

A customer moved their Target fulfillment to Valley Distribution & Logistics in the fall of 2019 because of numerous chargebacks they were receiving from the prior 3PL. We set up a picking area dedicated to this customer and slotted the products (208 SKU’s) based on weight and volume. We implemented a case picking process specifically for this customer where we picked the orders by Target label. Our pickers were issued a batch or labels that equated an order and would pick those labels complete. The pallet was then moved directly to the wrap machines and prepped and marked for shipment.

This particular customer has sample packaging created and sent directly to Valley Distribution & logistics to price out a very specific kit. Once we received the packaging, we quickly determined that the time to build the display box was very excessive. We involved one or our packaging partners who created a new sample box and explained to our customer that while his box cheap, it was not cost effective to build. We submitted our sample and with its approval from our customer, Valley Distribution & Logistics was able to build within the customers cost goals. VDL values it’s relationships with packaging providers to enable us to assist our customers when needed.

Flow Space called me and indicated they had just secured a large cosmetics account. They needed space to store 1,000+ pallets but that space must be monitored 24 / 7. After discussing the product details, we determined we could store this particular product in our single deep rack area, and we installed 14 cameras dedicated to monitoring the full pallet storage area and an additional number of cameras outside the building. Valley Distribution & Logistics takes building security very seriously. We have 40+ cameras inside and outside the building along with monitored motion sensors throughout the operations. Our outside cameras create a virtual fence and when the boundary is broken a message is broadcast across the 7 speakers outside our building prior to police being dispatched.

While many 3PL’s have had difficulty securing new associates Valley Distribution & Logistics has not experienced this. Last summer, we increased our staffing over 400% to accommodate numerous packing and kitting projects and regular flex our labor force up to meet current demands and new customer demands. It is not uncommon for us flex our labor 20% – 30% on a weekly or monthly basis. We do not believe in using contract labor. All associates are brought in as VDL employees upon hiring.

Many of our customers have products shipped to us from numerous vendors. As a part of our receiving process, we look closely at the products being received. This week, we encountered a large number of pallets where the boxes were not adequately taped shut. This product is destined for a large retailer and that specific retail would either refuse the shipment or issue a large chargeback. Valley Distribution & Logistics contacted that customer and requested they have their vendor adjust the tape machine so it would adequately secure the boxes. We also notified our customer that we would retape each case in the shipment to ensure their customer would be satisfied with the quality of the product once it arrives. Issues arise daily and Valley Distribution & Logistics is 100% dedicated to quickly and efficiently resolving those issues before the end user receives the product.

When Clean Cult decided to change the pack sizes of product they imported from China, they didn’t notify Valley Distribution & logistics until the product arrived in the states. We would have multiple pack sizes of the same SKU. While many systems don’t allow this to occur, Valley Distribution implements a manual system to monitor the inventory to ensure we were able to push the older pack size out of the system prior to moving on to the new pack size. This additional effort allowed our customer to take advantage of price reductions while not impeding their distribution and order fulfillment. Valley distribution always goes above and beyond to ensure our customers win.

When a customer called and told me that their inventory system was not working properly and they needed reports to ensure they re-ordered timely, Valley Distribution & Logistics delivered. Our IT Administrator was able to develop a link to reporting from our WMS and email that link to the customer. That link could be updated as frequently as the customer desired. In this particular case, it was updated 4 times daily and the link was refreshed so the customer knew his inventory availability throughout the day.