In light of the spoga+gafa garden trade fair that will be taking place in Cologne from 30 August to 1 September 2015, Dachser DIY-Logistics has revealed the 'supply pipeline' process that sees a summer hammock from the Yangtze Delta region of China wind up in a European back garden.

The European and international logistics company, headquartered in Grevenmacher, explained that to get to the stage of being purchased from a local garden centre here in Luxembourg, something as simple as a hammock would have already travelled across the world.

"For the logistics sector, the starting signal always happens in the summer of the previous year, through bulk orders from retailers," explained Department Head Dachser DIY-Logistics, Ralf Meistes. "At the same time the orders arrive in our 'Order Management' system and the organisation of maritime transport can begin. Dachser organises three waves of shipments to garden centres for each order of seasonal merchandise: in December, February and April. In this way, we can ensure that the markets are supplied."

The 20,000 km, 28-30 day trip of the 'Standard Operation Procedures' (SOP's) allow customers to track the status of their orders through real-time information.

Following customs clearance, the first wave of transport distributes more than 18,000 garden centres and DIY stores across Europe. Dachser also stores some of the goods of the next wave in Überherrn, in the Saarland region of Germany. In a subsequent five day period, the hammocks are further distributed to end up on store shelves throughout Europe.

According to Meistes, "This system works well and can easily be adaptedt to climactic conditions. In addition, the logistics network of our air and ocean freight and European land transport are connected at every level and are complemented by IT systems allowing a permanent connection between client and carrier."

B2B customers also have the opportunity to ensure the delivery of bulky or heavy products directly to the end customers, facilitating the development of multi-channel commerce structures. The SynLOG grouping concept also reduces dock crossings, completed by quality control in the Far East.

dachser will be at Hall 6.1, stand D001 at the spoga-gafa fair from 30 August to 1 September 2015.

 

Photo by Dachser