Singaporean fashion brand Charles & Keith has selected Bleckmann as its exclusive third-party logistics (3PL) fulfilment partner in the UK and Europe. Charles & Keith needs this 3PL solution to support its rapid expansion and the partnership will be towards a key pillar in the Asian fashion brand's growth strategy.
Founded in 1996, Charles & Keith is a valued favourite in Asia with more than 700 shops in the APAC (Asia, Pacific and China) region. More recently, the brand has experienced significant growth in the UK and Europe, with strong direct-to-consumer sales and several prestigious B2B partnerships. To support this growth trajectory, the brand was looking for an end-to-end fulfilment solution from an experienced 3PL partner with a presence in both the UK and Europe.
Charles & Keith previously fulfilled most orders for the UK and EU from its Singapore warehouse, but long lead times proved a barrier to growth. "We were looking for a 3PL partner with a good track record in helping fashion brands scale up their logistics operations while consistently maintaining the highest standards of customer service," says Roisin Henry, senior regional manager at Charles & Keith. "Bleckmann was the ideal choice because of the scale of their operations, their in-depth knowledge of our target markets, their impressive customer list and their excellent transport network."
Full-spectrum logistics
Bleckmann will provide an end-to-end logistics solution to take Charles & Keith products from factory to customer. The solution includes freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, last-mile distribution and returns management. The brand will initially occupy 1,500 square metres at one of Bleckmann's fulfilment centres in Swindon. From this location, the brand can offer customers in the UK 'next-day' and express deliveries, as well as shorter delivery times for customers in mainland Europe. Bleckmann's European presence also allows it to set up operations in a strategic location in the EU for even faster delivery times.
The solution has been live since 1 November, well before the start of Black Friday. This quick turnaround was due to the close collaboration between Charles & Keith and the Bleckmann onboarding team. "We couldn't be happier with the service we received from the Bleckmann team," continued Roisin. "From the initial consultation to the go-live and beyond, we knew we were in for a real partnership. The team listened to all our requests and always went that extra mile to deliver a tailor-made logistics solution."
Bleckmann implemented a number of customised features tailored to Charles & Keith's requirements. These included customised shelving designed specifically for shoes and handbags, and value-added precision services (VAS) such as cleaning, polishing and refinishing. Another feature is the dedicated order tracking platform, which is linked to Bleckmann's transport management system (TMS) and warehouse management system (WMS). This provides supply chain visibility, allowing Charles & Keith customers to track the progress of their orders. Charles & Keith's team also has access to various WMS functions to manage and monitor 'day2day' transactions and stock positions at any time.
Future expansion
With the new logistics solution operational, the Charles & Keith team is already looking ahead to the future of its partnership with Bleckmann. On the horizon is an expansion to one of Bleckmann's European branches in 2024, enabling next-day delivery to customers across the continent. Other projects in the pipeline include the implementation of RFID tags on products for tracking and authentication and the possible launch of a re-commerce offering, courtesy of Bleckmann's circular fashion experts the Renewal Workshop team.
