NEWBURY PARK, CA (BRAIN)—Giant Bicycle retailers in New England and much of the East Coast will see immediate benefits from a new warehouse for the company that begins operations today.
Located in Cranbury, New Jersey, the 90,000-square foot facility will provide one-day delivery of bicycles to Giant retailers in 11 states, and one-to-two day delivery to retailers in four more states. Additionally, starting January 15, 2012, parts and accessories will also ship from the same new warehouse to Giant retailers in the same states.
“We can better serve our retailers in the Northeast region with quicker delivery and more personal service,” said Dave Karneboge, Giant USA’s director of operations. “This is a warehouse staffed by Giant employees who have a strong desire and commitment to customer service.”
Directing the new warehouse operations are manager Arthur Hall and supervisor Russ Knapp, both veterans with high-volume distribution experience. “With this warehouse, we’ll be able to deliver next day to most of our retailers in the 15 states served,” Karneboge said. “The warehouse location, close to the port [Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal], means shorter transit times and less handling all the way from the factory to their businesses.”
The new facility is only part of Giant’s efforts toward a higher level of service for all Giant retailers. Giant currently contracts with a third-party to ship bikes from warehouses in California and Illinois. Giant also ships gear from separate, company-run warehouses in those same states. By early November, Giant will consolidate bikes and gear to ship from the same warehouse in each state—one in Cerritos, California, for the West, and the other in Elgin, Illinois, for the Central U.S. Like the new Northeast facility in New Jersey, these warehouses will be Giant-managed and employ Giant staff.
“In the end of this transition, Giant will have three regional warehouses shipping bikes and gear together,” said Elysa Walk, general manager of Giant USA. “Giant retailers across the country will receive one delivery from Giant of both bikes and gear, instead of one truck with bikes, and another truck with gear. That should make ordering and receiving much easier for them. Further, when we’re managing the warehouses instead of a third-party, we can control operations and address high-level retailer needs immediately.”
