Fast-expanding Panther Warehousing has made a strong start to the year securing £5 million of new business in the first few weeks of 2015 as demand for its flexible and innovative assisted delivery services for larger items in the home and garden furniture market continued to grow.
The two-man white glove delivery specialist won new contracts with household names across a raft of different home and garden sectors, including beds, glazing, garden furniture and electrical appliances. Unprecedented growth in the business has meant that turnover levels have soared – nearly doubling 2013's £11m figure to £20m in 2014. The company has projected a turnover of £30 million this year.
The impressive new business growth demonstrates that Northampton-based Panther can meet the challenge of changing online retail patterns where purchasers are increasingly ordering larger items, such as furniture and electrical goods, and nominating a specific delivery day. Retailers can take advantage of Panther's flexible and reliable high-end service which includes the ability to order goods as late as 6.30pm with delivery from as early as 7am the next day – or within 48 hours for the rest of Scotland.
Commenting on the business expansion, Colin McCarthy, Panther's Managing Director, said: "We had a very strong year in 2014 and an excellent start to 2015 across a whole range of home and garden sectors. The two-man delivery market for large items ordered online continues unabated and the forecast is for even more growth over the next few years."
Over the last few years Panther has improved its flexibility through the addition of a new range of timed services along with a hugely successful Saturday delivery service.
However, it is not resting on its laurels with an ambitious programme planned to expand the business even further.
Panther, which is believed to be the first company in the two-man market to launch an app, is continually investing in leading-edge technology, including developing its mobile app, geo-tagging for drivers, a track and trace system and an ACD telephone system.
The company recently re-located to Lodge Farm Industrial Estate in Northampton, a site that is three times larger than its previous base in Crick, Northamptonshire, and which has a 25 bay cross-docking facility. The move took its depot network to six.
These changes and expansion will enable the company to handle the anticipated boom in internet shopping for larger items. According to a report published by Barclays bank, more than £1.3 billion worth of goods are expected to be ordered online in the UK in 2018 with an extra 40% in deliveries of larger items – from 360m a year in 2013 – to 507m in 2018.
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