Page 43 - CBM33-V2
P. 43

~ Bleckmann ~



            BSCALE:






            A PLUG-AND-PLAY SOLUTION



            POWERING EMERGING


            FASHION BRANDS 





            Text: Gerard van der Zanden // Photos: Bleckmann

            Scaling a young fashion brand during a phase of hyper-growth often means looking for
            solutions to streamline operations, especially when it comes to logistics. While partnering
            with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider is a natural next step, many providers set order

            volume thresholds that exclude smaller or emerging brands. This leaves many fast-growing
            brands stuck fulfilling orders in-house, an exhausting and time-consuming process. To
            address this gap, Bleckmann has launched Bscale: a plug-and-play logistics service tailored
            specifically for emerging brands. Let’s explore how Wolk Antwerp, one of the first brands to
            adopt Bscale, is transforming its operations and scaling up sustainably.


                      olk Antwerp: A Rising Star in Merino    When they began searching for a 3PL partner, they
                      Wool Fashion                            encountered a roadblock. “Most providers turned us down
            WFounded in 2018 by Belgian product designers     because our order volumes weren’t high enough,” Ellen
            Ellen Cattebeke and Joris Smeunix, Wolk Antwerp   explains. “That’s when we discovered Bleckmann’s Bscale
            has built a reputation for high-end menswear with a   offering. It allowed us to seamlessly onboard, giving us
            unique twist. Their collections focus on merino wool,   access to Bleckmann’s advanced logistics capabilities
            an exceptional material that constitutes 99% of their   without requiring minimum volume commitments or
            garments, including dress shirts, tees, and knitwear.   significant upfront costs.”

            “We saw a strong demand for smart, stylish garments that   Innovative Fulfilment Powered by Automation
            are comfortable, durable, and low-maintenance,” explains   Today, all of Wolk Antwerp’s warehousing and fulfilment
            Joris. “Merino wool was the perfect choice – it’s luxurious,   needs are managed at Bleckmann’s state-of-the-art
            machine washable, doesn’t crease, and doesn’t need   distribution centre in Grobbendonk, Belgium. As a Bscale
            washing after every wear. It’s the ultimate combination of   client, Wolk benefits from Bleckmann’s automated storage
            performance and aesthetics.”                      and retrieval system.

            This innovative approach has earned Wolk a growing   The cutting-edge “cube storage” system uses radio-
            customer base, not just in Europe but also in the U.S.   controlled robots to manage inventory in an ultra-compact
            However, rapid growth also brought logistical challenges.  setup, requiring just one-seventh of the space needed
                                                              for traditional storage methods. The system not only
            From Home Fulfilment to Scalable Logistics        optimises space but also slashes lead times by up to 60%,
            With orders piling up, Ellen and Joris found themselves   streamlining order picking and packing.
            fulfilling customer orders from their own home – a
            solution that quickly became unsustainable. “Our house   “When we visited this automated storage system in
            was filling up with boxes, and balancing logistics with   Grobbendonk, we were blown away by its size and
            running the business was increasingly difficult,” shares   sophistication,” Joris says. “We’ve cut a day off our delivery
            Joris.                                            times and can now ensure 365-day uptime, getting







                                                            43
   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48