Frontier Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. has just announced a new client relationship with Quiksilver. The full release is posted on Frontier’s website. We talked with Frontier President and CEO Michael Butterfield to find out more about this exciting partnership.
What made Frontier stand out as the ideal partner for Quiksilver in the Canadian market?
I think what stood out the most for Quiksilver was our reach and knowledge of the Canadian market. We pride ourselves on being able to create innovative supply chain solutions for our clients, and Quiksilver’s business model allowed us to help consolidate and directly distribute their product into Canada from their existing inventories in the U.S. Not only is this more cost-effective for their organization, but it allows them to become more efficient in their delivery program. This ultimately will create increased satisfaction among Quiksilver’s retailers across Canada, which over time will bring repeat business and sales growth.
What should brands look for in general in a supply chain solution provider?
I think one of the most important areas that businesses (especially in apparel and other manufacturing industries) should look for in a supply chain provider is a company that offers flexible, customizable services that can be tailored to their needs. This allows businesses to adapt to changes in the market quicker in order to grow.
Innovative technology and tracking is also essential to increase customer visibility with packages and creates a positive shopping experience. A provider that can integrate their technology seamlessly into your business systems is very important for accuracy, turnaround delivery times and inventory controls.
Finally, brands who have a large e-commerce presence should look for a provider that offers convenient delivery options. Frontier rolled out a great evening delivery service a couple months ago where customers can make appointments to have their packages delivered to their residence between the hours of 5:00pm and 9:00pm when they are home to receive it. Flexible delivery options are huge for customer loyalty and satisfaction.
This partnership sounds exciting. When do you begin?
We officially started June 1! We have had a lot of fun already with the great team over at Quiksilver and are very excited for the future.
