Kate Lester, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Logistics Ltd, front right; Craig Brixey, Director, Diamond Logistics Bournemouth Ltd, with Abbie Brixey and Lee Whitbread. Picture: Dorset Biz News.
Published: February 28, 2020 | Updated: 28th February 2020
A Dorset logistics company is proving to be a cut above the rest with a service which highlights the changing face of retail.
Gone are the days of a trader having to own, or lease, premises to store their goods as well employ staff to pick, pack and despatch.
Diamond Logistics’ fulfilment service is the equivalent of a warehouse, despatch manager and delivery driver all rolled into one.
Online businesses using platforms such as Shopify, Ebay, Amazon, Magneto or their own marketplaces can turn to Diamond Logistics for:
It leaves businesses literally able to operate from a laptop with Diamond Logistics handling everything else.
Already 12 businesses use the fulfilment service at the company’s warehouse at Wolterton Road in Poole.
They sell everything from paddleboards and plumbing goods to gym equipment and beauty products.
The businesses include FatStick (paddle boards and surfboards), Orange Monkey (clothing), Zipusin (baby product for pregnant women), Meatbox (fresh and cured meats), W8 Gym (Gym in a box), Takk Essentials (beauty subscription boxes) and Books That Matter (book subscription boxes).
Craig Brixey, Director of Diamond Logistics Bournemouth Ltd, pictured left, said: “We’re the only company locally that not only picks and packs but also offers additional services and carriers.
“We will help and work with start-up companies and above, providing a one stop logistics solution for packets, parcels and pallets in Bournemouth and Poole, with access to national carriers at discounted prices.”
Diamond Logistics was founded by entrepreneur Kate Lester in 1992, then aged 20, initially with an orange coloured van – called Jaffa – and a Suzuki motorbike.
It has since grown to a £7m turnover company with around 200 staff and 29 locally owned sites.
Apart from fulfilment, it offers same day courier delivery and express and international services with access to all the major carriers including TNT, DHL Parcel UK, Hermes, DHL and DX.
Craig is a 25 per cent shareholder in Diamond Logistics Bournemouth Ltd with the remaining shares held by Diamond Logistics Group Ltd.
The business, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, operates from a 7,500 sq ft warehouse.
It has around 200 clients ranging from Bournemouth Airport to Elite Fabrication.
Annual turnover of £500,000 is expected to double in the next year or so to £1m while staff numbers, currently five, are also expected to increase.
Kate, Chief Executive Officer, pictured right, said: “We have very high hopes for our Bournemouth site under Craig’s leadership, especially with our fulfilment offering.
“It’s all about shared success and helping our clients.”
Craig, 37, added: “We have all sorts of plans to expand the fulfilment side of the business and I’m really excited about the future.”
