Panther Warehousing has signed a two-year contract with home furnishings brand Habitat, following a successful working relationship over the past two years.
Panther Warehousing will continue to deliver bulky furniture such as sofas and beds for Habitat to customers seven days a week.
The partnership was forged in the wake of Habitat, founded in the swinging Sixties by style guru Sir Terence Conran, being bought by Sainsbury’s.
Habitat has been a by-word for original, affordable home furnishings for more than 50 years. Over 85% of customers now shop with the brand online, but the store also has five standalone stores – in Westfield London, Tottenham Court Road, London, Finchley Road, London, Leeds and Brighton – as well as a network of Mini-Habitat stores within Sainsbury’s stores across the UK.
Panther has worked closely with Habitat and its growing online business to meet the challenges of delivering bulky items to customers across the UK in both urban and rural environments.
Delivering a best in class service is paramount to both Panther and Habitat and as such the two teams collaborate closely holding monthly meetings to monitor KPI’s, ensure a process of continuous improvement and discuss the introduction of new services.
Panther delivers all Habitat orders weighing more than 31 kilograms or are bulky enough to require two-man delivery. Customers can nominate a date of delivery that is convenient to them and book online.
Customers are kept in the loop, with a confirmatory text message the day before delivery and on the day, they will be advised of a two-hour delivery slot and told which number they are on their delivery team’s schedule for the day.
A track and trace system will also enable them to see where the delivery van is on its route shown on a map of their area. Crews will undertake soft assembly such as connecting corner sofas.
Gary McKelvey, Commercial Director, Panther, said: “We are delighted that Habitat, a brand that has been at the forefront of design for more than 50 years, has chosen Panther as its delivery partner for large and heavy items of home furniture.
“While Habitat has designed goods to bring joy to customers, we have designed our delivery system to make the delivery experience as easy and convenient as possible for its customers.”
“Working with Panther to deliver an outstanding delivery service that builds trust with both our digital and in-store customers is a vital part to maintaining brand loyalty and ensuring that our service stands out against our online and high-street competitors,” comments Kevin McQuillan, Supply Chain & Distribution Manager for Habitat. “By offering bespoke delivery options every day of the week, our customers can feel more confident in purchasing big ticket items how and when they want with the knowledge that delivery can be easily suited around their own busy lifestyles.”