NATIONAL FURNITURE RETAILER FINDS A HOME IN T-BROTHERS
It’s obvious that a logistics company would make a fuss about a large retail client with a name everyone knows. But the value of an endorsement from client as demanding as this carries extra weight. Put the two together and you have high-caliber challenges few carriers can pass: a customer with a reputation to protect and professional ambitions that demand an elite partner.
That’s the case with a high-end furniture retailer that distributes all over the country, with facilities in the Midwest to the furniture capital of America, North Carolina. T-Brothers has been their top choice for both for weekly, asset-based service and the occasional — but not infrequent — surprises that take serious problem solving. After almost 10 years of collaboration, our relationship is so strong that this furniture fanatic kept T-Brothers close for several recent pivotal business upgrades.
No, we’re not revealing their name. Yes, their business is booming — and they depend sharp minds both in the warehouse and on the road to keep the good times rolling. Between their leadership and T-Brothers, they’ve got those bases covered.
They have a really good team. The one thing that I’ve noticed over the years is that when we’ve given them a challenge, they’ve done it well. When other carriers couldn’t do it, they’ve pulled it off.
The regional logistics manager at the company is sharp and driven veteran of the trade. He went to school to study the profession and clocked years with UPS. In his nearly 30 with this furniture retailer, he’s risen to a level of authority that allows him to shape the entire operations of his company. And that includes hiring partners like T-Brothers.
“I set everything up initially,” he explains. “I built the thresholds on how we run the business on the carriers we use, the process we use. I think that makes things much easier and you have a process and consistency.”
He’s built the company’s routing guides, supervised expansions, and successfully navigated the chaos of Covid. Part of the secret to his success has been the reliability of T-Brother’s problem solving.
“They have a really good team,” he said. “The one thing that I’ve noticed over the years is that when we’ve given them a challenge, they’ve done it well. When other carriers couldn’t do it, they’ve pulled it off.”
Nowhere was this more clear than a recent, enterprise-wide change over in the retailer’s showroom floors in 12 states and Washington DC. All of them would undergo complete makeovers in the span of two weeks. That meant deliveries could only be received at night.
“With T-Bros, I gave them the time and the places and they said ‘No problem,’” our client explained.
The success of that unusual project speaks to the trust our relationship has solidified after years of notching wins together. With transportation and logistics, the client said, the biggest challenge is communication. This retailer is willing to pay a premium for the relationship good communication fosters — a rarity he enjoys in T-Brothers.
“Low rates get you through the day,” he says, “but they won’t get you through the year. Low rates are great if future looking to cut costs. Usually that comes with bad service. That carrier will move on to something better, and then you’re stuck. I don’t have that issue with T-Brothers. I don’t want to recommend them — because I want them all to myself!”
Low rates get you through the day, but they won’t get you through the year. Usually that comes with bad service. That carrier will move on to something better, and then you’re stuck. I don’t have that issue with T-Brothers. I don’t want to recommend them — because I want them all to myself!”
