Signet Group - is the world's largest speciality retail jeweller with over 1,000 stores in the US and more than 600 in the UK where the Group trades as H Samuel, Ernest Jones and Leslie Davis.

the brief - the 600 plus UK Branches were each supplied by a weekly delivery on an in-house demountable vehicle. This required many multi-day journeys and was supplemented by contract courier deliveries. Inevitably, this was an expensive operation which was difficult to manage and control. The consultants were required to identify at least one contractor who would provide an improved service level at an acceptable cost.

the approach - as there were unusual aspects to this distribution, such as the perception of high value, marketable goods, attractive to thieves, the consultants spent considerable time in familiarisation and data collection which included van accompaniment during high street delivery runs. A specification of requirements (SOR) was produced and an enquiry process was carried out (anonymously) to establish the capacity and capability of potential distribution partners.

We carried out a careful investigation of the existing in-house and contract operations which compared the existing contractors' performance with a theoretical cost generated by our distribution planning software (Dips). The next stage was to prepare an Invitation to Tender document (ITT) and carry out the tender process, including fielding enquiries, tender appraisal and advising on selection.

the result - a Distribution Partnership was established which provided an efficient, reliable service at a reduced overall cost from the original mixed arrangements.

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