A fast-growing logistics company which provides fulfilment services for e-commerce businesses has secured a £200,000 loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
The funding will enable Manchester-based Warehouse Box to expand its capacity by completing the fit-out at its current warehouse in Wigan and to create three new jobs in the coming months. Warehouse Box works with online retailers ranging from smaller local businesses to big overseas companies which need warehouse space in the UK.
Warehouse Box offers rapid turnaround times, despatching orders and processing returns within 24 hours, and has its own software which enables customers to track the location of their products and orders. In addition to its current premises in Hindley, near Wigan, it also operates a warehouse in Poland to help businesses which need a facility within the EU.
Warehouse Box was founded in 2019 by brothers-in-law Josh Gluck, aged 33, and Mendel Rosen, 42, who have a background in freight forwarding and logistics, and initially operated from premises in Oldham. However, the business grew rapidly as it expanded its services and especially with the pandemic boosting demand for its clients’ products – in particular children’s trampolines, games, cosmetics and pet accessories.
Warehouse Box has more than doubled its revenue in the two years to the end of 2022 and expects to have to triple its capacity in the next three to four years. It current 45,000 sq ft warehouse on Greenbank Industrial Estate, Hindley – which it moved into a year ago – offers scope to boost capacity both within the existing warehouse and on adjacent land.
Josh Gluck, Director, said: “Our growth is driven by a number of factors. In recent years many smaller businesses have entered the e-commerce market and need fulfilment services. We also have European companies who need to fulfil orders from the UK, and UK companies who need fulfilment services in Europe. While our existing clients continue to grow, we have new clients coming on board, who are attracted by our rapid fulfilment times and our software that gives them full visibility of their products. The finance package will enable us to complete the fit-out of the warehouse and provide additional working capital for growth.”
Gary Whitaker of Mercia said: “Josh and Mendel run an impressive operation and have expanded steadily by identifying the challenges facing e-commerce operators and offering solutions. For many online retailers, they have become the ‘go to’ guys within the fulfilment sector. The funding will enable them to expand capacity and continue the growth of the business.”
Maxim Cohen of HMB Finance in Manchester provided fundraising advice to the company.
Mercia can provide loans of £100,000 to £750,000 in the Northern Powerhouse region with a focus on Yorkshire & Humber. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.