Retro fashion is hot, which is why online vintage inspired clothing retailer Lindy Bop is seeing such rapid growth. The company has chosen end-to-end logistics provider Torque to deliver e-commerce orders to its global customer base. Fans of the website engage with the clever on-brand content on the site, and are snapping up swing dresses, petticoats and rockabilly scarves here in the UK and in the USA. Manchester based Lindy Bop has 1.3m Facebook fans and 10.4k Twitter followers. The retailer, which focuses on flattering styles of the forties and fifties says it has received record volumes of orders in recent months, following successes with seasonal campaigns.
The partnership sees Torque providing e-fulfilment services for Lindy Bop as the retailer continues to expand in its retail markets, across UK and USA websites, wholesale international markets and through trading on Amazon. The arrangement will see Torque process, pick and pack orders and arrange courier delivery to end customers. Torque will also provide a receipt and checking service for customer returns.
Kieron Ellis, Finance Director at Lindy Bop said the company sought a logistics supplier that “is both agile and has the capability to grow with us”.
“Since making the transition we’ve already seen significant business benefits,” said Ellis. “The month after go-live was a record sales month and Torque played a pivotal role in their fulfilment of the record volumes. Visibility of our stock has improved due to the RedPrairie Warehouse Management System, which allows focus on strategic priorities. This has only been possible because we have 100% trust in Torque to deliver a seamless service to our customers.”
Stewart Firth, Operations Director of Torque said: “Our experience working with fashion brands over 25 years has given us a privileged insight into the operational needs of our customers; it’s this experience coupled with our ability to scale up to meet Lindy Bop’s growth expectations that makes us a good strategic fit. We look forward to contributing to their continued success moving forward.”
What exactly will Torque be providing for Lindy Bop?
Multi-courier integration across UK and Worldwide destinations through Metapack. Lindy Bop’s management team has access to preferred carriers and parcel tracking information from a single platform; enabling advanced decision making and enhanced levels of customer service to the end-user
Improved control and visibility of stock; Torque’s RedPrairie Warehouse Management system works in tandem with Lindy Bops’ own systems to provide up-to-the-minute stock and performance reporting
Real-time updates via voice based and radio-frequency based handheld terminals ensure that Lindy Bop know where their stock is at all times
Multi-channel integration provided by the Torque Portal facilitates future new channel expansion
Our view:
Lindy Bop is tapping into a rise in demand for flattering retro clothing, and there are plenty of women around the world who want to embrace a look that sets them apart from contemporary high street styles. Rockabilly pencil skirts and fifties style prom dresses at affordable prices are clearly proving popular and Lindy Bop says its classic ‘Audrey’ dress is the current best seller.
Assuming the vintage Industry continues to develop over the coming years, Lindy Bop is in a good position and is wise to team up with a highly experienced logistics provider who knows ecommerce fashion fulfilment inside out. Returns are bound to be a big, potentially costly area of operations, so it makes sense to tackle this head on, with customer service at the fore. Integration of systems in line with Torque’s IT is a shimmy in the right direction.
There are plans in place to grow the product range – presumably into shoes, bags, coats and jewellery – so there will be plenty of further growth to come, and a need for failsafe systems to cope with more complex inventory and every growing customer data.
This investment should pay off. Lindy Bop are under no illusions that vintage styling will only look lovely to customers if their orders and returns are managed quickly and competently.
Image credits:
Lindy bop for media use only
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