Manchester fashion storage and fulfilment

M&W freight - the total forwarder, land, air and sea

As lockdown lifts the Manchester fashion scene is ready to take off again. M&W Freight is at the heart of North West warehousing, distribution, ecommerce and fulfilment services for manufacturers and retailers.

The city has long been tagged Cottonopolis to acknowledge its role in textile manufacturing from the start of the Industrial Revolution. It’s a proud heritage that has prevailed in many forms over the years.

However, March, April and May 2020 will forever go down in history as dark months for the fashion industry. The shop doors were closed and spring and summer clothing ranges were stockpiled in factories and warehouses.

There were challenges at every stage of the fashion supply chain.

M&W supported businesses from day one, offering flexible storage space, moving ‘on hold’ lines to appropriate warehouse facilities, repackaging and labelling so that items could be diverted to online sales.

The Northern Powerhouse  

Since fast fashion offered catwalk designs to the masses, affordable rents and great transport connectivity has seen the likes of Manchester’s Cheetham Hill, Ancoats and Northern Quarter areas become prominent fashion manufacturing and distribution hubs once again.

With that growth in the wider city region there has been a demand for associated freight and processing services to keep the fast-changing fashion industry wheels turning efficiently.  

That’s all part of the M&W offering. A range of quality services to help businesses adapt and prosper – whatever the global market conditions.

What is the new fashion normal?

Planning for the post-Covid period has been difficult. Each month some industries have started up production facilities, while others have remained closed.

Shoppers have been denied the genuine retail experience and the summer season has almost been missed. Those stocks have been stored – and the available space has quickly dwindled.

The new ‘normal’ will take many forms. Businesses that did not have effective online sales channels have been forced to invest – and quickly.

Retail experiences will recover but it could take time. Even then, how clothes and other products are handled, packaged, hung, labelled and sold will have to change.

Internet shopping continues to grow

Browse, point and click has become the new shopping experience. It’s easy – at least for customers. In the background, manufacturers and retailers need to respond promptly, with accurate picks and garments sent out in suitable, affordable packaging.

Returns – both in-store and from Internet sales – will be processed in new ways to cope with virus and infection worries.

Clothing will be taken off rails for 48-72 hours in many cases, and online returns could need additional cleaning and reprocessing.

That is a big ask for many small-to-medium size firms. That’s why M&W’s extensive range of retail, ecommerce and fulfilment services help to support growing fashion operations.

M&W becomes part of the expansion plan as new lines are added, different promotion packs and pricing labels are added, and consignments are consolidated to enjoy maximum efficiencies – for deliveries within the UK, to Europe and beyond.  

Your fashion Buddy

M&W is about outstanding customer service. We are the Buddy that always delivers to keep your fashion lines moving.

The M&W Freight team is on hand to offer up-to-date information about the value-added services we offer. When others are panicking, you need a Buddy that keeps a cool head. 

Call 0161 905 0400 for details about our services to support fashion businesses with warehousing, fulfilment and freight forwarding options.  

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