Chorley firms strike collaborative agreement

Ecommerce software and fulfilment specialist Exact Abacus has struck an agreement with long-standing client Festive Lights, which will expand delivery capacity and make smarter use of resources.

Through the deal, Festive Lights, headquartered at Charnock Richard, will provide fulfilment services under licence to become an inaugural member of Exact Abacus’ Partner Network.

This new platform enables online retailers to generate revenue from redundant space and under-utilised resources whilst providing Exact Abacus with unprecedented, international reach.

Adding a further 2,000 pallet positions, equivalent to 12,500 sq ft, the joint venture will increase capacity for Exact Abacus, allowing continued expansion of its outsourced fulfilment services, which enjoyed significant growth in 2016.

Lee Thompson, sales and marketing director at Exact Abacus, said; “Online retailers are discovering the benefits of outsourcing their parcel distribution to providers like Exact Abacus; in addition to significant cost savings, clients can really focus their energies on growth. Our challenge is to ensure service levels are consistently the highest in the business and having already increased our own capacity by 120 per cent over the past 18 months, an alternative solution was required to sustain momentum.

“We have a first-class relationship with Festive Lights, they’ve used our ERP software for many years and are the perfect partner to work with us on this exciting initiative.”

Exact Abacus plans to recruit more Network Partners across the UK over the next 12 months before embarking on international expansion. Their proven ERP software is at the core, uniquely connecting fulfilment providers, clients, marketplaces, ecommerce websites and carriers, providing an almost infinitely scalable solution that currently enables the Buckshaw-based firm to dispatch up to 5,000 parcels per day on behalf of over 75 clients.

Each year, Festive Lights experiences high demand during the Christmas period, with sales typically increasing by 20 per cent year on year. Working alongside Exact Abacus to offer fulfilment, will maximise warehouse resources and help to ease the transition of the company from a seasonal trading nature to year round operations.

Stephen Alty, general manager at Festive Lights, said, “This is a strategic move and offers an efficient route to market. Our recent warehouse expansion enabled us to explore the fulfilment sector, whilst improving our own capacity and output potential. This collaboration with Exact Abacus will allow us to provide experienced staff, facilities and resources, with a tested infrastructure of ERP software, to help provide fulfilment for Exact Abacus’ clients.” “Providing third-party fulfilment and warehousing solutions to other firms ultimately enables them to utilise the space to save money and streamline operations by eliminating the need for long-term leases, additional staff and costly shipping. It’s a no-brainer.”