Close Window

 

Logistics Company establishes niche serving internet and catalog furniture retailers

Specialty national delivery network provides unique, full service solution

Green Bay, Wisconsin (September 11, 2006) – In February of 2005 Mainstreet Delivery™ was formed to deliver large household products that typically require specialized handling and on-site setup - services well beyond the realm of standard LTL carriers.  The nationwide network was intended to serve manufacturers, retailers, and catalogers of furniture, appliances, electronic equipment and other large items.  After a little more than a year of handling shipments, it is clear that Mainstreet Delivery’s most significant business is the nationwide, transportation and in-home delivery and set-up of furniture sold through internet and print retailers.
The emergence of this niche is based on two primary factors:

  • The sale of home furnishings sold through the internet has increased dramatically over the last few years.           
  • The full service model Mainstreet Delivery provides is the ideal solution for the inventory management and distribution issues facing internet and catalog furniture retailers who conduct business nationwide.

            Most non-traditional furniture retailers hold no inventory, opting to draw the specific SKU directly from the manufacturer as it is sold.  Mainstreet Delivery has developed an innovative order interface system and an intricate carrier network that will log the order, pick up the product at the manufacturer, transport it anywhere in the country, and deliver it into the buyer’s home, throughout the United States.  This allows non-traditional furniture retailers to sell and deliver from an unlimited inventory pool, nationwide, without their own infrastructure.
              The depth of Mainstreet Delivery’s service provides customers with several primary competitive advantages:

  • The custom designed DeliveryPro™ order management software is web based, so all parties involved in the process can have real time access to the order status.
  • Mainstreet Delivery clients need only interface with one logistics company for what are usually complex, multi-step shipments.
  • The transportation motor carriers are mostly Specialized Furniture Carriers who are experienced at handling furniture, greatly minimizing the incidence of damage en route.
  • Once the shipment reaches the destination city or region, the provider responsible for in-home delivery and installation fully inspects the product, and if necessary, handles minor touch ups, or in some cases more major repairs. Mainstreet Delivery has chosen these providers carefully and they are the best in the industry.
  • Upon delivery into the home the product is assembled and placed in the desired location.  All cartons and debris are removed from the home.
  • The main goal is to make one delivery to the home without incident or issue.  On those few occasions where the product is refused for any reason full reverse logistics services are available.

             Mainstreet Delivery’s core customers are some of the most prominent internet and catalog retailers in the furniture category, including FurnitureFind.com, BuyCabinets.com,
Z Gallerie, Design Within Reach (DWR) and Green Culture. 
            “I couldn’t be happier with the core customer group we’ve been able to attract in the first year,” said company President Maury Mussa.  “Our ability to minimize damage and returns while maintaining traditional cycle times provides the cost-effective value the internet furniture retailers need to compete.  We’ve also enabled several new online retailers to get started.”
            Mainstreet Delivery’s service system is also catching attention of some manufacturers of furniture who want to sell to the growing online market of retailers. Recent additions to Mainstreet Delivery’s client base include APA Marketing, Coja Leatherline, and Highland Design.
            Mussa has increased the staff from two to 16 in the first year, and has assembled a senior operations team with over 60 years experience in the industry.  Joining Mussa on the executive level are John Mulvey, Steve O’Brien and Joe Lemerond.  With an average of 750 shipments a month, Mainstreet Delivery is entering what it considers to be a major growth period. 
            “We spent a good part of the first year putting the infrastructure together and we were very careful about managing our growth,” said Mussa.  “We are always trying to improve as a company, but we feel we have the system in place that will allow us to really position us well in the next year.” Mussa added, “Our goal is to offer this growing part of the retail furniture industry a delivery solution that can enable the industry to compete and grow.”

 

Close Window