Member Article

Anniversary sparks interest for Burnside

A NICHE logistics company targeted at online traders has celebrated its anniversary with a flurry of new orders.

Burnside Distribution was launched by the Nicholson Group in June 2019 creating 15 jobs to provide warehousing and distribution services for companies that do not have their own fulfillment facilities.

The Billingham-based business utilises a 55,000sq ft warehouse to manage stock, orders and delivery for a range of e-commerce traders. And the impact of the Covoid-19 pandemic has prompted an influx of clients from those seeking new ways to manage stock.

Group owner David Nicholson said: “We have gone from a standing start a year ago, to a very healthy order book and a very busy warehouse, so much so that we are now looking for an additional warehouse.

“The impact of the pandemic has meant that more people are ordering goods online, especially furniture and household items and many of the online traders are having to cope with increased demand but without sufficient storage and access to transport. That’s where Burnside Distribution has been able to help – we launched to service a niche market and it’s proved a good move.”

The Nicholson Group set up Burnside Distribution to spread its interests beyond transport and move away from the traditional distribution hubs which serve the sector. The move appears to have paid off with Burnside servicing a diverse range of clients including high end bathroom and furniture companies, sports and leisure brands, cosmetics, camping equipment and machinery part manufacturers.

Mr Nicholson said that the intention had always been to target smaller e commerce traders but that the spike in online orders had led to an upsurge in interest.

He added: “With many shops being closed, a lot of the online traders have struggled to keep up with demand and may have problems getting goods sent out. Via Burnside, their goods can be stored with us and we take care of all the fulfilment from goods received, stored, picked and packed then dispatched to the end customer.

“It’s not surprising a lot of the new customers are sportswear and camping suppliers because there’s been a real growth in that sector and we would expect that to continue as the UK continues to be a stay-cation destination.”

As well as Burnside, the Nicholson Group also comprises caravan and container storage firm Box Clever and lorry-mounted crane operation Nicholson Hi-ab. Bespoke furniture importer J N Rusticus has enjoyed its busiest year to date providing rustic furniture to bars, restaurants and homeowners, while Burnside Wood Pellets supplies wood fuel to homes across the country. The Group also has interests in a property management and investment business.

Mr Nicholson added: “The ethos with the Nicholson Group is always to allow our firms to prosper under their own management teams and I am pleased that Burnside Distribution has quickly and efficiently established itself in this niche market, headed up by the appointment of our new Group General Manager Darren Bindon-Brown.

“It’s supported by a group structure with more than 30 years’ experience in this sector which allows us to pass that expertise on to our customers directly.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jonathan Ward .