Member Article

Yorkshire's Torque masterminds Sweaty Betty US expansion

Yorkshire-based logistics services provider Torque is proving its fitness to tackle marathon distances by helping women’s sports clothing retailer Sweaty Betty expand into the US.

Torque, which has its headquarters in Leeds and two large sites in Bradford, has supported the successful launch of new Sweaty Betty stores in New York’s Greenwich and Soho.

It organised the movement of all stock, consumables and entire store fit-outs.

The company’s employees picked and packed all stock required for the new stores at its warehouse facilities in Leeds, which was packaged complete with all consumables.

Sweaty Betty’s UK manufacturers also sent items needed to duplicate the retailer’s UK branch layout, for Torque to package, pack and label them individually.

Torque sent products required for the stores to open via sea freight and arranged for these to be de-vanned in the US, with smaller vehicles then accessing the stores.

Mark Smith, finance and operations director, Sweaty Betty, said: “Torque’s in-house warehouse management expertise and software development capability enabled it to manage the whole process effectively and efficiently.”

Sweaty Betty aims “to inspire women to find empowerment through fitness”. A multiple award-winner, it currently has over 30 boutiques around the UK, including concessions in world-famous London department stores Harrods and Selfridges It plans to open a third US store in the near future.

Torque has worked with Sweaty Betty since 2007 and now supports all the client’s retail and e-commerce business, servicing stores and web orders to the UK, Europe and the US. During the relationship, the retailer’s business has tripled in size.

David Scott, head of warehouse and distribution, Torque, said: “We’re thrilled to be helping Sweaty Betty with its US expansion. The launch was a challenging project but both teams have a ‘can do’ approach and delivered brilliantly.

“We now look forward to helping Sweaty Betty continue its growth, at home and abroad.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .