When shoppers walk the aisles of their favorite retailer restocking their own shelves with french roast and black tea, they are increasingly looking at the price of what they are buying. And as consumers begin to realize that sustainable tea and coffee doesn’t have to cost more than their synthetic competitors, pricing becomes even more important than in years past. Rarely, however does the consumer stop to think how their favorite beans and loose teas arrive at that sticker price. That gap between the shopper’s thought process and the product’s true cost presents a huge opportunity.

Industry insiders know there are a handful of criteria that dictate price, mainly manufacturing, packaging and logistics. Most suppliers seek to reduce cost by relocating manufacturing bases, working with distributors and altering the amount of material used in their inner and outer packs. These are all worthwhile options, but inevitably, the final leg of the product’s lifecycle is cast aside as nothing more than a cost center. With the right approach, you can turn what was once a financial drain into a lean, efficient system that costs a fraction of what it once did. The key? Outsourcing, technology and consolidation.

Read the rest of CaseStack Marketing Manager Liz Boch's article, published in the August 2010 issue of Tea & Coffee trade journal, at http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/4db43b67#/4db43b67/34.

Santa Monica, Calif., Aug. 16^th 2010 – Officials with CaseStack, a leading provider of outsourced logistics solutions to consumer packaged goods companies throughout North America, announced today the launch of their new company website, www.casestack.com, and a fresh look for Delivering Solutions, the company's blog. 

Along with improved usability and an updated design, the new site features:

• Sections for retailer and carrier opportunities
• Customer login capability direct from the homepage
• Links to CaseStack’s blog and social media pages
• Enhanced search engine optimization

Taking a customer-centric approach, CaseStack’s Marketing & Communication team partnered with Fayetteville, Ark.-based web design company Sharp Hue on the project in spring 2010. After extensive research, planning, design and staging, the team launched the streamlined site over the weekend.

“We began knowing the new design had to emphasize both CaseStack’s commitment to collaborative supply chain solutions and sustainability,” said Marketing Manager Liz Boch. “Working with Sharp Hue, it culminated with a sophisticated, easy-to-use website whose design represents not just what CaseStack does for our customers and partners, but also what we stand for – streamlined logistics services and technology that improve on-time performance and reduce costs.”

Shan Pesaru, founder and CEO of Sharp Hue, said the new site reflects the company’s focus on innovative transportation and warehousing solutions that enhance operations, reduce carbon emissions and optimize logistics visibility for customers.

“An industry leader like CaseStack needs a modern web presence that lives up to its innovative approach to business,” Pesaru said. “We worked closely with CaseStack to ensure their new website is visually appealing, user-friendly and optimized at all levels including search engine visibility.”

For more information on the new site, visit www.casestack.com.

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Santa Monica, Calif., Aug. 11, 2010 – CaseStack, a leading provider of outsourced logistics services for mid-level consumer packaged goods companies, today announced Colby Beland as the new vice president of sales.

Prior to joining CaseStack, Beland served as director of strategic solutions for ABF Freight System, Inc., a national general commodities transportation provider based in Fort Smith, Ark. Previously, he worked as a corporate account executive for FedEx Services and as a sales and project manager for International Packaged Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in transportation and logistics from the University of Arkansas.

“I am thrilled to announce Colby as CaseStack’s newest team leader,” said Dan Sanker, CaseStack’s president and CEO. “I am confident he will bring a wealth of industry knowledge, experience and insight to an already successful team.”

With Beland, CaseStack plans to expand its retailer consolidation program, increase collaboration with retailers and carriers and enable substantial advancements that contribute to an increasingly sustainable and efficient logistics industry.

“CaseStack has shown itself time and again to be a forward-thinking and customer-oriented company. I was drawn here by the opportunity to be part of a team that values innovation and quality service,” Beland said. “I am looking forward to becoming a part of this unique company and contributing to its continued success.”

Logistics outsourcing solutions may not seem to have much to do with aromatic body oils, nourishing moisturizers, and rejuvenating cleansers. But it was CaseStack's sustainable logistics outsourcing system and web-based logistics integration software that allowed Advanced Beauty Systems (ABS) to become one of the fastest growing consumer products companies in the world.

Click here to read more about how CaseStack's One Warehouse Program streamlined ABS's logistics, enabling them to consolidate shipments and grow sales.

Full logistics visibility. Increased on-time performance. Decreased inventory costs. Reduced dock congestion.

These are just a few of the benefits to choosing a retailer consolidation program that fits both your needs and a retailer’s. But don’t forget that suppliers can also enjoy a higher reporting on supplier scorecards and maximized production efficiency. Where efficiency is the focus, waste reduction and decreased costs are not far behind.

What is a Retail Consolidation Program?

CaseStack’s Retail Consolidation Program is simple and relationship-driven. We optimize your performance by working with each member of the supply chain to streamline operations and build better, more efficient and less costly processes.

By combining your less-than-truckload (LTL) orders with those of other suppliers destined for the same distribution center, you achieve truckload pricing for your shipments. Retailers submit multi-vendor purchase orders using CaseStack’s proprietary web-based technology and we combine the shipments to save you time, money and reduce carbon emissions.

Learn more about CaseStack’s Retailer Consolidation Programs at http://ht.ly/27NIN .