Case Studies


Apparel line fits the bill

When Climate Clothing was looking to change courier companies they only had to look as far as their latest copy of Apparel Magazine.

BY HAMISH BARWICK

Around the time that Auckland-based company Climate Clothing was looking for a courier who could deliver more services. Director Anne Sadler said she saw an article about 'Apparel Line' in June and decided to give General Manager Clive Young a call.

"They were offering South Island deliveries more regularly than the other companies which was important for us because a lot of our clients are in rural areas."

Terry Milich said Apparel Line offered guaranteed hanging of clothes, something the other courier companies were not.

"Our clothes were often arriving in poor condition, dirty on the outside. When customers are paying good money for a garment, they don't expect to have to steam clean an item themselves or send it back to us for a credit so that was a good reason to give Apparel Line a go this season."

Milich said they have been very happy with the service.

"We had some samples that had to be sent to the South Island quite urgently and they rang us to say there was a problem but they could fix it. They went out of their way to make sure the samples got there on time. We just couldn't believe it. This was quite different to any service we had experienced before."


Customer service

Sadler told Apparel about what one of their sales rep, who had been travelling around the country selling for the next season, had found out about Apparel Line.

"Our rep had been asking customers how they had found Apparel Line. And they all said the truck drivers were pleasant and bringing in the garments hanging up."

Milich said they used to get customers complaining about the courier drivers bringing in creased garments. There were other problems as well.

"Our previous company delivered clothes by air. It meant the garments got there faster but they were put into cages lying down. You can imagine in the middle of summer, the linen and cotton pieces looked like a bunch of rags at the other end," said Milich.

"Apparel Line's service has really stood out, including the following up on any problems. A couple of times I have sent out bags without tickets and they have put tickets on at their depot and sent them on their way."


Easy to work with

Another Apparel Line service the team at Climate Clothing likes is the good attitude of the drivers.

"Their truck is quite big and sometime can't fit down our narrow street but the driver comes down and picks the bags up by hand. He never complains. Every little part of the company has been easy to work with," said Milich.

"You don't need that hassle every day," said Sadler. "Some courier companies are inflexible about when they are going to pick up deliveries. With Apparel Line you ring them and say we have extras to go out at 4pm, can you come back. It's never a problem. With the other company there were many times we loaded garments into our car and took them to their depot as we weren't finished when they called."

Sadler said they would definitely keep Apparel Line on for next season.


Paola Ghirelli
New Zealand Editor