The Couture Club's sales soar 200% with Shipster tech

A fashion retailer known for its appeal among celebrities and sports figures has achieved a 200% growth following a significant logistical transformation with Shipster's software platform.

The Couture Club, based in Manchester and dealing in lifestyle and streetwear, attributes the increase in international sales to a strategic decision made five years ago to digitalise its warehouse management and shipping activities. This decision centred around the adoption of Shipster, a shipping integration platform that connects online retailers and eCommerce warehouses with more than 100 couriers.

Through the integration with Descartes Peoplevox, a warehouse management system (WMS), The Couture Club has managed to automate its logistics processes from 'pick to ship'. The result has been increased efficiency, higher productivity, quicker order fulfilment, improved customer satisfaction, higher profits, and greater flexibility for expansion.

Scott Shashua, Managing Director at The Couture Club, remarked: "Shipster has transformed our company logistically, enabling us to do things we never thought would be possible. Our brand has been growing year on year internationally. I don't think we could have been able to cope with the growth we have experienced without Shipster. The impact has been tremendous."

Established in 2015 by reality TV personality Ross Worswick alongside entrepreneur Scott Shashua, The Couture Club has witnessed continuous growth. Its products are now available at Selfridges and have been worn by several high-profile figures, including Lamine Yamal and Eduardo Camavinga. Currently, the company employs 50 people.

The company initially relied on manual, paper-based logistics before reaching a critical growth phase in 2019 that necessitated an upgrade. Sales had escalated, leading to operational pressures that required more efficient procedures.

"I jokingly refer to that time as 'the dark days' - where half your day would be picking and the other half would be creating and putting labels on for shipping," said Chris Warburton, Warehouse Manager at The Couture Club. "The pressure to fulfil orders was immense and relentless. That manual process was painful and prone to human error which could cause further delay to our already demanding schedule. As we got bigger and bigger, it was obvious things needed to change."

With the implementation of Descartes Peoplevox and Shipster in 2019, The Couture Club automated its shipping processes, significantly enhancing operational efficiency. Warburton added: "The long-standing partnership between the two software solutions means data flows through the business quickly. Labels with all the correct information are printed instantly on demand. That speed has doubled our capacity to be able to fulfil more orders. Accuracy is 100%, It's bulletproof."

The expansion into international markets necessitated compliance with post-Brexit regulations, which The Couture Club has managed using Shipster's custom shipping rules to automate documentation, ensuring smooth cross-border transactions.

Shipster's adaptable licensing model has allowed The Couture Club to adjust its operations according to seasonal demand, a crucial capability in the fast-paced fashion industry. Warburton noted the reliability of Shipster, saying: "As a business you always look at places where you can improve certain systems. We are lightyears away from where we were before. When it comes to Shipster, it is so reliable and can handle anything you throw at it. There's nothing that Shipster hasn't been able to support us with to make our lives easier. And the responsiveness is instant. They understand how fast-moving our business is and how costly delay is."

Tony Cheetham, Founder and Managing Director at Shipster, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "It has been fantastic to be part of The Couture Club's success story. Retailers, especially in the fashion sector, need a solution that is efficient, cost-effective and gets products out of the warehouse to customers seamlessly."

Cheetham further commented on Shipster's capability in aiding growing businesses, saying: "We have a fantastic track record of supporting fast-growing fashions brands and are proud to be part of the growth of such a vital and valuable sector of the UK economy."