trans-o-flex Logistics Group takes over display services for WALA - Dr. Hauschka Kosmetik

Within the scope of a special project in approximately 2,000 pharmacies, health food shops and beauty parlours all over Germany, trans-o-flex Schnell-Lieferdienst and TT Tour-Trans, its subsidiary specialising in value-added services, have replaced all of the sales displays for the Decorative Cosmetics line of WALA's Dr. Hauschka Kosmetik brand. "The combination of a flexible distribution network and our profound know-how makes it possible for us to offer individual value-added services - and this is what our customers expect, especially in times of crisis", says Kai Schmuck, Director Sales & Marketing of trans-o-flex, who is also responsible for the logistic subsidiaries TT Tour-Trans and trans-o-flex Logistik-Service. Andreas Stolz, Marketing Director of WALA, adds: "trans-o-flex presented a concept that convinced us right from the beginning because the clear and transparent processes enable us to easily monitor the work in progress, while being able to focus all capacities on our core business."

The background of the replacement was the set-up of newly designed sales displays for the exclusive cosmetic product line. "The high quality of cosmetic products must also be reflected in the current presentation for sale", explains Andreas Stolz. "We cannot - and do not want to - expect our distribution partners to take over the work related to such a replacement project. Our field staff would need several months for accomplishing such a task, not being able to concentrate on their actual work. This is why we decided to contact a service provider that has the required experience in this area and is also able to execute the order reliably and in accordance with our quality requirements."

Since the task set was not to completely replace the displays together with the products but to re-arrange the high-quality cosmetics partially also on site, TT Tour- Trans had developed and implemented a two-stage logistic concept. The new displays and the corresponding test products were delivered centrally to Tour- Trans Logistic & Services GmbH in Kerpen, customised and then sent to seven regional distribution centres together with all supporting information, such as the concrete set-up instructions and delivery dates. From there, specifically trained teams organised the individual replacement projects in optimised tours, during which they set up the new displays on site, re-arranged the unsold cosmetics and shelved the test products customised beforehand. In addition to this, they documented shortfalls in order to facilitate repeat orders for the customers and also took with them the packaging material as well as the old displays. A detailed documentation concerning the proper disposal of the old displays and packaging material served to assure the client of maximum compliance with the packaging directive.

"The excellent price-performance ratio and the all-inclusive offer made possible by the complete logistic service from one source were the reasons why we decided to co-operate with the trans-o-flex Logistics Group", says Andreas Stolz. "And this decision turned out to be a stroke of luck."

About TT Tour-Trans Logistic & Services:

Established in 1974, TT Tour-Trans Logistic & Services GmbH, with its headquarters in Kerpen near Cologne, specialises in offering its services to the music, film and cosmetic industries as well as the pharmaceutical sector. The company's service range includes, for example, the stocking, supply and collection of sales displays for the cosmetic industry as well as classic warehouse logistics, returns handling, promotional goods handling, the delivery and set-up of sales displays as well as the delivery of brown and white goods. Since August 2005, TT Tour-Trans has been a member of the European-wide operating trans-o-flex Logistics Group.