This week, we will be attending Property Week’s Industrial and Logistics Conference in London. The two-day event will see key players from the UK market come together to celebrate the booming industrial and logistics sector, and look to what the future holds.
Evolving consumer demands continue to drive changes in the industry, with the designs of industrial and logistics buildings continuing to adapt and develop in order to respond. With online retailers such as Boohoo and Amazon showing continued profit growth, it’s clear that the internet shopping era is not going to slow down anytime soon.
The internet shopping boom has created a whole new market. In order for retailers to pip their rivals for market share, they must provide the most convenient offering for consumers. In the digital age of instant gratification this means fast delivery – with Londoners even expecting delivery within the hour– and ease of returns.
Recently, ASOS announced that it would be changing its returns policy in a bid to deter “serial returners”. Returns is still a challenging area for the logistics sector. Internet retailers need improved logistics in order to respond to the consumer market demands.
ASOS’ recent update is presumably to help with its profits, as well as to encourage consumers to be more mindful of their purchases and the impact of their deliveries on the environment. We’re looking forward to helping our clients navigate the challenges the internet age poses to the logistics sector, and finding the best solutions for our clients, their customers and the environment.
We have a wealth of experience, from recently transforming a former landfill site into a five-unit industrial scheme in Reading, to an ongoing project in Sheffield – Bessemer Park – where we are working closely with Peel Logistics Properties to breathe life into a former steelworks site with two distribution units totalling almost 180,000 sq ft.
But our work in the sector is not just limited to the UK. We currently have 15 projects live throughout various European countries for a range of clients, including non-sortable distribution facility for a large internet retailer.
We are very much looking forward to hearing the multitude of talks over the two days of the Industrial and Logistics Conference as we all look forward to how to navigate the fourth industrial revolution and the challenges it brings for development.
The conference is the go-to event in the UK for sector networking and we are looking forward to networking with colleagues, friends and new faces alike. Get in touch with director Stephen Oakden if you will be at the conference and would like to catch up.
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ENDS