Ten years ago, ambitious Tasmanian discount retail chain Shiploads took bulk delivery of 15 Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) forklifts/walkie stackers and electric pallet jacks to support its fast-growing distribution network.
The mass purchase suited Shiploads’ philosophy of achieving “extreme value” on behalf of its many customers.
It’s been a hugely successful concept. Buying well and passing on the savings to its customers has made Shiploads a Tasmanian institution.
“The population of Tasmania is 575,000, and at some stage every one of them has visited one of our stores,” Dan Bryan, head of retail operations, claims with pride.
Shiploads now have twelve thriving stores across the state, offering core products from homeware to gardening implements, as well as a constantly changing range of special offers bought opportunistically anywhere in the world.
Its central warehouse capacity has more than doubled to meet demand, and its material-handling fleet has grown to 35.
At the beginning of this financial year, the first of its fleet was replaced.
Shiploads took delivery of three new Toyota 1.8‑tonne 8FBE18 three‑wheel battery‑electric forklifts, replacing three of the original machines.
Shiploads has effectively outsourced control of its fleet management to national distributor TMHA, which established its own footprint in Tasmania shortly after the Shiploads start-up.
“All 35 machines are covered under a long-term rental agreement,” Dan said.
“It provides us with assurance of machine capability and the security of a fixed annual budget allocation.”
It’s been a mutually beneficial partnership. TMHA’s area sales manager, Hobart/Southern Region, Tim French, rates Shiploads as one of his largest Tasmanian clients and highly regards the company for its adherence to strict policies of cost containment and social responsibility.
“All 35 machines are battery electric,” Tim said.
“That’s not only environmentally accountable, but it makes sound operational sense when you consider Tasmania’s hydroelectricity network delivers lower energy costs than the mainland.”
Four forklifts work within the central warehouse; the others are employed in the stores. They’re part of a company-wide adoption of ecologically sensible initiatives like switching to LED lighting and giving customers free cardboard boxes in which products arrive, rather than sending them to waste.
Dan and Tim, both long‑termers in their two companies, work as a team to manage the fleet and to plan elements of the logistics of Shiploads’ expansion.
The three new 8FBE18 three‑wheel forklifts are a good example.
“The dramatically reduced turning circle of the new machines made a lot of sense in order to support a new warehouse racking system we’re planning,” Dan said.
“We were initially wary of three wheels instead of four.
“Tim provided us with ample demonstration of their advantages in our soon‑to‑be new warehouse configuration, including test time for our operators.
Shiploads will soon expand capacity within its 2,300‑square‑metre central warehouse in Cambridge, Hobart, reducing aisle width from its current three metres and requiring new picking solutions. The new three‑wheelers offer a 13 per cent improvement in turning capability, a big boost to operational efficiency.
“Tim personally delivered the new machines and provided operator training,” Dan said.
“More than that, he’s our go‑to person for all matters of machine function on our fleet.
“Our people listen to him. By following his advice we’ve never had a battery failure, and we’ve never had a piece of equipment fail on the job.”
Shiploads employ 300 staff within a framework that prioritises work‑life balance.
“The warehouse works seven till three and the shops shut promptly at 5.45 pm,” Dan said.
“It’s one of the reasons I work here. Work‑life balance is important.”
The company actively supports its communities with an after‑school student employment program that provides teenagers with paid work. And its employment policy has no upper age limit.
“We have an 80‑year‑old on staff, age is just a number,” Dan said.
“We employ on mojo. If a person’s values, genuine, passionate, customer‑obsessed, match ours, then that’s the fit we’re seeking.”
It’s one of the reasons the connection with TMHA, its only material‑handling partner, is so successful.
“We rely on them for good advice, and because of them it’s definitely one area of the business that doesn’t require my daily attention,” Dan said.
Shiploads’ other business covenant is “fun.” It’s a happy place to work and visit. In keeping with its nautical theme, it answers its phone with “Ahoy,” and its employees are given ranks, from Admiral (CEO) through Captain (store managers) to crew. Dan Bryan is in charge of Back‑of‑Ship operations.
The company’s business name holds the promise of a wide variety of products on sale, but its website warns: “Don’t mispronounce us.”
The Shiploads Toyota 8FBE three wheel electric forklift hard at work