Relocating from just 1.4 miles away, the new IDS site is ideally-positioned on the main A34 road serving Stoke. This provides a superior and more prominent location from which to give customers improved access and to enhance the company’s levels of service, stockholding and product availability.
With a project investment of around £3.5m, the new site has been bespoke designed to reflect the company’s expertise in decorative surfaces. The larger and newly-racked 45,000ft² warehouse will hold 1700 items for ex-stock delivery – an increase of 30% – with a new inventory controlled system for faster and accurate stock picking. Parkhouse will stock all of the company’s product lines in laminates, worktops, flooring, panel products, solid surface and wall panelling.
The 10,000 sq ft office complex, meanwhile, houses the 75 local staff, of the 420 nationally, and includes a 55-seat training room. This will be used for staff and customer training, seminars, product launches from its brand partners and educational training with local schools and colleges.
A 15,000 sq ft manufacturing facility has also been built for the company’s Showerwall brand of bathroom panelling
The new Parkhouse branch is also the first of IDS’s 12 regional sites to feature a newly-designed showroom concept, prior to its national roll-out. The showroom demonstrates the depth and breadth of the company’s portfolio, plus a complementary offer of timber and tools for the trade.
“This year IDS celebrates 15 years of business and the re-location of our Stoke branch is another important milestone in our successful development,” says MD of IDS, John Bagshaw. Parkhouse, continues our investment and service-led approach to helping our customers grow with first class product solutions and a state-of-the-art distribution centre to serve their needs. It also underlines our commitment to the Stoke area as a long term employer."
