Top 10 toy supplier, TP Toys, has slashed its carrier costs by more than a quarter (25%) while simultaneously enhancing carrier diversification and optimising its shipping processes to improve customer experience by partnering with Scurri, the next generation delivery management platform.
TP Toys is a leading global supplier, distributor, and manufacturer of toys across multiple categories including indoor and outdoor activity toys, Swingball and electronic toys.
The fast-expanding business, which is currently the largest wholly privately owned toy company within the UK, has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1987. From its beginnings in a garage in Edgware, the business now boasts a Head Office in Bedfordshire, which is accompanied by a 150,000 sq. ft warehousing facility, a Worcestershire-based design hub, as well as international bases in France, Poland and Hong Kong. They have also recently expanded its manufacturing capabilities through the acquisition of a wood factory in Latvia.
With its success being built on a staunch passion for supplying innovative, durable and high-quality toys for children of all ages, TP Toys designs and develops several household brands such as Swingball, Scuttlebug and Tybo – just to name a few – and distributes for a number of major international toy brands in the UK.
While TP Toys appreciated their previous delivery management provider’s support, they often found that implementing rule changes – particularly those with some complexity – was not always straightforward. They were frequently dependent on their provider’s assistance. In some cases, even simple requests led to overly complicated solutions at a cost or, at times, no feasible solution at all.
“We needed a platform that allowed us to configure delivery rules ourselves as taking control of complex shipping rules was a critical step for us in improving fulfilment operations,” explains Andrew Bevan, Compliance and WMS Manager at TP Toys.
TP Toys is a fast-growing business with increasing shipment volumes and multiple peak periods throughout the year, including significant hot weather-related spikes driving demand for its outdoor toys. Additionally, it sells a complex product set ranging from small parcels through to large scale playhouses, mud kitchens and trampolines, making controlled and flexible logistics a business priority.
“With Scurri, shipping different sized items has been effortless – whether it’s a small box or a bulky trampoline, generating the right labels, applying the correct rules and connecting to the best cost-effective route is now seamless,” said Bevan.
Scurri has enabled the business to integrate seamlessly with a broad network of carriers, reducing its dependence on any single provider while its Rules Engine automates optimal carrier selection based on pre-set criteria.
“Different carriers offer different benefits, so having access to a wide range of carriers significantly reduces risk, particularly during peak trading periods or unexpected sales surges, making Scurri instrumental in delivering our carrier diversification strategy. Additionally, the rules engine is incredibly straightforward and effortless to manage. The flexibility has enabled optimisations that were previously out of reach, unlocking new efficiencies in our carrier network.”
With Scurri’s advanced analytics and reporting dashboards, TP Toys can track carrier performance and make data-driven decisions to drive cost efficiencies. These insights have been crucial in achieving the 25% reduction in carrier costs, particularly for bulkier shipments such as trampolines and outdoor toys. The partnership has positioned TP Toys for continued expansion and enhanced customer experience with reliable delivery operations ensuring that customers receive their orders on time, boosting satisfaction and brand trust.
“Beyond cost savings and operational optimisations, the biggest benefit has been freeing ourselves from mundane logistics challenges. This has allowed us to focus on strategic initiatives – enhancing the customer experience and continually optimising costs,” commented Bevan.
Rory O’Connor, founder & CEO of Scurri commented: “In an increasingly difficult trading environment, where careful resource management is paramount, the partnership between TP Toys and Scurri highlights how critical having the right delivery management partner is in improving performance metrics across the business – from operational savings to customer experience – to ensure maximum profitability.”
