DHL 2013 Annual Report Download - page 8

Backstage it’s all hustle and bustle. Out front everyone
is hyped up in anticipation. The lights go down and the
spotlight goes on – it’s show time. Just a few minutes on
the catwalk can make or break whether a new designer
collection will be a success or not. Everything has to be
perfect. One of the prized pieces not arriving on time is
simply unthinkable.
“Buongiorno, Mauro.” – When Mauro Zardi’s telephone
rings, he’s often greeted by staff from well-known designer
brands. Mauro is a Fashion Project Manager at  Express in
Milan. Regardless of whether the shelves of a new boutique
need to be filled, garments are required at a fashion show or
a dress that is currently on a rack in Milan is urgently needed
in Paris, Mauro can find a solution.
“We know exactly what our customers need and handle
everything associated with a designer’s collection,” says
Mauro. “That involves fashion show logistics as well as fully
supplying their shops and picking up remaining stock at the
end of the season. We’ve worked with some customers for
many years now and offer them services beyond what is
standard.”
WORLDWIDE NETWORK
FOR FASHION LOGISTICS
Fashion experts like Mauro Zardi benefit from the
Group’s global express network. More than  planes are
on standby, ready to travel between the company’s main
hubs in Leipzig, Cincinnati and Hong Kong, not to mention
the many other hubs around the world. What cannot be
transported by air makes the journey by road in one of the
, vehicles that make up the global fleet. And when time
is of the essence, Mauro doesn’t hesitate in sending a special
courier. This is how  ensures that all items reach their
destination at the time the customer chooses – regardless of
whether it’s within hours, same day or the next day.
 offers the fashion market flexible, tailored logistics
solutions. Its portfolio is broad and includes the manage-
ment of global supply chains – from the purchase of mater-
ials right through to sales. Services such as special packaging,
the safeguarding of goods, customs clearance, warehousing,
inventory and returns processing are also available. In order
to offer these services, the Group’s forwarding division –
 Global Forwarding – has, for example, invested in sev-
eral Fashion and Apparel Centres for Excellence in the Asia
Pacific region. The centre’s fashion logistics experts offer
services that go well beyond simple transport – for example,
warehousing with cutting-edge security systems that guard
against theft. What’s more, the Centre of Excellence offers
a variety of value-added services such as inventory picking,
labelling, visual quality control and repacking.
HITTING THE CATWALK
 has been the official logistics partner for Fashion
Weeks for six years. It’s the pinnacle of fashion logistics–
over the fashion week season, in excess of  designers
showcase their collections at around , different events
all around the world. An audience of over , watches
this catwalk spectacle live each year. Everything has to go
a little faster – with final touches being made to the collec-
tions right up to the last minute. What’s more, the items in
question are particularly valuable.
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