Bacon & Co. — est. 1925
Contents
  1. 01Executive Overview
  2. 02Proposed Solution
  3. 03Manufacturing
  4. 04The Store Platform
  5. 05Platform Capabilities
  6. 06Uniform & Safety
  7. 07Governance & Brand
  8. 08Inventory & Fulfillment
  9. 09Reporting & Analytics
  10. 10Implementation
  11. 11Account & Support
  12. 12Innovation
  13. 13Client Experience
  14. §9The 1,000-Hire Wave

Section 8 · Required Presentation Section 08

Inventory & Fulfillment

One building in Knoxville, the stocked versus made-to-order decision made per program, and the service metrics we are measured on.

Stock and print-on-demand both have trade-offs. We would pick per program with Pilot rather than apply a house preference.

100,000

Square feet

Knoxville, Tennessee

One centralized distribution and fulfillment facility, owned and operated by us. We do not contract with third-party warehousing providers.

98%

Fill rate

In-stock programs

Measured from order placement to shipment. Custom programs also run at 98%.

24–72h

Turnaround

In-stock orders

Processed and shipped within 24 to 72 hours of receipt, plus transit, FOB Knoxville. Custom orders run 2 to 3 weeks.

Stock vs. print-on-demand

Two models, and what each is good at
Holding stockPrint on demand
Faster turnaround timesNo inventory to carry
Improved fill ratesNo minimum order quantity
Reduced supply chain riskMade to order
Better support for new store openings and growthAlways open

Whether an item is stocked or runs as print-on-demand, our ERP manages the replenishment and the inventory level behind it. Inventory planning for the Pilot program would incorporate historical usage, forecast modeling, seasonal fluctuation, safety stock, growth projections, new store opening schedules and employee turnover trends.

The new print-on-demand facility

We are building a new print-on-demand facility, designed for ten times the volume we run today and to be the most technologically sophisticated manufacturing center we operate.

It is the capacity behind the right-hand column above — no inventory, no minimum, made to order — at the scale a program the size of Pilot's would actually put through it.

Drag to turn it · scroll to zoom

The new facility. Turn it, or open it full screen for a closer look.

Kitting

We maintain a dedicated kitting department built for programs that need specialized packaging and assembly, and we can create effectively any kit configuration required — new store opening kits, themed boxes, recognition programs, safety programs and events. Kitting services are included in the pricing of the applicable items and programs.

We already run kitting for several national programs, including the University of Tennessee and Cellular Sales.

We have seen great success with onboarding kits on the Pilot uniform program already. A kit is a single SKU to the buyer, which is what makes ordering for a new hire one decision instead of nine.

Kits we have built

Pilot new-hire onboarding kit
Onboarding. Polos, a cinch bag, a tumbler, earbuds, a radio headset and the training guides — one line to order.
University of Tennessee Vol Family spirit box
UT spirit box. A seat cushion, a rally towel, an illustrated tumbler and a state-shaped magnet — in a mailer that is printed too, rather than a brown box with the kit inside it.
Cellular Sales new-hire box, tier three
Cellular Sales new-hire box, tier three. A backpack, a wireless charging pad and an insulated bottle. Three tiers, each one SKU to the buyer — the same shape as a package that changes by role and by state.

Nationwide distribution services

All domestic orders ship from our Knoxville distribution facility. Shipping capability covers parcel, less-than-truckload and full truckload. Carrier relationships include UPS, FedEx, USPS, multiple regional and national LTL carriers, multiple full truckload providers, and multiple ocean and air freight providers for overseas transportation.

Holding relationships with several carriers rather than one gives flexibility, competitive pricing and continuity when a single carrier has a problem.

Out-of-stock and backorders

Our preferred strategy is to hold enough inventory to minimize or eliminate backorders. Where one happens, Pilot chooses the behavior: either temporarily disable purchase of the out-of-stock item until it is replenished, or allow the backorder with a clearly communicated estimated restock date shown at checkout. Once the item is received, backordered items release, process and ship automatically.

  • Individual order fulfillment.
  • Distribution centre replenishment.
  • New store opening kits.
  • Bulk shipments.
  • Customised kitting solutions.
  • Employee-specific order fulfillment.
  • Special event and promotional kits.
  • Print on demand via dedicated website or platform.