Minoli enters the space race

The warehouse team at our Oxford Headquarters are working at pace to make space for stocks of the new product lines we previewed last November. In addition, we’re expanding existing ranges as new and exciting formats, sizes and surfaces are introduced alongside the existing product lines.

Over the last 4-5 years the Minoli headquarters in Oxford has near doubled in footprint with the acquisition of two adjacent plots and buildings. The company now has quite a presence as the ‘Minoli Village’ straddles both sides of Transport Way, Oxford and is clearly visible with new branding and landscaping.

This has provided much needed additional storage space for our stock product lines and for the specific ranges we hold in large quantities for contracts with automotive manufacturers and retailers. In its current state, Minoli’s impressive, purpose-built headquarters and distribution centre comprises some 32,000 ft² of warehousing and 7,000 ft² of showroom space.

However, with near 500 different tile ranges comprising some 3,000 individual product lines, and a continuous biannual cycle of new product launches, our increasing stock diversity means we’re always looking for more space-efficient ways of storing our extensive stocks, which represent near £3 million in net cost value.

What’s more, new Extra Large format slabs and extra thick 20mm tiles for Outdoor use present different storage, handling and transport requirements, which must all be planned for and accommodated if we are to keep up our levels of service, which are considered second to none.

Right now, our teams are assessing all of our premises and warehousing, looking at the logic and layout of our facilities, and reconfiguring our use of the main warehouse, outbuildings, internal repositories and external bays.

There’s always a certain energy about the place at this time of year – a sense of excitement but mixed with an ultimate quest for order and organisation. From the end of year stock-take, through to taking delivery of our new product ranges, it’s an annual cycle that takes focus and effort, but brings much satisfaction as the fruits of that labour.