Aquis – an American company whose range of uniquely designed hair-drying towels and turbans are driving a new trend in the hair care category across the USA – has appointed Walker Logistics to manage its supply chain as it prepares to launch in to the UK and mainland European markets.
Berkshire-based Walker will provide picking, packing and fulfillment services for online sales of the Aquis products and will supply retail outlets too. 
Because Aquis has no offices or operational support staff outside of the United States, Walker is also providing call centre services to deal with customer enquiries and ensure streamlined and seamless interaction between all stages of customer engagement and the order fulfillment process.
Walker Logistics will also be leveraging its contacts within Europe’s major retail chains to help Aquis grow its presence on the high street.
William Walker, head of sales and marketing at Walker Logistics, commented: “The Aquis model is an interesting one and demonstrates how firms from outside Europe are increasingly deploying lean start up strategies to target the European market.”
He continued: “Initially at least, Aquis plans to develop its presence in the personal grooming market this side of the Atlantic from its base in California and invest into marketing and consumer acquisition directly in the UK while we support them with everything else the company needs operationally – including effectively opening up new business-to-business retail sales channels through our contacts in Europe within the kind of stores that Aquis is targeting.
“This is a perfect example of how, for 3PLs such as ourselves, there is no such thing as a ‘normal contract’ any more. You simply have to offer more than making up and shipping full pallet loads if you want to have an edge in this business.”
