Recreational Equipment, Inc. announced plans for the expansion of its national distribution center located in Sumner, Wash., near the co-op’s Seattle area-based corporate headquarters.
The construction, scheduled to begin this month, will add approximately 144,000 square feet of floor space to the existing 375,000 square-foot facility, and provide additional parking. In addition, the systems and equipment that manage product movement throughout the facility will be upgraded beginning next year. The expansion and planned upgrades will provide REI with improved efficiencies and much-needed space for increased inventory storage, allowing better availability of in-stock products for REI’s retail store, online and telephone/mail-order sales outlets.
“The distribution center has a critical role in supporting increased customer demand,” said Dave Presley, REI vice president of distribution and logistics. “This investment will address our immediate growth needs and allow us to maintain the wide assortment of quality outdoor gear our customers expect from REI.”
REI opened its Sumner distribution center (1700 45th Street East) in January 1992. The site was selected because of its close proximity to REI’s corporate headquarters, the City of Sumner’s interest in REI locating in the city, access to the recently completed North Sumner interchange on Highway 167, and the opportunity to expand the facility on the 30-acre site to keep pace with REI’s growth.
Since opening its doors, REI’s distribution center has gone from supporting a network of 24 retail stores in 1992, to 76 stores in 24 states by the end of this year. The expansion and upgrade of the facility will support the co-op’s recent growth, which is expected to reach 84 stores in 25 states in 2005.
REI’s distribution center employs between 350 and 560 full- and part-time employees, depending on the retail season. In addition to inbound, outbound and warehouse operations, the REI-owned distribution facility also accommodates REI’s call center and customer service staff.
