The average consumer doesn’t often consider how their ripe produce got to the grocery store, or how online influencers got the high-end home cleaning device they’re advertising. The logistics industry, operating silently in the background of daily consumer life, is instrumental in connecting products to people in even the most niche markets.
HYLA North America has found its niche in the modern consumer landscape, distributing quality home air purifiers to influencers and sales teams across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. We chatted with Joe McSherry, CEO of HYLA North America, to talk about the company’s recent growth and how its unique business model dictates its complex logistics needs.
A Breath of Fresh Air
HYLA North America distributes high-end air filtration systems that use a unique water bath method to trap dust and allergens in the water before returning clean air to the home. Consumers also have the option to use HYLA attachments for a natural way to clean household surfaces.
After the COVID19 pandemic, airborne pollutants were top concerns for consumers, and the demand for home cleaning systems skyrocketed. HYLA increased its production of air purifiers tenfold to meet this rising demand, and Joe says keeping up with the expansion is a welcome challenge.
“We’re experiencing growing pains, which is exciting,” Joe said. “As sales increase, I’m putting more orders in with our manufacturer and trying to maintain a steady flow of inventory. Planning can be a challenge, especially with how long production and transportation takes.”
A Knowledgeable Logistics Partner for International Shipping Needs
HYLA’s logistics needs are intrinsically tied to their unique direct-to-consumer business model. To get their product from the manufacturing plant in Slovenia to local businesses and influencers across North America, Joe and his team must balance manufacturing timelines, cargo ship itineraries, and international trade policies.
“The port nearest to our manufacturer is relatively small and can fill up quickly, so we need to strategically book our cargo ships. The ships themselves can sometimes stop at other ports, extending transit time by days, which is not ideal when we need to fulfill time-sensitive orders,” Joe said. “Shipping is hard, and you really can’t do it alone.”
Joe and his team trust Shaker to be a reliable logistics partner for their international needs. When Joe had a sudden influx of orders, he turned to Shaker for advice on how to minimize transit time while still managing costs. Experts on our dedicated international logistics team advised that HYLA’s product can be expedited from the manufacturer to a nearby larger port, where the air purifiers and parts can be loaded onto ships and sent out faster than at their usual small port. Since then, Joe and his team have been using this system anytime they need to meet a surge in demand.
HYLA’s logistics needs are also dictated by how many devices their sales partners are selling.
“Our local partners have seasonally fluctuating demand,” Joe said. “Some of the sales team prefer to go into overdrive in the winter, so they can take it easy in the summer. And as smaller businesses, they don’t have a place to store extra inventory, so we do our best to match demand in real time.”
Earlier on in HYLA’s partnership with Shaker, our team helped HYLA with this challenge by storing their containers at our warehouse and distributing their product to local partners, meeting inventory requests just in time.
Looking ahead, HYLA plans to harness the modern consumer landscape by increasing partnerships with social media influencers to spread the word about their product. Shaker is excited to partner with HYLA as it continues to grow and succeed.
No matter how niche or complex your logistics needs, you can trust Shaker Logistics’ expert handling. Reach out to our team today for a partner with extensive industry knowledge and experience!