Watco Opens New Warehouse, Logistics Operating Center in Arkansas

Watco Opens New Warehouse, Logistics Operating Center in Arkansas

On September 28, the Watco team hosted an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its new warehouse and logistics operating center in Springdale, Arkansas, at the I-49 Logistics Park.

Local government officials, customers, and suppliers joined members of the Watco team at the open house. At the event, Watco CEO Dan Smith said: “The new logistics center is not just a building, but an investment in Northwest Arkansas. It represents Watco’s commitment to customers and our priority to meet their growing needs in the future.”

Watco Logistics President Eric Wolfe said, “Northwest Arkansas is a logistics hub in the U.S. with service needs spanning the logistics and supply chain spectrum. This facility was designed to meet the multi-dimensional needs of our current and future customers in this market.

“This location offers our customers a one-stop-shop solution for warehousing, transportation, special roll-out projects, e-commerce distribution, and reverse logistics.”

The new building features a total of 185,000 square feet of space, split between a 20,000-square-foot office space and 165,000-square-foot warehouse with 18 dock doors and three ramps. In addition, the warehouse features racking and floor space providing the ability to hold up to 18,000 pallets

of freight. Senior Director of Retail Services Andy Moran anticipates the warehouse will store 11,000 pallets by the end of 2023.

Sixty-five team members are based in Springdale. Wolfe said, “Our new logistics operating center puts the entire Northwest Arkansas-based team under one roof. It’s the perfect space to bring all operations together to seamlessly serve our customers.”

A big-box retailer is just one example of a customer that the Watco team in Springdale serves. They receive, handle, inventory, kit, and consolidate equipment such as sound systems and display monitors.

Once product is ready to be delivered to retail stores, Watco coordinates delivery and installation of materials. Moran said: “We are this customer’s firstparty logistics provider. Watco handles it all, from PO (Purchase Order) to POD (Proof of Delivery). Rather than getting multiple invoices from different parties for all aspects of their product distribution, this customer gets one invoice from us.”

Another enhancement coming soon to the warehouse is a technology lab. Slated to open in 2024, this secured space offers its own technology infrastructure to prepare new devices and update existing hardware in bulk. Wolfe believes this new addition will “make us more than a service partner, but an extension of the customer.”