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Getting office furniture from an overseas manufacturer to dealers across the United States takes coordination at every step. For i5 Industries, that means connecting international shipping, port drayage and less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation through a logistics partner that understands its business.
The Texas-based office furniture importer and wholesale distributor sources products from Eastern Europe and supplies furniture dealers nationwide. As its transportation needs have expanded, so has its relationship with Averitt.
In the video below, Tara Laughter, president and CEO of i5 Industries, shares how that partnership supports the company today and creates possibilities for future growth.
How Does i5 Connect International Imports With Domestic Distribution?
For i5, coordinating inbound furniture shipments and outbound dealer orders involves several transportation services. Averitt helps connect those services through international shipping, drayage and LTL distribution.
The relationship began with LTL service in 2018. Over time, i5 expanded its work with Averitt to include coordinating imports from its manufacturer in Eastern Europe and transporting containers from the Port of Houston to its facility.
“They are working with our manufacturer in Eastern Europe to get everything set up on the water,” Laughter explains. “And then they are tracking it every step of the way for us.”
That coordination supports the flow of products into i5’s operation, where inventory becomes available for orders from furniture dealers throughout the country. Averitt’s LTL service then helps move those orders to market.
For a growing importer, having access to multiple services through an established relationship means additional transportation needs can be addressed with a team that already knows the business.
How Does i5 Help Protect Office Furniture During Shipping?
Protecting furniture in transit starts with how it is prepared for shipment. i5 uses oversized pallets to help its products withstand the demands of traveling long distances to customers.
“We decided many years ago that it was important for us to make sure that our pallet structure could go from Texas to New York or Texas to LA,” says Laughter.
The additional packaging material represents an investment in the condition of the furniture when it arrives. Transportation service is another important part of that equation, and Laughter credits Averitt with helping support i5’s efforts to limit damage.
For furniture distributors, the cost of a shipment extends beyond the freight rate. Damaged products can require replacements, additional transportation and time spent resolving problems for customers. i5’s approach combines attention to packaging with a logistics relationship built around dependable service.
What Does Working With One Logistics Partner Mean for i5?
As Averitt’s role has grown, familiarity with i5’s people and operations has helped the teams respond to changing needs.
The relationship reaches beyond arranging pickups and tracking shipments. Averitt associates know i5’s employees and families, attend the company’s annual crawfish boil and share in the culture that makes the business personal.
“A friendship has been born from it,” Laughter says.
That familiarity has practical value. Knowing the customer’s operation gives the Averitt team context when identifying services, coordinating transportation or helping with the next stage of growth.
Laughter also recognizes the drivers who serve i5’s facility each day.
“They’re phenomenal in the ways that they show up.”
For i5, the Power of One, Averitt's ability to serve all aspects of a shipper's logistics needs, is reflected in both the range of services available and the people connecting those services to its needs.
How Could Regional Warehousing Help i5 Enter New Markets?
Looking ahead, i5 is exploring how Averitt’s Distribution & Fulfillment Centers could help it test additional markets and position inventory closer to customers.
Using a logistics partner’s warehouse network can give a distributor a way to evaluate regional demand before committing to its own facility. For i5, the opportunity also includes potentially shortening transit times.
“Averitt is providing that for us through possibly doing some of their distribution centers, allowing us to kind of pilot or test some areas to see if there is enough business in those areas,” Laughter explains.
These possibilities remain under consideration. They represent another way the partnership could evolve as i5 identifies where and how it wants to grow.
From international imports to domestic furniture distribution, i5’s experience shows how a logistics relationship can expand alongside a business.
Download the case study to explore the partnership, or contact Averitt to discuss international shipping, LTL, drayage and distribution support for your business.
Contact Our International Shipping Team
Tell us what you’re shipping and where it needs to go. Our team can help connect your international shipments with drayage, LTL and distribution services to support your business.
