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Taschen is changing its distribution to merge its UK operation with its European hub as it adjusts to the “new realities” of Brexit.
From mid-April onwards, the UK market will be serviced from a centralised Taschen warehouse in Germany. The last date for order processing from its existing distributor, Hachette UK Distribution, is 15th April.
The firm's chief operating officer Hans-Peter Kübler said the change had been driven by market demand but suggested that the UK leaving the EU had also been a factor.
He told The Bookseller: “Successful partnerships require supply chain efficiency to build and maintain momentum. By merging UK distribution with our central European hub, we can guarantee the best availability and most instant supply of Taschen books to all market partners. Market and consumer demand have driven this change, and Taschen has invested massively into the digitisation of our systems in order to service our growing customer base in the best possible way. We have to thank Hachette for supporting this important project.
“Brexit has not yet interrupted our business, but we are adjusting to its new realities. In this case, since the UK warehouse could unfortunately no longer serve as a secondary distribution base for our extended European business, we had to end our co-operation with Hachette.”
The company said its move to a larger centralised warehouse would provide access to a much broader stock range, an increase in availability, and higher quantity capabilities. It will also allow full digital integration with trade partners, including optimisation of a paperless order and fulfillment process, Taschen said.
Yusuf Butolli, sales director for Taschen UK, explained: “To help meet the greater needs of an ever evolving UK market, we have strategically decided to move towards centralising our worldwide distribution in Germany. The new warehouse will have far more choice in title availability. We’re excited that a wider range of both existing and new consumers from across the UK and international markets - many who have come to us from a steep increase in online trading given the pandemic - can enjoy a fuller and more comprehensive supply of our imprint. We are confident this important move will create stronger market development opportunities and continue to inspire the next generation of readers and creatives across the world.”
Enquiries and orders will be processed via electronic data interchange or directly via Taschen UK, and orders should be sent to Taschen account managers.
Hachette UK's distribution arm is run from the Hely Hutchison Centre, a huge warehouse that opened in Didcot in 2018 and is billed as one of the most advanced in Europe.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Taschen have been a valued distribution client of ours, and we wish them well.”