Warehouse & 3PL
Flexible 3PL warehousing near Manchester
We store, pick, pack and deliver your stock from our 22,000 sq ft warehouse near Manchester, serving businesses across the UK, with no minimums and short or long-term contracts. Because we run our own fleet, your goods go from our racking onto our trucks: one team, one contact, one invoice.
What we do for your stock
3PL (third-party logistics) means we handle the warehouse so you don't have to. With us that covers:
- Receiving and booking in your inbound stock
- Storage on racking or floor space, dry and secure
- Pick and pack for B2B orders, full or part pallet loads
- Dispatch on our own fleet, or through the Palletline and Hazchem networks
- Handling returns back into stock
Need it on a regular, ongoing basis? That's contract logistics, fixed schedules and terms, and we do that too. We handle the warehouse so your team can focus on the business.
Stored today, delivered tomorrow
This is the part most 3PLs can't offer cleanly. We don't only store your stock, we deliver it, on our own liveried fleet or through our distribution networks. One team handles storage and delivery, so one company is accountable from the shelf to your customer's door. See also our road haulage service.
One contact who knows your account
You won't explain your business to a different person every time you call. You get a dedicated contact who knows your account, your stock and your customers, the same person each time. It's the kind of attention that gets harder to sustain the bigger an operation gets.
Know where your stock and orders are
We keep you updated on your stock, and every outbound order is tracked with live tracking and proof of delivery (POD) via the My Sims portal. Every vehicle is tracked and every consignment is confirmed to proof of delivery, so you're not left guessing where an order has got to.
Right-sized, not enterprise
Our 22,000 sq ft warehouse near Manchester is part-racked, dry and secure, with CCTV, a remote monitored alarm and private security patrols. We're not trying to be the biggest shed in the North West. We're built for the stock volumes growing businesses actually have, with flexible contracts and no minimum commitment, so you're not paying for space and ties you don't need. Close to the M60 and the motorway network, we can get your stock out fast.
22,000 sq ft
Warehouse near Manchester
2M sq ft
Across our partner network
53 years
Moving freight
Accreditations
Members of BIFA (the British International Freight Association) and the RHA (Road Haulage Association), FORS accredited and ISO 9001 certified, with 53 years moving freight.
Sectors we work with
Manufacturing, retail, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and trade distribution. For manufacturers on tight build schedules, see our manufacturing and JIT supply chain service. If you import stock and need it received, stored and sent back out, we can also clear it through our customs clearance team. Selling on Amazon? See our Amazon FBA and e-commerce logistics page.
What our customers say
We contacted Sims a few years ago when we were having issues with another company, and have not looked back since. The service they provide is first class, all the staff in the office are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly.
Questions, answered
- What is 3PL?
Third-party logistics means outsourcing your warehousing and distribution to a specialist. You keep control of your business; we receive, store, pick, pack and deliver your stock.
- What’s the difference between 3PL and 4PL?
A 3PL like us runs the physical operation: warehouse, stock, fulfilment, transport. A 4PL manages other logistics suppliers on your behalf without owning the assets. We run the operation ourselves.
- What does pick and pack mean?
We select the items for each order from your stock, pack them, and dispatch them, whether that's a single B2B order or full and part pallet loads.
- Is there a minimum volume?
No minimum pallet commitment and no long lock-in. We offer short and long-term flexible contracts, so you pay for the space you use and can start small and grow.
- What is contract logistics?
An ongoing arrangement where we handle your warehousing and distribution on fixed schedules and terms, rather than ad-hoc. It suits businesses with regular, predictable stock movements.
- Can I see my stock and get reports?
Yes. The Warehouse Stock portal in My Sims shows your stock movements and stock levels in real time, so you can check what's in storage without having to ask. Every outbound order is tracked through to proof of delivery.
- Can you deliver as well as store?
Yes, and it's the point. We dispatch on our own fleet or through our partner networks, so storage and delivery come from one team.
- Do you store hazardous goods?
Yes. We store hazardous goods as well as moving them, and we've been ADR specialists since 1973. Storage is limited by class and volume, so tell us the UN numbers and quantities and we'll confirm what we can hold. See our hazardous and ADR logistics page.
Outsource your warehouse to one team
Tell us what you’re storing and shipping, and we’ll build it around your business.