By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOTFounded in 1963, with one women’s apparel store in Columbus, Ohio, Limited Brands has grown into a $9.7 billion company with more than 3,800 stores and specialty stores. “That adds up to some 16 million square feet of selling space in shopping malls across the United States,” says Paul Marshall, vice president of distribution operations responsible for the Express brand. One element to the retailer’s success is the Limited Logistics Services, formerly known as Limited Distribution Services. Among its responsibilities, Limited Logistics Services provides the global logistics management and supply chain link for The Limited, Inc. and its six brands: the Limited, Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, C.O. Bigelow, Express, Henri Bendel, and White Barn Candle Co. It also provides logistics services of both Abercrombie & Fitch and Limited TOO through third party (3PL) agreements. “We handle about 65 million pounds of air freight, 18,000 teus, and 45,000 truckloads annually,” Marshall says. “That includes delivery agents.” Distribution centralThe company operates approximately 4.8 million square feet of distribution space in Columbus in addition to a third-party distribution center in New Jersey and Los Angeles where it performs cross-dock operations and some distribution. The Columbus facility for the Limited’s Express brand uses radio frequency as well as light direct picking. “Most of our facilities do something similar. We are in a common warehouse management system across our facilities,” Marshall says. “We have shipping facilities and systems in Columbus where we consolidate for all of our divisions.” In other words, if shipments need to be sent to, say, St. Louis, for a variety of stores across the Limited brands family, shipments are consolidated for all divisions into a single trailer. In St. Louis the trailer goes to a third party delivery agent who breakes the truck down by store and by mall and puts the shipments into peddle trucks for delivery to the stores. To help stores plan their labor around delivery, Limited Logistics Services delivers within a two-hour window appointment time. “We guarantee a high 90 percentile on time delivery,” Marshall states. Helping speed the shipments are fast moving conveyor systems in Limited Logistics Services shipping facilities. These are capable of sorting 300 cartons a minute. “It is very fast and interesting to see in the November and December timeframe, because those conveyors are full of product,” Marshall says. During the Spring months the system handles about 400,000 cartons per week, but jumps to 1.5 million cartons per week in the Fall. “That is usually from the second half of November through the last week of the year,” Marshall says. “We are strong until early in January.” Store orders are prepared within 24 hours of receipt in the United States. Deliveries to all stores across the country are made within 3.5 days. During the Spring months deliveries are made a minimum of three times a week; five to six times a week in the Fall. The increase is due to the sheer volume going to stores. Replenishment requirements are different for each brand. Cargo movementThe Limited, Inc. sources product from about 45 countries worldwide, with more coming from the Pacific Rim than from anywhere else. It depends on the business, however. Most personal care items are sourced in the United States because of weight. For products that are imported, their weight and brand are key factors in deciding whether to ship by air or by ocean. Inventory needs as well as timing to market are also important factors. Consequently, Limited Logistics Services uses a core group of steamship lines and air carriers, in addition to trucking companies. In recent years, however, the company has been using more trucking companies than in the past due to issues challenging the industry such as the shortage of drivers and equipment. “Plus, a lot of private contractors are leaving