Prioritize service levels and cost together: assess two-day delivery zones, carrier density, WMS/TMS integration, SKU slotting and pick density, returns processing, and scalability for seasonality. Validate labor availability and local real estate trends to align unit economics with projected order volume.

Verify dock door counts, trailer marshalling, racking and clear height, temperature control if required, material handling equipment, WMS features and EDI/API connectivity, security and insurance limits, KPIs for receiving and order accuracy, and peak capacity plans.

A Wexford location can consolidate inbound lanes, reduce drayage to nearby ports, and increase lane density for regional carriers—improving leverage in rate negotiations. It also enables better use of pool distribution, cross-dock and multi-stop routing to lower landed costs.

Include SLA definitions (OTIF, order accuracy), receiving windows and chargeback rules, inventory accuracy targets, reporting cadence and audit rights, ramp and termination clauses, pricing transparency for storage and activity fees, and contingency plans for labor or capacity shortfalls.