Prioritise measured KPIs: transit time to your customer base, dock-to-stock throughput, inventory accuracy, pick/pack cycle times, and carrier integration. Evaluate infrastructure (racking, dock capacity), IT compatibility (WMS/ERP APIs), SLA penalties, labor flexibility for peak season, and clear pricing for handling, storage and returns.

Penzance combines a national rail terminus and trunk-road links (A30/A39) with nearby port facilities, which shortens regional delivery windows across Cornwall and the South West. This geography benefits carriers focused on dense rural routes and seasonal volumes, but planners should validate carrier pickup schedules, transit SLA variability and intermodal handover times.

Expect lower base rents than metropolitan hubs but plan for variable costs: utilities, local labour premiums during peak season, handling fees for irregular / seasonal SKU profiles, and minimum throughput or pallet commitments. Seek transparent SLAs, short-term flex options and clear demarcation of responsibilities for inventory loss and cycle counts.

Choose 3PLs that offer seasonal labor pools, temporary slot expansion, cross-docking and buffer storage. Require documented surge staffing plans, expedited inbound processing and streamlined reverse-logistics workflows for returns and refurbishment. Validate historical peak performance and request scenario-based pricing for surge volumes.