Evaluate proximity to major routes and carriers, facility dock and staging capacity, WMS/WCS integration, cut‑off and dispatch windows, returns handling, inventory accuracy, and labour flexibility. Prioritise partners that provide transparent reporting and clear SLAs tied to delivery performance and cost metrics.

Location shortens route miles to large urban demand pools, increasing delivery density and reducing carrier spend. A Waltham Forest facility improves same/next‑day coverage across London, lowers fuel and linehaul costs, and enables consolidated pick/pack strategies that reduce per‑order shipping rates.

Prioritise dock door counts, racking and throughput capacity, cross‑dock capability, climate control if required, automation fit for SKU velocity, and robust WMS with API connectivity. Also confirm flexible storage terms and contingency space for peak seasons to avoid bottlenecks.

Negotiate clear SLAs for OTIF and cut‑off compliance, inventory accuracy targets, chargeback thresholds, billing cadence, and transparent storage/picking rates. Include reporting frequency, remediation steps for underperformance, and agreed surge pricing for seasonal volume to control total landed cost.