Prioritise motorway proximity (M6/M61/M62), port and airport links (Liverpool, Manchester), rail freight availability and local carrier density. Assess transit times to your top delivery ZIPs, frequency of carrier departures, and last‑mile coverage to Ireland and Northern Ireland when modelling cost-to-serve.

Wigan typically offers lower rents and competitive labour rates versus central Manchester, reducing fixed warehousing costs. Transport costs depend on drayage to ports and distribution density; closer motorway access lowers mileage and improves driver turn times. Expect 3PL pricing to reflect throughput, labour intensity (picks per hour) and value-add services like kitting or temperature control.

Require real-time OMS/WMS integration, multi-carrier shipment routing, rapid pick-and-pack SLAs, returns processing and reverse logistics, secure short-term storage for surges, and options for chilled storage if needed. Look for KPI dashboards, inventory accuracy guarantees and defined cut-off times for same-day dispatch.

Typical onboarding runs 4–12 weeks: contract and SLA finalisation, systems integration and EDI/API testing (1–4 weeks), inbound inventory transfer and receiving (1–4 weeks), process validation and test orders (1–2 weeks). Complex value‑add setups or facility fit-outs may extend timelines; build contingency for peak season transitions.

Compare trade-offs: Wigan often delivers lower real estate and labour costs with excellent motorway access; Manchester may offer denser carrier networks and a larger labour pool; Liverpool provides closer port links for imports/exports. Model distribution reach, last-mile density, carrier contracts and total landed cost to determine the optimal hub or multi-site strategy.