Webgistix, a Rakuten company and a global leader in eCommerce order fulfillment services, has leased a 108,000 square foot building in Hanover Township from Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services. The facility is the newest addition to Webgistix’s nationwide network of fulfillment centers that enable it to reach 98 percent of US eCommerce buyers within 1-2 days via ground delivery.
The company expects to create dozens of jobs at the building, located at 320 Stewart Road in Hanover Industrial Estates, and will begin operations by the end of November.
Webgistix was founded to help eCommerce retailers manage their supply chains more efficiently and strategically. Webgistix’s innovative cloud-based services automate and accelerate order fulfillment.
Over the past 12 years, Webgistix has built a customer base that spans five continents and more than 20 countries through company-operated fulfillment centers in New York, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Reno, and now Pennsylvania with a modern, flexible and expandable facility.
“Demand for our fulfillment services is growing rapidly as more retailers recognize the value of a coast-to-coast fulfillment network to shorten delivery times and cut costs,” said Joseph DiSorbo, founder and president of Webgistix. “Hanover Township is strategically located to help Webgistix maximize fulfillment efficiency within our 2 Day Delivery Network. The location of the Hanover Township facility is also ideal for expedited freight shipments from Port Elizabeth in New Jersey.”
In June 2013, Tokyo-based Rakuten, Inc. acquired Webgistix. Rakuten offers eCommerce and Internet services in more than 25 countries and territories and ranks among the top 10 Internet companies in the world. The acquisition was Rakuten’s second logistics investment outside of Japan and positions Webgistix as an integral part of Rakuten’s expanding global logistics portfolio.
Mericle Vice President Bill Jones coordinated the lease transaction. He said Webgistix has shipped millions of orders for hundreds of online retailers around the world and expects the firm to be successful in Northeastern Pennsylvania. “We are hoping the company will grow with us,” Jones said. “We have room to almost double the size of the building for the company.”
Jones said eCommerce fulfillment companies are growing in the region, most likely due to quick access to major population centers, the availability of overnight transportation services, highly productive labor, and the availability of buildings and sites.”
Mericle has provided commercial real estate solutions to a lengthy list of eCommerce firms such as Neiman Marcus, Amazon.com, Boden USA, Baby Age, CVS Caremark, American Eagle Outfitters, Benco Dental, NBTY, and All About Dance.
“Through our ReadyToGo!™ Program we are developing buildings on speculation and fully preparing more than 90 sites to ensure that companies like Webgistix have a variety of properties from which to choose when they are considering creating jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Jones.
“We are delighted to welcome Webgistix to Hanover Industrial Estates,” said William D. Moore, President and CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry.” “This exciting announcement once again shows the validity of Mericle’s Ready to Go Program. Ready to Go allows Mericle to respond quickly to the needs of a multinational company such as Rakuten. This provides a significant tool for our efforts to market the region and create jobs”.
“The addition of Webgistix underscores Greater Wilkes-Barre’s reputation as a center of excellence for e-commerce,” added Moore. “We are looking forward to formally welcoming Webgistix with a ribbon cutting ceremony.”
For more information about Webgistix, visit www.webgistix.com
Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, founded by Rob Mericle, is a vertically-integrated company with more than 200 in-house professionals with expertise in all aspects of commercial real estate development and construction. The Mericle team includes licensed architects, land planners, professional engineers, surveyors, licensed electricians, plumbers, carpenters, certified public accountants, in-house legal counsel, leasing and marketing professionals, licensed brokers, property managers, and more.