Mid-Island fulfillment centre on track to hit lofty delivery goals

Delvi hires four full time and three part time employees with the operation overseen by the Parksville Chamber of Commerce.

Gervais admitted the latter stages of pandemic restrictions prevented them from moving quickly to begin with, as many business introductions had to be done remotely.

Still, it’s been full steam ahead with around 3,250 packages shipped since their facility in the Parksville Industrial Park opened.

The project was financed through a $620,000 grant from the provincial government, which is covering many of the start up costs, however Gervais said they’re close to break-even already.

Products from small business across the Island are kept at Delvi’s facility in Parksville, then shipped out on demand after a business receives an online order. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A wide range of products are stored and shipped to order including home goods, food and even fresh produce, which is kept cool in two converted industrial containers.

It was a quick start for Delvi after signing their first client, Bcause, just days after publicly announcing the fulfillment centre.

“They were our first clients (then) we had three or four come through the door. We’re seeing one business recommended to another, we get a popcorn lady in and she brings in another friend of hers that sells kefir, referral is definitely our friend.”

For Bcause co-founder Mitch Hawes, signing on with Delvi was a game-changer.

The Victoria-based start up, which Hawes described as a “local and ethical Amazon” provides an online retail platform for small businesses and home artisans.

They were bogged down processing orders which was left to Hawes and his business partner.

“We were packing the orders in a warehouse, doing all the labelling, the receiving and trying to grow the business at the same time which was incredibly difficult. By coming in with Delvi, now we have a full eight hours every day to focus on growing the business.”

The added time has helped the group establish themselves further in Nanaimo, with plans to expand into Parksville, Ladysmith and Campbell River over the coming months.

Hawes said it’s an overall cost savings for them to pay Delvi to handle their orders than it was to establish their own warehouse space with employees.

Having space on the shelves in Parksville, with delivery options across the Island, Bcause is expecting to welcome in several Lower Mainland products and businesses as well.

‘People want to be selling on the Island. We work with several Vancouver-based vendors and they’re excited to expand on the Island that for them, up to this point, was not feasible because living on a rock has a lot of logistical challenges.”

Delvi conducts many of their own deliveries by using an electric cargo van with a range from Duncan to Campbell River and inland to Port Alberni.

Deliveries to other areas of the Island are done through third-party carriers including Canada Post.

At some point in 2023, Delvi will move into a custom-built facility west of Hwy. 19 near Errington. The warehouse is being built by Snaw-Naw-As First Nation and will represent a major expansion opportunity for the start up fulfillment centre.

Items are loaded into Delvi from over a dozen small businesses to be stored, then eventually picked and packed once online orders come in. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley

by Alex Rawnsley

Mid-Island fulfillment centre on track to hit lofty delivery goals

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