OGDEN, Utah (BRAIN) — As QBP opens its new distribution center in Reno, Nevada, today, the company has announced that it is relocating its Q-West operation in Ogden, Utah, to the Denver area. The move will significantly improve service to customers by reducing ground service transit times, QBP said in a statement.
“With the Dec. 9 opening of our Reno location, we’re now able to get to all of the major metro West Coast locations in one day,” said Kim Brown, QBP’s director of distribution. “And by moving operations from Ogden to the Denver area, QBP will be able to reach the entire state of Colorado in one day.” Colorado is QBP’s second largest market in the U.S., behind only California.
“When we put Ogden into place, it was perfectly situated between California and Colorado. They were two days away each. But with the way the market is going — the way the bicycle industry is going — one day away is more important than it was back when we put in the facility. That’s the driving force,” Brown told BRAIN.
In Texas, another important market for QBP, customers will see shipping time decrease from three days to two once the Denver facility is on line. “The footprint of all of our distribution centers now puts us in a better position to deliver one- and two-day coverage to a larger percentage of our customers than ever,” Brown said.
The Denver facility will also serve New Mexico, while Q-Reno will serve the entire West Coast, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. Brown said retailers should see no disruption to delivery or service during the transition.
Operations from the Ogden location will move to Denver around April or May 2016. QBP is in the final stages of finding a new warehouse to lease. “We’re looking in the Denver area and we’re down to a narrow list of buildings we’re looking at,” Brown said.
The company also has distribution centers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the company’s hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota. It opened the 85,000-square-foot Ogden facility in 2010.
QBP acquired an 8-acre parcel to build the Q-West facility in a $1.366 million deal with the city of Ogden as the town 40 miles north of Salt Lake City accelerated its efforts to become a hub for the outdoor sports industry. Ogden is also home to such bicycle brands as Enve Composites, TRP, Volagi, Mavic and Scott Sports SA.
“QBP has had a significant impact on the community of Ogden,” the company stated. “In five short years, its bike community has undergone an amazing transformation. QBP is proud of their involvement in those changes and would like to thank Ogden for its partnership in growing cycling in the region.”
Company representatives informed city officials about the relocation on Tuesday. QBP will put the property up for sale, said Brown, who could not comment on QBP’s financial investment in the facility.
The company notified its 73 Ogden employees of the change on Tuesday, and all are being offered to continue in their positions in Denver. QBP is also offering relocation assistance to workers who choose to follow their jobs, Brown said.
