Vera Bradley’s plans for making the distribution function more flexible opens the door to creativity and progress for the entire company.
February 1, 2006
Clyde Witt
When a company is located on Progress Road, just down the street from the corner of Profit and Dividend, one might question the wisdom of tempting the Fates by building a new distribution center anywhere else. Vera Bradley (Ft.Wayne, Ind.), however, is on the move.
“Our year-on-year growth over the past five years has been in the range of 20% to 30%,” explains Matt Wojewuczki, vice president operations. “But it’s [rapid growth] typical for this company that two women started in a basement, moved to a garage then into one small building after another.”
Barbara Baekgaard and Patricia Miller began with a strong friendship and a great idea. Now, entering its 25th year, the Vera Bradley Company, manufacturer of exclusive handbags and accessories, produced 4.5 million bags in 2005.
Now it’s in the midst of moving to new distribution center—and a whole lot more.
