The Client

We were approached to provide an Office Fit Out Solution to some issues a client of ours was encountering across their offices throughout Australia. Our client is a well-established organisation with close to 40 years experience providing professional strata and community title management

The Challenge

Our client required office fit out solutions across multiple locations and faced challenges regarding; different desk colours and types, different product suppliers, office-chair ergonomic issues, overpriced reception furniture, inconsistent sizing and long waiting times. This can turn into an extremely costly, frustrating and time-consuming process and hence CostSmart were engaged to coordinate this for them.

The Solution

We created a complete design solution for our client that maintained consistency across all office furniture components. Through an ergonomic analysis and bulk procurement of each furniture piece directly from the manufacturer, we were able to create substantial savings of over $100,000 over the past year for our client’s multiple offices. Concurrently, strictly adhering to Work Health & Safety standards throughout the process.

The Outcome

This has been a significant job over the past year as CostSmart directly managed the procurement phase and coordinated the installation teams across Australia (usually after hours) to implement the new office fit-outs for eight of the company offices. The scope of the job included; variable workstations, ergonomic office chairs, flip top and boardroom tables, indoor plants, cupboards and credenzas, reception desks and lounges, coat racks, fridges, microwaves, TV’s, laptops, monitors, surface-pro and mobile devices. Our coordination of the installation teams enabled fast, seamless implementation of the customised office fit-out products and timely movement from leased premises. Throughout this project, our client remained open and operating, business-as-usual the entire time.

The Challenge

It is evident in any sized business that important documents are generated continuously and require storage either by choice or due to legislation. Often, storing in-house can become quickly disorganised, inefficient and documents may be misplaced, lost or need substantial office space. As well as this, businesses may have documents stored across multiple locations without adequate auditing/tracking processes and without timely access to specific documents when they are needed. This can compromise the business in many ways. Hence, it is essential that clients have fast access to records and a trusted, well secured and organised bulk document storage provider. Also, some clients have documents stored throughout multiple facilities and do not have the time to allocate coordination efforts to consolidate documents into one location. We found this challenge arising in numerous mid-level corporate clients and we have been able to produce a streamlined records management and document storage service as a solution.

The Solution

CostSmart has been providing document management and bulk document storage services for mid-level corporate businesses for the past seven years. Our client required the consolidation of 10,000 boxes of documents stored throughout five separate locations. In response, CostSmart organised labour, IT and freight services to coordinate the relocation and consolidation of their stored materials. The organisation of these logistics occurred without any disruption to the client’s business in an “after-hours” time-slot. Now, our client has bulk stored all of their documents in a single location, allowing for quick and easy processing and access.

The Outcome

This project resulted in numerous benefits for our client. Most importantly, significant cost savings were achieved by streamlining their document storage services with one provider. CostSmart was able to provide annual cost savings exceeding $150,000 when existing tenancy costs were factored in. To increase efficiencies for our client, we also created an online management and processing tool for collection and retrieval of stored documents. Our client has more effectively organised their records management by using CostSmart. Additionally, CostSmart provides online reporting, same-day delivery/retrieval of any managed records and secure storage within our eleven-meter warehouse facility.

The Client

Our client is a fast-growing and successful leader in sports turf, garden and open-space management. The client had been introduced to CostSmart through word of mouth four years ago when they were looking for a new supplier of uniforms. Since then, we have been assisting the client with a range of services including horticultural uniforms and workwear, branded products and specialised sourcing, print management, customised eStore solutions and warehousing and logistics.

The Challenge

The client required their custom-designed horticultural uniforms to be managed effectively to ensure that stocks were always available for the various teams located across the Eastern Seaboard of Australia. They needed a seamless and cost-effective way in which each staff member could receive individually labelled uniforms and also have an avenue to return the uniforms if the employee was to leave the business.

The Solution

Through a strong partnership with our suppliers and collaboration with our in-house graphic design and sales team, CostSmart helped the client organise custom-designed uniforms stocks that meet Australian standards of hi-vis capabilities. We worked alongside the client to create a range of wet weather, cold weather and hot weather apparel that provides maximum comfort while at the same time providing a unique design concept.

Additionally, CostSmart manages the supply, procurement, delivery and laundry of uniform items via a fully customised eStore solution. Each cost centre manager has the ability to login to the customised eStore, select the items to be ordered and in return receive individually packed parcels labelled with the employee’s name for easy and secure distribution. Through the eStore solution, we were able to create approval stages and order limits set by upper management on individual login data.

The eStore also enables cost centre managers to log items to be returned if an employee leaves the business via our laundry service. We arrange the pick up of the article to be cleaned, warehoused and put back onto the eStore for reordering.

The Outcome

We were able to centralise and streamline the clients uniform ordering process hence freeing valuable capital and time for them to continue to grow. The eStore solution is available 24/7 enabling them to view and order their entire catalogue, view live stock levels and provide a full order history, anytime or anywhere. We were able to save the client time and cut costs in procurement and administration and delivered savings exceeding 24% from their previous supply partner.

Value Adding

Alongside horticultural uniforms and workwear, CostSmart manages first aid equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), business cards and printing, customised diaries and office/vehicle spill kits for the growing team.

CostSmart also provides warehousing and logistics services for the client. The stock is held in a modern secure warehouse, and we assist in precise cost allocation by invoicing and reporting to the client ONLY when cost centres or individuals order the required stock. Please see our case study on “C-Code Products” to find out how we can help your company with your budget restraints.

The Client

Our client is a fast-growing Property Management business who manages one of the largest strata scheme portfolios in Australia. Our client came to us requiring Business Cards for the many different companies and group subsidiaries under their umbrella. The company has over 700 staff and 30 branch offices across 11,000 strata schemes which include residential, commercial, resorts, and mixed-use properties.

The Challenge

Many mergers and acquisitions of partners saw the need for the company to maintain their branding and market presence under the single administration umbrella. The businesses needed a consistent and cost-effective Print Management and eStore Solution that the different companies could edit and change print requirements with variable text, while also providing structure, security and compliance to brand guidelines. Consequently, CostSmart was asked to provide Print Management and create a Customised eStore Solution that sixteen individual businesses or group subsidiaries could access.

The Solution

CostSmart was able to provide services to our client in the scope of Print Management and a Customised eStore Solution. With 14 years in the industry, CostSmart was able to work with reputable local and off-shore suppliers to provide our client with a competitive price on business cards and ensure a quality-controlled product is produced, every time. The editable products module, as part of our Customised eStore Solution, enabled our client to edit an existing product online before ordering. With guidance from our client, our Graphic Design Team created a background PDF file which provides the size and format of the business cards. This file included the company’s logos and data that cannot be edited. Editable fields were then added in the eStore on top of the background file in which employees can add their name, number, address and so on. Once the order is placed the eStore Solution sends a print-ready PDF file with the proofer to be approved before the order is placed with CostSmart.

The Outcome

CostSmart was able to provide a collection of thirty-three different editable business card templates and online proofing capabilities for managers. The online editable artwork creation makes the entire processes simple, fast and secure and the age-old headache of ordering print products such as business cards for staff colleagues became hassle-free.

The Client

Our client is an agricultural company that seeks to improve global food security by providing farmers with the tools to better manage their crops and farm practices. They specialise in biotechnology and deliver integrated agricultural products including leading seed varieties, seed care, crop protection products, and expert agronomic advice and other technologies. Our client is a leading company in the Australian agricultural industry and is committed to supporting our Aussie farmers.

The Challenge

Our client approached us with the task of sourcing a number of specific, brand-named merchandise items that they wished to have branded with their company logo. These products include; woollen socks, fishing lures, ratchet straps, Drizabone cooler bags and Leatherman blades. Acquiring these items cost effectively was a significant challenge, as was the task of having all of the items re-branded with their logo. Warehousing and distribution of these items to their specific locations also were difficult for them to do alone.

The Solution

One of our primary attributes at CostSmart is our ability to source, develop, manufacture or acquire products and their effective management and storage. Our client approached us for help as we already have a strong partnership from the many promotional products we procure and store for them. Concerning this latest challenge, we were able to successfully source, brand, store and distribute newly required products for them due to our strong relations with supply chain partners. CostSmart was able to assist by procuring goods directly from manufacturing sources, warehousing them in our storage facilities and distributing products to their centres as required. This ensured accurate cost allocations and budget achievements for the company.

The Outcome

Substantial cost savings were achieved due to direct procurement from manufacturing sources. In addition, our client’s account managers were able to efficiently order their stock using the Customised EStore Solution created by CostSmart and have them delivered promptly. Not only this, CostSmart were able to organise industry standard testing on the ratchet straps to ensure the highest degree of safety for our client. CostSmart essentially acted as an extension of the brand to help manage and coordinate product procurement, product rebranding, warehousing and logistics (3PL). We specialise in these areas to provide greater cost savings and efficiencies for our clients.

The Client

Our client is an agricultural company that seeks to improve global food security by providing farmers with the tools to better manage their crops and farm practices. They specialise in biotechnology and deliver integrated agricultural products including leading seed varieties, seed care, crop protection products, and expert agronomic advice and other technologies. Our client is a leading company in the Australian agricultural industry and is committed to supporting our Aussie farmers.

The Challenge

We were asked by our client to arrange some promotional gift packs to be sent out to their resellers. These were to be used within the reseller’s stores as product advertisement or to be forwarded onto consumers as gifts. Within the promotional giftpacks were an oilskin vest, a variety of Dirty Dog Sunglasses and trucker caps branded with our client’s different product names. The challenges faced were the cost-effective procurement and sourcing of products and arranging the delivery of the promotional gift packs on our client’s behalf.

The Solution

CostSmart coordinated the procurement and sourcing of all of the items, and not only this but also arranged the gift boxes which were branded with a customised sticker and made to look professional and appealing before distributing to the different resellers.

The Outcome

Substantial cost savings were achieved due to direct procurement from manufacturing sources. We were able to save our client time, effort and money through end-to-end coordination of this process. CostSmart always tries to go above and beyond. In this instance, not only did we source and procure the required products most cost-effectively but we also personally and professionally arranged the promotional gift packs with the necessary branding ready for distribution to their resellers on their behalf.