Few companies in Mexico have decided to adopt the logistics model of the so-called dark stores as an immediate and affordable response to the onslaught of the COVID-19 health crisis that has occurred in the retail sector and changes in people's consumption habits.

The beauty products company Sally Beauty is among them and has begun a process of reconversion in its stores, after having tested this model with positive effects both financially and operationally.

With the temporary closure of physical stores during the second quarter of 2020, as a federal government health policy to prevent coronavirus infections in "non-essential activities", Sally Beauty in Monterrey found that its closed spaces could be optimized and used as small logistics nodes, which led to the concept of dark stores.

Check here: Great dynamism of the northern border in the construction of industrial buildings

Another factor that supported the decision was the exceeded capacity presented by parcel companies in the processing of items, reducing their delivery times.

At that time, the central and lowland area of the country had the greatest relevance for the company in improving customer service, so it began a search process to locate its first store that would be converted into a dark store, considering aspects such as the ease of access for parcels, its proximity to the consumption poles and communication with expressways.

Of interest: The CTT and Toluca submarkets are consolidated as the most attractive for logistics companies

"A strategic point for us was Tlalnepantla (State of Mexico), because it is re-emerging as a logistics area," says Ricardo Pérez, Latin America supply chain director for Sally Beauty, who recently received the National Logistics Award, in an interview with T21. 2021 for the dark stores project, in the Company category.

While the Tlalnepantla store was being converted into its infrastructure (including the racks where the products would be placed, as well as the acquisition of technology such as handhelds or touch screens that employees would use), an alternative project was installed in its Masaryk store.

In Solili you can consult industrial warehouses available in Guadalajara, Tijuana and Ciudad de México

Original note