Hopkins Distribution takes step into eastern markets

Robert and Nancy Hopkins did just fine in the bright lights of Reno.

Now they're doing just fine in the big city, too, as their Hopkins Distribution Co. a third-party logistics provider gets established in East Coast markets.

Hopkins Distribution, launched by the couple in a 26,000-square-foot facility in Reno 15 years ago, opened a 206,500-squarefoot distribution center at Allentown, Pa., in August.

The East Coast center it's 70 miles north of Philadelphia and 84 miles west of New York City joins more than 400,000 square feet of distribution space that the company operates at two facilities in South Meadows.

Like the Reno distribution centers, the Pennsylvania facility was developed by Renobased DP Partners.

The Reno developer, one of the 10 biggest privately owned development companies in the county, is creating a 70-acre park under its LogistiCenter brand at Allentown.

Nancy Hopkins, who serves as Hopkins Distribution's financial officer while her husband is president, acknowledges that the decision to expand into new markets on the other side of the country was a major step.

"For a third-party logistics company to come of age, you have to have multiple locations," she says.

Hopkins Distribution was encouraged, too, by customers of its Reno operation who wanted the company to provide service for East Coast markets.

The Reno company now processes more than 4.2 million pounds of outbound freight a month from the two sites, and its services range from inventory management to pickand- pack services and shipping.

And Hopkins says there was a personal element involved in the decision as well.

"After 15 years, it's fun to do something different," she says.

The company expects that about 15 of the 55 accounts it services with warehousing and distribution services at its Reno location ultimately will decide to use the Allentown center as well.

But the company is moving slowing, adding East Coast service for existing customers at the rate of about one a month.

Hopkins says the company doesn't want to swamp the new facility, endangering the service it provides customers.

At the same time, Hopkins Distribution is selling its services to new customers who want East Coast logistics services, and Hopkins says sales results have been surprisingly successful.

In large measure, she says the newly constructed facility, which includes 80 loading docks for trucks and another 14 docks for railcars, helps sell new customers who are accustomed to older, less-efficient facilities in the East Coast.

At the same time, however, new customers like the company's 15 years of experience, Hopkins says.

For a couple of customers, the facilities at Reno and Allentown now provide logistics services to the entire nation.

The company employs about 25 people at Allentown about half the number who work at its Reno facilities and Hopkins Distribution has been impressed with the quality of the Pennsylvania workforce.

Hopkins said the Allentown location provides some of the same transportation advantages that Hopkins Distribution found in northern Nevada good freeway and rail access within easy reach of major metropolitan areas.

And like Reno, the Allentown area includes a foreign trade zone, saving distribution companies money as they handle international shipments.

Access to good transportation both in Reno and Allentown also makes a difference to Hopkins as she keeps track of the two facilities.

"Some days it's hard on me, being bicoastal," she sighs.