PARKSVILLE — They’re looking to compete with giants like Amazon on a local scale and it’s off to a promising start.
Launched in October 2021, Delvi provides storage space in addition to picking, packing and shipping services for small businesses fielding a growing number of online orders.
Corry Gervais, project manager with Delvi, told NanaimoNewsNOW they have 15 clients on board and are on track to hit 40 by the end of the year.
‘The whole idea for this, and our business plan, is to work to scale. As soon as we bring a business on we assess their needs…if we need to buy more shelving, that’s what we do. If we need to add another staff member, that’s what we do and that’s how you scale a business.”
Delvi hires four full time and three part time employees with the operation overseen by the Parksville Chamber of Commerce.
Gervais admitted the latter stages of pandemic restrictions prevented them from moving quickly to begin with, as many business introductions had to be done remotely.
Still, it’s been full steam ahead with around 3,250 packages shipped since their facility in the Parksville Industrial Park opened.
The project was financed through a $620,000 grant from the provincial government, which is covering many of the start up costs, however Gervais said they’re close to break-even already.
A wide range of products are stored and shipped to order including home goods, food and even fresh produce, which is kept cool in two converted industrial containers.
It was a quick start for Delvi after signing their first client, Bcause, just days after publicly announcing the fulfillment centre.
“They were our first clients (then) we had three or four come through the door. We’re seeing one business recommended to another, we get a popcorn lady in and she brings in another friend of hers that sells kefir, referral is definitely our friend.”
For Bcause co-founder Mitch Hawes, signing on with Delvi was a game-changer.
The Victoria-based start up, which Hawes described as a “local and ethical Amazon” provides an online retail platform for small businesses and home artisans.
They were bogged down processing orders which was left to Hawes and his business partner.
“We were packing the orders in a warehouse, doing all the labelling, the receiving and trying to grow the business at the same time which was incredibly difficult. By coming in with Delvi, now we have a full eight hours every day to focus on growing the business.”
The added time has helped the group establish themselves further in Nanaimo, with plans to expand into Parksville, Ladysmith and Campbell River over the coming months.
Hawes said it’s an overall cost savings for them to pay Delvi to handle their orders than it was to establish their own warehouse space with employees.
Having space on the shelves in Parksville, with delivery options across the Island, Bcause is expecting to welcome in several Lower Mainland products and businesses as well.
‘People want to be selling on the Island. We work with several Vancouver-based vendors and they’re excited to expand on the Island that for them, up to this point, was not feasible because living on a rock has a lot of logistical challenges.”
Delvi conducts many of their own deliveries by using an electric cargo van with a range from Duncan to Campbell River and inland to Port Alberni.
Deliveries to other areas of the Island are done through third-party carriers including Canada Post.
At some point in 2023, Delvi will move into a custom-built facility west of Hwy. 19 near Errington. The warehouse is being built by Snaw-Naw-As First Nation and will represent a major expansion opportunity for the start up fulfillment centre.
Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.
alex@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @alexrawnsley