Amazon recently opened a one-million-square-foot fulfillment center in Liberty, Mo., near Kansas City that's designed to handle furniture, sporting equipment and other oversized products. The facility will ultimately employ 500 workers.
The big-and-bulky facility typically handles items longer than 96 inches or greater than 50 pounds, such as furniture, TVs and exercise equipment, reports Supply Chain Drive. The company recently overhauled its inventory placement strategy to position goods closer to end customers.
“It’s a privilege to further our investment in Liberty to meet the growing customer demand for larger items in the Kansas City metro, while also creating career opportunities for the community,” said Site Leader Jyoti Sharma.
An Amazon spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive that the e-commerce giant operates dozens of delivery stations and fulfillment centers dedicated to “extra large” items. In 2017, Amazon transported its first shipment from its warehouse in Livonia, Michigan, which specializes in oversized items.
Other companies including Instacart and Maersk have also launched big-and-bulky services as a way to expand their operations.