White and beige garden furniture on a terrace by Tuinmeubelshop

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Logistics for seasonal demand surges

Spring and summer are Dutch garden furniture Tuinmeubelshop’s busiest times. When demand surged, they needed a logistics partner who could stay ahead of fast‑moving seasonal peaks.

Summary
Results

As spring arrives and the sun begins to shine brighter, temperatures rise, and you find yourself longing to spend more time outdoors. You might even consider a new garden chair to make those moments even more enjoyable.

In the garden furniture market, successfully navigating high seasonality is essential. Demand peaks sharply depend on the time of year and weather conditions, which makes reliable logistics, visibility and responsiveness critical.

Tuinmeubelshop is one of the largest suppliers of garden furniture in the Netherlands and Belgium. Their assortment can be purchased online at www.tuinmeubelshop.nl and in 16 Dutch stores, with southern locations also serving Belgian customers.

The challenge: finding the right logistics partner

Before partnering with Kuehne+Nagel, Tuinmeubelshop faced significant challenges with cost transparency and unexpected surcharges from their previous logistics provider. After submitting an online request in late September 2024 for a quotation covering 600 containers from China to Rotterdam, the company was looking for a partner who could provide predictable pricing, accurate cost visibility, and expert guidance.

Kuehne+Nagel’s account manager Ronald Maagdenberg took a data-driven approach from the first interaction.

By analysing market rates across carriers and clearly presenting all cost components, including the source of additional charges, Ronald demonstrated the reliability, transparency and industry expertise Tuinmeubelshop could find with Kuehne+Nagel. This set the tone for a trust-based partnership.

Within just two weeks, Tuinmeubelshop was fully onboarded. Ronald also introduced a custom-made template, now used as a standard planning tool during daily operations. This template provides a clear overview of shipments, potential delays and any additional charges, ensuring full visibility at all times.

Customer satisfaction is paramount. This requires a logistics partner that is not only reliable and scalable but also able to offer smart digital solutions and sustainable choices. We contacted Kuehne+Nagel via their website because we knew they had extensive experience and expertise in shipping.

Gerrit van der Garde

Marketing Director at Tuinmeubelshop

Tuinmeubelshop quickly established a strong collaboration with the Kuehne+Nagel team—Ronald, along with Anissa van Riel and Edwin Hogerdijk. Favourable conditions and strong communication led to an efficient start, with the first shipments handled smoothly.

"We already shipped 1,300 TEU in one summer and have made over 80,000 Dutch families happy with a beautiful garden set in the sun," adds Ronald.

The owners of Tuinmeubelshop standing at their booth.

Navigating peak season with visibility and accuracy

Garden furniture demand is highly seasonal and weather-driven. For Tuinmeubelshop, the ability to quickly scale up during strong spring and summer seasons is crucial. In some years, containers are already sold out before they arrive at the port of Rotterdam. This is why visibility is not a luxury; it is essential.

How myKN enables control during peak periods

Tuinmeubelshop actively uses Kuehne+Nagel’s digital platform myKN for the features that matter most during volatile peak seasons:

End-to-end shipment visibility

They can see exactly where every container is, from departure in Asia to arrival at their distribution centre. This allows precise planning and proactive customer communication.

Early identification of risks

Automated alerts help the team mitigate disruptions quickly, safeguarding Tuinmeubelshop’s customer expectations and protecting their service promise.

These tools have become part of Tuinmeubelshop’s daily operations and support their ability to sell items still in transit, ensuring that inventory is always synchronised with customer demand.

A grey dining table with chairs outside on a terrace in a garden.

While global disruptions can still impact lead times, Tuinmeubelshop benefits from Kuehne+Nagel's proactive risk management, shipping expertise, and transparent planning to mitigate disruptions wherever possible.

Before partnering with Kuehne+Nagel, we faced delays and inefficient container handling. Now, shipments arrive quickly and reliably, which is vital for maintaining customer satisfaction.

Ayman Haddad

Purchasing Manager at Tuinmeubelshop

A logistics strategy designed for efficiency and sustainability

Tuinmeubelshop places strong emphasis on sustainability, beginning with recycling furniture and continuing with optimised logistics. Later this year, the company will merge its three distribution centres in Tiel, Kesteren and Geldermalsen into one large central warehouse in Tiel, located directly next to an inland terminal. This will significantly reduce transport distances, handling, and CO₂ emissions. They also use electric barge services to bring containers directly from Rotterdam to Tiel, lowering their overall ecological footprint.

To continue their sustainable practices, Tuinmeubelshop is exploring biofuel options and emissions calculations for future shipments with Kuehne+Nagel. This exploration is part of their ambition to reduce the environmental impact across their entire supply chain.

Gerrit said, "Thanks to Kuehne+Nagel, Tuinmeubelshop can focus entirely on what it does best: inspiring customers with the most beautiful range of garden furniture and excellent service."