Blog

Following Labor Day 2016, I knew I would be starting my new role as Marketing Manager with Spartan Logistics and it would be a short week; who wouldn't be excited about that. I was informed that I was going to experience my first annual team building Managers Retreat at the end of the week, spilling into the weekend. I've been part of many Sales/Operations meetings in my 20-year tenure, but Team Building was never implied, or practiced. I couldn't wait to see how it was received. By Friday, all of Spartan's Managers flew or drove into Columbus, OH. We were all expected to meet early morning in Delaware, OH at the Black Wing Shooting Center. Following a catered breakfast and a quick 'Who Am I" game, the first team building event started with two indoor separate target shooting excercises, experiencing the feel of a .22 and 9mm. It encouraged everyone to break out of their comfort zone and create friendly competition. As I photographed the first Spartan team shooting targets, I noticed support and laughter among new and long-term employees as they viewed their target papers. Thankfully, no one got shot. Although I'm no Annie Oakley, I really enjoyed my first indoor shooting experience. Following lunch, we were all more settled in. We paired off in groups of five for the outdoor course to use a 12-guage shotgun to shoot at sporting clays, which by the way, seem to move at the speed of light. We moved through the entire course, cheering and supporting each other along the way. Upon completion of the course, prizes were awarded to the best shooters. I would definitely shoot skeet again.  Read More

Topics: Logistics Teamwork, Logistics careers

Spartan Logistics, a family owned company, has been recognized among the top 5 Central Ohio Logistics companies in the September 2016 issue of Columbus CEO magazine,a business magazine with thought-provoking business and lifestyle articles that inspire and promote excellence. The Columbus CEO Leaderboard features selected topics each month; business rankings are based on company surveys.  Read More

Are you new to the logistics scene? Or have you been on the scene for a while but all those business calls and business talk assault your vocabulary senses? Well worry no more! The verbiage in the logistics industry can be incredibly complex. So many words are thrown around blogs, forums, and websites and can leave you scratching your head. Ever find yourself on a call or on a job and the other person is totally not speaking your language? It might sound something like this:  Read More

Some days this feels like the best of times for the those who operate logistics companies and who operate industrial real estate, and the worst of times for those looking for a bargain on warehouse space. Despite moderate economic growth, the U.S. industrial market continues to expand. Nationwide, warehouse vacancy decreased to 9.2%-in the first quarter of 2016. This is the lowest it has been in 15 years. In certain markets, it is even lower, sometimes just a few properties. Moreover, the Class A and B space was the first to be absorbed; much of what is currently available is Class C and D- mostly 50-year obsolete properties and shuttered manufacturing plants. National warehouse and distribution center demand is running from between 225 million and 230 million square feet per year lease, while new supply remains at roughly 165 million square feet. Are you challenged to find high quality warehouse space and service providers where and when you need them? Spartan Logistics has been planning for this day for 25 years.  Read More

Following one of Spartan Logistics' greatest disappointments, Steve Harmon, President of Spartan chose to dissect the experience rather than forget it. From one of Spartan's greatest accomplishments to one of the most disappointing, the journey of running a warehouse and distribution 3PL service is tumultuous. Let us take a look at both ends of the spectrum. Steve's white paper, Requiem of a Contract is below for download.  Read More

Topics: Customer Service Lessons, Lessons

Mr. Wonderful lived up to his nickname, sharing some interesting trends his investments, as a shark, have highlighted over the course of 7 seasons. Below we share some of the best points from his keynote address with you & his top 10 secrets to success.  Read More

Topics: Teamwork, Lessons

Modex was held in Atlanta, GA at the beginning of April. If you haven't been, this is a great networking and education opportunity. Spartan Logistics was proud to join our networking partner, Palisades Logistics, at the Georgia World Congress Center to speak with all who came by the booth.  Read More

Topics: Lessons

Customer Service is one of Spartan Logistics' four pillars. It is also the heart of our company story. When it comes to such dry topics as: leasing warehouse space, dry good storage, or inventory control systems; customer service may not be the first thought in mind. At Spartan Logistics we have learned customer service, regardless of topic, should always be the first thought. It is through fulfilling our customer's 3pl needs that we will continue to grow.  Read More

Topics: Customer Service Lessons, Teamwork

Can there be a connection in the workplace? At Spartan, the answer is YES! Being a family owned company, we tend to do things a little bit differently. We've thrown the rulebook out the window by creating a company that not only values our team members but also each and every one of their families as if they were our own. This allows us to stretch our teamwork well beyond our warehouse doors. With heartbreaking news hitting one of our director's families unexpectedly, all Spartan locations, nationwide, banded together to help make a difference. An aggressive goal was set and the result exceeded our expectations. An overwhelming response came from each level of our team, warehouse pickers to directors, all wanting to contribute. With additional help from vendors and customers, we were able to triple our goal. When faced with adversity, our Spartan team rallied together. We are proud to have a group of people united by certain convictions, while practicing our core values We consider each one of them FAMILY! The Harmon Family includes a suite of companies that deliver business solutions through asset-based approaches in real estate, logistics, and construction. Spartan Logistics—Operates industrial real estate as a contract third-party logistics company combined with asset-based freight services. Spartan serves over 100 supply chain customers at 18 locations totaling over three million square feet in six states. https://www.spartanlogistics.com/ NAI Harmon Group—Provides real estate solutions including site selection, brokerage services, and property management. As an affiliate of NAI Global, NAI Harmon Group leverage a vast network of over 7,000 professionals, their owners, and corporate clients. https://naiharmon.com/ Logan Creek Construction—As an integrated design-build construction firm, Logan Creek Construction develops projects of all sizes and specifications, including industrial and commercial. https://www.logancreekconstruction.com/ Call us today to see how we can help you. (614) 497-1777  Read More

Topics: Goals, Teamwork

HISTORY: Twenty years ago when I was CFO of our company, I started having annual meetings with our whole management team to review performance, goals, and financial results as well as improve communication between team members who had never met. These were about as much fun as a trip to the dentist... Dilbert cartoons notwithstanding. So five years ago when I became president of our company, I resolved to change the tone and content of these meetings to change the culture & expectations of our team. I wanted to spend time training our team to be better leaders. I want them to think like owners and to make decisions in a situation the same way I would make them. I want them to know & understand the core values & mission of our company. To take action & make decisions consistent with those values. Since that time, the meetings have been a lot more fun... especially because they suddenly contained a lot less of me talking.  Read More

Topics: Goals, Lessons