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The Port of Baltimore
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May/June 2014
the potential impact of those developments
on our business operations and strategies,”
said Glenn E. Berger, Vice President, Global
Transportation, for Restoration Hardware.
“We have found the Port to be highly
collaborative in helping our company
identify service providers as needed to
assist with cargo flowing through the Port.”
Restoration Hardware, a luxury brand
in the home furnishings marketplace,
operates a 1.2 million-square-foot facility
in North East, Md., as its primary furniture
distribution center for the eastern regions
of the United States and Canada. A
secondary DC of approximately 508,000
square feet is located in Baltimore; this
facility also serves as a furniture home
delivery hub for the greater Baltimore and
Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas.
Support for the Supply Chain
Restoration
Hardware’s
primary furniture
distribution center
for the eastern
regions of the U.S.
and Canada is
located in North
East, Md.
C
all them what you will —
DCs or fulfillment centers or
warehouses. A distribution
center by any other name still
occupies an important position
in the supply chain.
“From an international perspective,
which the Port is focused on, the
distribution center is the ending point,”
Greco explained. “Once cargo arrives from
an overseas manufacturing facility to a
local or regional supply chain, the cargo
transfers from international to domestic.
So, from our point of view, it is the finish
line but also the driving force behind why
cargo is moving over our port.”
The MPA and Ports America
Chesapeake, the operator of Baltimore’s
Seagirt Marine Terminal, keep in regular
contact with numerous distribution centers
of all shapes and sizes, making certain that
supply-chain demands are constantly met
for companies ranging from Starbucks to
Toys R Us and Pier 1 Imports to IKEA.
“It is a very dynamic industry, so
making sure we understand the needs of
the customer gives us the opportunity to
reach and provide solutions to ensure their
cargo stays in Baltimore,” Greco said. “We
also market our capabilities to Beneficial
Cargo Owners (BCOs) with facilities in our
market that are not using our Port.”
Among many of the larger distribution
centers in the area, the support offered by
the Port is certainly appreciated.
“The Maryland Port Administration has
been proactive in keeping our company
updated on future Port developments and
