Lakeshore Learning's Garland, Utah Distribution Center: A Model for Future Supply Chains

Lakeshore Learning Materials, a leading developer and retailer of educational materials, has made a significant stride in enhancing its supply chain efficiency with the establishment of a cutting-edge 1.2 million square foot distribution center in Garland, Utah. This project, in collaboration with Zion Solutions Group, a trailblazer in advanced supply chain integration, represents a major investment in the region, promising job creation and economic growth. With an operational goal set, this distribution center is poised to redefine industry standards for efficiency and environmental stewardship in supply chain management.

Strategic Partnership with Zion Solutions Group

The success of this ambitious project hinges on the strategic partnership between Lakeshore Learning and Zion Solutions Group. Beginning in 2015, this relationship has been marked by a shared drive for excellence. Zion Solutions Group plays a crucial role in meticulously shaping the project from its conceptual stages to its final form. This includes value-added engineering to support Lakeshore Learning's specific needs, overseeing the procurement and engineering processes to ensure precision, and integrating advanced software solutions-including Zion Apex (WES)-for peak functionality.

Jim Shaw, President of Zion Solutions Group, emphasized that this collaboration is a leap toward the future of supply chain management. Jordan Frank, EVP & Co-Founder of Zion Solutions Group, highlighted the collaborative synergy, describing it as a melding of minds aimed at redefining the future of the industry.

Advanced Technology and Automation

The Garland distribution center will harness the latest in automation and robotics to optimize both efficiency and scalability. This technological integration is not just about optimizing logistics; it's about crafting a model of innovation that leverages technology for smarter, more sustainable operations.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

Lakeshore Learning’s Garland distribution center represents a major milestone in job creation and economic growth for the region. The project is set to create over 500 jobs, showcasing an unparalleled commitment to innovation and community development. This initiative aligns with Zion's mission to drive sustainable innovation and cement its leadership in the market.

The new distribution center will bring more than 500 jobs to a growing rural community. The project broke ground and is part of Lakeshore Learning's commitment to rural Utah over the next decade and is projected to add new jobs.

Commitment to Sustainability and Efficiency

Artin Ghazarian, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lakeshore Learning, highlighted the project's ambition, stating that this distribution center goes beyond expanding logistical capabilities-it's a testament to their dedication to setting new industry standards for efficiency and environmental stewardship in supply chain management.

Zion Solutions Group's Expertise

Zion Solutions Group, a leader in Supply Chain Integration, uses its knowledge to deliver memorable experiences and guide intelligent change. Specializing in material handling integration, Zion provides comprehensive services that include detailed data analytics, solution design, procurement, implementation, and post-implementation support. Their customer-centric approach and Project Lifecycle process ensure tailor-made solutions using cutting-edge technology, setting them apart in the industry. Beyond the project’s completion, Zion’s Customer Experience team will continue to support the operations team and provide optimization opportunities, ensuring the facility operates smoothly and evolves with technological advancements.

Lakeshore Learning Materials: A Leader in Educational Resources

Lakeshore Learning Materials is a leading developer and retailer of top-quality materials for early childhood education programs, elementary schools, and homes nationwide. Since 1954, Lakeshore Learning Materials has offered innovative learning materials distinguished by their quality, educational merit, and safety.

Lakeshore Learning offers a huge range of teaching resources and classroom decor, plus high-quality classroom furniture, hands-on learning products and so much more! Their book bins, classroom labels and other teaching supplies are what every teacher needs for an organized, clutter-free classroom! They also offer essentials like lesson plan books, timers, pocket charts, and student nameplates and name tags. And for all the latest classroom decorations, shop their giant assortment of borders, posters and bulletin board sets.

Read also: Assembling Lakeshore Cubbies

Explore their premium-quality classroom furniture lines and discover everything from chairs and tables to storage units and rugs! Look to their versatile Flex-Space furniture for flexible seating that supports learning in the classroom. Take learning outside with their outdoor furniture featuring all-weather seating, storage and more. And be sure to check out their baby cribs, changing tables, cubbies, and other infant and toddler furniture!

With their infant and toddler products, little ones get all the support they need to explore their world. Shop sensory play materials for hands-on stimulation…blocks, manipulatives, puzzles and building sets that strengthen fine motor skills and spatial awareness…pretend play products that boost tots’ social-emotional development…and a variety of other items designed for the youngest learners.

For preschool, pre-k, kindergarten and elementary grades, browse their learning centers, games, puzzles and tons of other educational products! You’ll find engaging language items that build a range of skills-from learning the alphabet, sight-words and phonics to developing vocabulary and reading comprehension. Shop fiction and nonfiction titles for all learning levels-and store every book in their handy book bins and bookshelves. Additionally, stock your listening centers with their read-along book sets, headphones and audio equipment. Lakeshore’s math manipulatives and activities help kids master numbers and counting-and their science and STEM items let children experiment hands on! As kids explore their social studies materials, they learn social-emotional skills, increase diversity awareness and much more.

Great for creative expression in preschool through elementary grades, their large selection of arts & crafts materials includes play dough, art easels, craft kits and painting supplies…as well as basics like crayons, washable markers, construction paper and more. Plus, shop realistic baby dolls, puppets, play kitchen sets and costumes that let kids engage in dramatic play. Get children moving while they explore sound and rhythm with their top-quality musical instruments-and help them develop balance, coordination and gross motor skills with their trikes, playground balls and other active play products! And sensory exploration is a blast with their sand and water tables, hands-on sensory materials, and colorful light tables and manipulatives!

Not only is Lakeshore the premier teacher supply store and provider of classroom furniture and learning products-but they also offer parents awesome gifts for every kid on their list! Shop building toys that boost fine motor skills…and browse fun learning games, cool science experiments and a real-working cash register toy that reinforces math skills! Keep kids imagining, creating and learning with doll playsets and craft kits, as well as a rocket, a robot and tons of other learning toys.

Recognition and Awards

The project earned a CoStar Impact Award for commercial development of the year in Salt Lake City, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.

State and Local Partnerships

Collaboration was a cornerstone of the project's success. It came together through several state and local partnerships between EDCUtah, the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, Utah Inland Port Authority and Box Elder County.

Ryan Starks, executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, stated that the company is a great match for Utah with their shared priorities and focus on education, their value of teachers and schools, and their emphasis on families and their diverse needs.

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity granted Lakeshore Learning a post-performance tax reduction in recognition of its expansion in Box Elder County. This corporate incentive is part of the state’s Rural Economic Development Tax Increment Financing program. Additionally, the Go Utah board has approved a non-matching grant of up to $1 million from the Industrial Assistance Account to support infrastructure development and talent growth.

Perspectives from Key Individuals

Jordan Johnson, senior commercial leasing manager at Property Reserve, noted that this project brings life to an area that had the available land size to accommodate such a use for distribution and provides economical impacts to the area that will be seen in the years to come.

Key individuals who made it happen include: Tom Dischmann, executive vice president, CBRE; Jason Robbins, managing partner, Millstream Partners, LLC; Reed Hart, vice president, ARCO Design-Build (project general contractor); Linda Bourne, mayor, Garland City, Utah; Stan Summers, former county commissioner, Box Elder County; Ben Hart, executive director, Utah Inland Port Authority; Scott Cuthbertson, president, EDCUtah; Ryan Starks, executive director, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity; Chris Wong, chief financial officer, Oakland Capital; Artin Ghazarian, chief supply chain officer, Lakeshore Learning Materials.

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