Warehouse space, pick-and-pack fulfillment, national distribution, and international export—all in one specialised facility. JLog’s Woodstock distribution centre handles your inventory with precision, whether you’re shipping e-commerce stock across South Africa or artwork to the world.
A distribution centre is the operational heart of your supply chain. It’s where inventory arrives, is stored, prepared for shipment, and dispatched to customers or other locations. Unlike a traditional warehouse (which prioritises long-term bulk storage), a distribution centre is optimised for speed, accuracy, and high-volume throughput.
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they serve different purposes:
| Type | Primary Function | Typical Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse | Long-term inventory storage; bulk consolidation | Months to years | Manufacturers, importers, bulk stock holding |
| Distribution Centre | Receive, sort, pick, pack, and dispatch; cross-docking; value-added services | Days to weeks (rapid turnover) | Retailers, e-commerce brands, high-volume shippers |
| Fulfilment Centre | Dedicated to order fulfilment: receive from suppliers, hold, pick per order, pack, label, dispatch to end customer | Days (rapid) | E-commerce, D2C brands, subscription services |
JLog’s approach: Our distribution centre in Woodstock combines all three functions. We operate as a true 3PL—third-party logistics provider—meaning we manage inventory, run fulfillment operations, and handle all domestic and international outbound logistics on your behalf.
Our Woodstock facility offers end-to-end supply chain management. Here’s what we handle:
Your goods arrive at our facility. We inspect, count, weigh, photograph, and log everything into our system. We check for damage in transit and notify you immediately if there’s an issue. Goods are organised into allocated storage zones based on your preferences (by product, by customer, or by dispatch frequency).
We provide secure storage (appropriate for high-value goods such as art and furniture). Your inventory is tagged, tracked in real-time, and available via our online dashboard. You can see stock levels, movement history, and forecast stock-outs. We rotate stock using FIFO (first-in, first-out) unless you specify otherwise.
When orders come in, we pick items from shelves, inspect them, pack them using your preferred materials, add your custom inserts or branding, and apply shipping labels. For high-value goods, we use museum-grade packaging and custom crating. All pack-out is photographed and documented.
Once packed, we arrange dispatch via our preferred road freight partners or your choice of courier (DHL, FedEx, Fastway, etc.). We manage the booking, tracking, and proof of delivery. Same-day dispatch is available for orders received before 12h00 in Cape Town metro.
Exporting? We handle it all: customs documentation, HS code classification, export permits (if required), SARS export entry lodgement, and coordination with air/sea freight partners. Goods are packed for international standards, and we arrange insurance and delivery to destination ports.
If your customers return goods, we can receive them, inspect, restock, or process as defective. Returns are tracked separately from forward inventory, and we generate reports for your accounting.
Our facility is deliberately located in Woodstock, the industrial heart of Cape Town. Here’s why location matters for your supply chain:
| Advantage | Impact on Your Business | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes to Cape Town International Airport | Fast air exports for time-sensitive, high-value shipments | 10 km away; 15-minute drive. Enables same-day air freight dispatch for international orders. |
| Direct access to Port of Cape Town | Sea freight consolidation and export at lowest cost for bulk shipments | 2 km away. We can coordinate LCL (Less Than Container Load) and full container exports. |
| Highway junction (N1, N2) | Fast road freight to Johannesburg, Durban, and southern Africa | Direct on-ramps to major routes. Domestic delivery anywhere in SA within 5 days. |
| CBD proximity | Central distribution point for retail and B2B in Western Cape | Woodstock is 5 km from Cape Town CBD. Ideal for last-mile retail dispatch. |
Result for you: Your goods are positioned at the geographic centre of South African logistics. Whether you’re importing, exporting, or distributing domestically, Woodstock is the optimal hub. No unnecessary transits; no redundant handling.
We often get asked, “Are you a warehouse, a distributor, or a 3PL?” The answer is: all three, depending on your needs. Here’s the comparison:
| Service Model | Core Offering | Your Involvement | Cost Model | JLog’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Warehouse | Storage and basic handling | You manage receiving, dispatch, and customer relationships | Per pallet/m² per month | Landlord and custodian only |
| Distribution Centre | Storage + inbound/outbound logistics + value-added services | You provide inventory; we handle everything else operationally | Storage + per-unit pick/pack + per-shipment dispatch | Operational partner; you retain inventory ownership |
| 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) | Full supply chain outsourcing: storage, movement, documentation, customs, carrier management | You ship us inventory; we handle inbound, storage, outbound, international logistics, and customs | Comprehensive: storage + handling + shipping + customs brokerage | Strategic logistics partner; we manage end-to-end |
JLog is a true 3PL. We operate beyond storage. We manage your inventory, fulfil orders, coordinate domestic delivery, and handle international export—including customs, documentation, and carrier relationships. You focus on sales and product; we handle the logistics complexity.
For online retailers shipping nationwide or internationally, our distribution centre is your logistics engine. We integrate with your e-commerce platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce), receive orders in real-time, pick-pack, and dispatch within 24 hours. You get branded unboxing experiences and professional fulfillment at scale.
We specialise in art logistics. From receiving rare pieces from international suppliers to packing for exhibition or direct sales, our team applies museum-grade handling. White-glove crating, full-value insurance, and discreet delivery are standard. We’re trusted by galleries throughout South Africa.
Bulky, valuable, and often bespoke. We handle custom furniture, designer pieces, and home goods with care. We store flat-pack or assembled units, offer final assembly services, and arrange white-glove delivery to your customers’ homes.
Wine and beverages need careful, secure handling. We manage vintage inventory, handle fulfillment for online wine clubs and retailers, and export to international wine markets with proper documentation.
If you distribute multiple brands across South Africa, our facility consolidates stock from multiple suppliers, sorts by brand and region, and dispatches to individual retail partners or customers. We manage barcoding, inventory shrinkage, and returns.
Timeline: From initial contact to first order dispatch, typically 2–3 weeks. Urgent start-ups can be accommodated with expedited setup (1 week).
We have 2,400 m² available. You can rent as little as 50 m² (suitable for small e-commerce operations) or up to 400 m² (large regional distributors). Most clients start with 100–200 m². Space is flexible; you can increase or decrease monthly as your business scales.
Terms are month-to-month with 30 days’ notice for every client — no long-term commitment required. Many clients stay for years, but that’s earned, not contracted; 30 days’ notice is required to exit.
We integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, SAP, and most custom e-commerce and ERP systems. If your platform supports standard APIs or SFTP, we can build an integration. Many clients use Zapier or manual CSV uploads as interim solutions while we build deeper integrations.
Yes, complete real-time visibility. Our online portal shows you live stock levels, movement history, picking accuracy rates, shipment tracking, and cost analytics. Reports can be customised (daily, weekly, or monthly) and exported to your accounting system.
We photograph and document all damage on arrival. Responsibility for transit damage rests with your carrier (it’s covered by their insurance). However, if damage occurs while goods are in our facility, we claim against our insurance. You file a claim immediately; we assist with documentation and photos.
We provide secure storage and specialist handling for delicate, high-value goods. For temperature-sensitive items, we’ll advise on the best approach and can coordinate specialist couriers for outbound transport where needed.
Let us handle distribution so you can focus on growing your business. Schedule a facility tour and custom proposal consultation.
Send your store URL, monthly order volume and SKU count and we will get a quote back to you within 2 business hours.
Or call 021 300 6099 or email [email protected].