Dunelm Supplier Manual Aug-2022

Supplier Manual
v.15 Release date: Aug 2022
Document version Release date Amend
Version 12 (Full Supplier Manual) April 2019 Issue 1
Version 13 (Full Supplier Manual) Feb 2022 Issue 2
Version 14 (Full Supplier Manual) Apr 2022 Issue 3
Version 15 (Full Supplier Manual) August 2022 Issue 4
 Documentation (9.0)
 Outer Label Colours (16.3)
 Multi-Part Labelling (16.5)
Classification: Internal
CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 2
Introduction
Dear Supplier
Welcome to The Dunelm Group Supplier Manual. Here at The Dunelm Group, we pride ourselves on trying to work
collaboratively and clearly with our supplier base. In order to do that, we think it is really important you understand
our expectations on how we trade together, the packaging standards we need and how we move product through
our supply chain. We also believe in trying to operate on the lowest possible cost so that we can provide our
customers with your fantastic product at great prices. Therefore, it’s important you comply with the requirements in
this manual as failure to do so will incur cost in the supply chain.
Wherever possible we have tried to minimise the complexity and effort required to trade with The Dunelm Group –
we aspire to be a company it’s easy to do business with. However, as we grow as a business, new needs emerge;
whether that is on line trading where product packaging now needs to protect product to the customer’s home or
where the expansion of our logistics network means we need to be much more precise about how we communicate
information. We have tried to capture everything in one place and we hope this supplier manual helps you trade
successfully with The Dunelm Group with the minimum of effort.
Please make sure you share this manual with all the necessary colleagues within your organisation such that
everyone knows their responsibilities in trading with The Dunelm Group. We have created an electronic version of
this document which can be found via MAERSK’s online portal; please liaise with your MAERSK contact for access
information. We will be periodically updating the information within this document as we develop and improve our
own ways of working with you.
Please feel free to give us some feedback or if you have any questions you can email them to
suppliermanualquestions@Dunelm.com and we will endeavour to get back to you.
Many thanks for your continued support for The Dunelm Group.
Distribution Centre Update
The Dunelm Group has invested in a brand new 525,000 square foot, 12-acre distribution centre in Stoke on Trent,
close to our existing Stoke-based distribution centre. This near enough doubles the overall warehouse space to
nearly 1,000,000 square foot.
This site opened in June 2016. Going forward the existing Stoke Distribution Centre will be referred to as “Stoke 1”
and the new build site as “Stoke 2”.
Artist impression of “Stoke 2”
What does this mean to our suppliers?
 The existing distribution centre and the new build will physically be separate sites:
o Stoke 1, Birmingham Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 4DG (Sat Nav ref: ST4 4EY).
o Stoke 2, Whiterock Road, Sideway Business Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 4EA.
o Stoke 3, GXO, Radial Point, Sideway, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EX.
o Corby 1, iForce Euro Hub, Long Croft Road, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN18 8EY.
o Corby 2, iForce House, Unit 1 Ore Lane, Midlands Logistics Park, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN18
8ET.
o Daventry 1, Dunelm, Drift Drive , Crick, Northampton, NN6 7GZ
 Due to the separate sites, this will have an effect on the way our stock purchase orders are placed; this will
mean that the “Stoke 1” & “Stoke 2”, etc. specific information is supplied to vendors, this is to ensure that
stock is received smoothly at the intended site and with no delay.
o “Stoke 1” will remain as SAP plant no. 9570.
o “Stoke 2” will become SAP plant no. 9576.
o “Stoke 3” will become SAP plant no. 9573.
o “Corby 1” will become SAP plant no. 9581.
o “Corby 2” will become SAP plant no. 9579.
o “Daventry ” will become SAP plant no. 3107.
 Our Buying & Merchandising teams will raise stock purchase orders specifically for “Stoke 1” or “Stoke 2”,
etc – you should never receive a mixed stock purchase order, if you do so, please make your Merchandising
contact aware as soon as possible.
 We will raise specific purchase orders to flow through our network of consolidation centres for The Dunelm
Group purchase orders beginning with a “60000” order number. Our Freight managers, MAERSK Logistics,
will then segregate stock in the consolidation centre for forwarding stock onto “Stoke 1” or “Stoke2” etc
 There will be a fundamental requirement for deliveries to be loaded and shipped for our receipt with “Stoke
1” & “Stoke 2” etc product clearly defined, whether this be site specifically loaded containers or clear
segregation within the container (NOTE: container / delivery to be loaded so product destined for “Stoke 2”
is accessible primarily followed by “Stoke 1” destined product.
 As well the above changes, The Dunelm Group are also taking this opportunity to migrate our current Web
Order Fulfillment operations from external into “Stoke 1” & “Stoke 2”
o “iForce 1” will be SAP plant no. 9577 and will be located within the “Stoke 1” site
o “iForce 2” will be SAP plant no. 9578 and will be located within the “Stoke 2” site
Contents
The Dunelm Group Supplier Manual Introduction
New The Dunelm Group Distribution Centre Update And Information
About this manual 1.0

 1.1 Mandatory Requirements
Vendor Registration 2.0
Purchase Order 3.0
Method of Payment 4.0
Container Utilisation 5.0
Freight Management 6.0
Booking Process and Approval 7.0
Consolidated Freight 8.0
Documentation Process 9.0
Container Inspection Requirement 10.0
Compliance Requirement 11.0
Packaging Goal / Recycling 12.0
Measuring Guide 13.0

 13.1 Product Measuring Guide
 13.2 Transit Case Measuring Guide
 13.3 Units of Measure – Terminology
Transit Packaging 14.0
 14.1 Corrugated Cardboard
 14.2 FEFCO Box Style Guide
 14.3 Minimum Corrugated Board Specification
 14.4 General Materials
Loading/Stacking 15.0
 15.1 Loading/Stacking
 15.2 Stacking
 15.3 Snake-Loading
 15.4 Slip-Sheeting
 15.5 Netting Containers Safely
 15.6 Palletised UK Deliveries
Labelling Guide 16.0
 16.1 “UNIT” Labelling
 16.2 “INNER” Labelling
 16.3 “OUTER” Labelling
 16.4 “PALLET/SLIP-SHEET” Labelling
 16.5 “MULTI CARTON” Labelling
Safety Labelling Guide – Transit and Retail packaging 17.0
 17.1 This Way Up Arrows
 17.2 Fragile Label
 17.3 Handling Warnings - Weight Guide
 17.4 Poly Bags and Sheets – Suffocation Warning
 17.5 Loose Fill Material
 17.6 Toys
 17.7 Silica gel
 17.8 Knife and Sharps Warning Label
Retail Packaging Guidelines 18.0
 18.1 Retail Packaging Guidelines
Web Orders 19.0
Pre-Shipment Inspections and Drop Testing 20.0

 20.1 Pre-Shipment Inspections
 20.2 Transit Packaging Drop Test
 20.3 Furniture Drop Test Criteria
Packaging Checklist 21.0
UK Vendor / Direct Delivery Booking Process 22.0
Appendix 23.0
 23.1 The Dunelm Group Product Team
 23.2 Product Batch Coding
1.0 About this manual
The purpose of this ‘The Dunelm Group Supplier Manual’ is to provide existing and prospective suppliers with clear
guidance on how The Dunelm Group operates and an overview of the specific requirements associated with transit
and retail packaging.
This manual will not cover every type of product; in this instance, you must contact The Dunelm Group Product
Technologist or Merchandise for guidance & clarification.
In addition to this manual, you will require the DM001 Technical Supplier Manual and corresponding Technical policy
for the product category. These additional documents identify the specific testing, product performance and
technical attributes required for approval of the product you intend to supply.
This manual contains information that The Dunelm Group considers commercially sensitive and highly confidential.
In exchange for the disclosure to you of the manual, it is your responsibility to keep the contents of the manual
strictly confidential. This means that you must not disclose either the manual itself or any part of its contents to any
third party.
NOTE: It is the vendor’s responsibility to read these instructions carefully and ensure that the merchandise is packed
and labelled according to the specifications detailed in this document. Any variation to materials, delivery format or
product MUST be authorised in advance by The Dunelm Group Product Team as this could result in shipment rejection.
All costs associated with this or any reworks carried out at The Dunelm Group centre as a result will be charged to
you.
1.1 Mandatory requirements
All suppliers must be aware of the mandatory requirements highlighted in this manual and the relevant technical
policy highlighted as ‘NOTE:’ comments. The decision to grant any concession is entirely at The Dunelm Group’s
discretion and subject to approval by The Dunelm Group Technology manager and may be withdrawn at any time.
NOTE: If you are in any doubt about the application of any Act or Regulation within the services and products you
provide, you should seek your own independent legal advice.
It is the supplier’s responsibility to read and follow all relevant The Dunelm Group policies, to prepare a critical path
and manage the responsibilities effectively.
2.0 Vendor Registration
It is essential that The Dunelm Group hold on file up-to-date and accurate information for your company, in order for
us to correspond with you and ensure payments are made quickly and correctly.
For any new vendors, this document will be shared with supplier, plus, Maersk Supply Chain team will conduct the
vendor trainings for any FOB vendors as well;
If you are a new vendor to The Dunelm Group, your designated Buying contact will hand you a Vendor Registration
Document and a copy of our terms and conditions of trading relevant to UK & European (DDP – deliver duty paid) or
International trade (FOB – free on board). The Vendor Registration Document needs to be filled out with your
company details, including those of your bank and the box checked in acceptance of our trading terms. Also,
confirmation of receipt of this document “Supplier Manual” will be required.
An example of the document is shown in appendix 2 of the “Start Up Pack” and must be returned in its original
format via surface mail or International courier as appropriate. Photo copies and email attachments are not
acceptable. Details on the form will be verified by way of a call back from our accounts department so please ensure
that contact details and telephone numbers are accurate. Failure to do so will lead to delays in account set up and
commencement of trade.
If you are an existing vendor it is worth checking that we have your most up to date details on file as any
discrepancies will delay payment. If you believe the information we hold may be out of date, please request an
Amend Vendor Registration form and return as above.
3.0 Purchase Order
Your order details should be confirmed by way of a sales contract between yourselves and the relevant buyer or
Merchandising contact at The Dunelm Group. You should acknowledge system generated The Dunelm Group
Purchase Orders.
If you are unfamiliar with the sale contract process, a template is shown below. All information detailed on the
example needs to form part of your sales contract.
Once agreed, changes to the sales contract will require the re-authorisation of both parties.
EXPORT PACKING LIST Packing List Reference XXXXXXXXXX

Between
Vendor Name
Vendor Address Vendor Contact Name / email
Vendor Telephone
Vendor Fax
Vendor email Purchase Order Number XXXXXXXXXX

and
Dunelm Soft Furnishings Limited
Fosse Way, Syston, Leicestershire, LE7 1NF Buyers Name
0116 264 4400
0116 264 4475
VENDOR ITEM DETAILS, DESCRIPTION AND DUNELM ARTICLE DUNELM BARCODE No. CTNS NW Kg GW Kg CBM W H D LINE WEIGHT LINE CBM
SPECIFICATION
WHEAT FILLED HEAT PACK BOX SET 3 30309999 505060607070 6120 0.99 1.02 0.0056 0.10 0.40 0.14 6242.40 34.27
Comprising 0.0000 0.00 0.00
WHEAT FILLED HEAT PACK RED X 1 0.0000 0.00 0.00
WHEAT FILLED HEAT PACK WHITE X 1 0.0000 0.00 0.00
WHEAT FILLED HEAT PACK BLUE X 1 0.0000 0.00 0.00
0.0000 0.00 0.00
LAVENDER CUSHION SINGLE 30308888 404050506060 4800 0.14 0.16 0.0078 0.14 0.40 0.14 768.00 37.63
0.0000 0.00 0.00
0.0000 0.00 0.00
0.0000 0.00 0.00
0.0000 0.00 0.00
0.0000 0.00 0.00
0.0000 0.00 0.00
0.0000 0.00 0.00
GROSS WEIGHT TOTAL CBM

7010.40 71.90
QUANTITY TOLERANCE PLUS / MINUS 5%
PACKAGING MATERIALS STANDARD EXPORT CARTON / BDM TO DUNELM SPECIFICATIONS
SHIPPING MARKS TO DUNELM SPECIFICATIONS
AGREED SHIPMENT WINDOW PLUS / MINUS 1 WEEK OF (ENTER AGREED SHIPMENT DATE)
AGREED FOB LOADING PORT YANGZHOU
AGREED UK PORT OF ENTRY FXT, THP OR SOU AS DETERMINED BY FREIGHT MANAGER
CONTAINER NUMBER ABCD1234567
SEAL NUMBER ZYX9876
AGREED EQUIPMENT 1 X 40HC
AGREED LOADING FCL TO MEET DUNELM SPECIFIED UTILISATION
ONE PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER ONLY PER CONTAINER
INSURANCE TO BE EFFECTED BY DUNELM
4.0 Method of Payment
Your buyer will agree method of payments at the point of your initial order and this should show clearly on your
sales contract and will form part of your terms and conditions of trading for International trade (FOB – free on
board).
The Dunelm Group will trade on

Date deferred Documentary Collection
100% date deferred telegraphic transfer from date of documents
NOTE: The Dunelm Group trade on Forwarders Cargo Receipt, where local laws allow, not Original Bill of Lading.
Letters of Credit or Deposit Payment Terms do not form part of The Dunelm Group Payment Portfolio. Use of any
alternative payment methods will only be agreed under exceptional circumstances, for a limited period, and at the
discretion of your Buying contact.
5.0 Container Utilisation

The minimum load and packing requirements of The Dunelm Group are detailed below. A full packaging specification
appears in section 14.0 of this document.
TARGET
FACTORY CFS BREAK
Container Utilisation
LOAD EVEN
20ft General Purpose 8ft 6inches 2086 29cbm 18cbm
40ft General Purpose 8ft 6 inches 4086 58cbm 48cbm
40ft General Purpose 9ft 6 inches 4096 “High Cube” 68cbm 58cbm
45ft General Purpose 9ft 6 inches 4596 “High Cube” 75cbm 68cbm
The Dunelm Group reserve the right to refuse factory load containers that do not meet the
above requirements and direct stock to our Consolidated Freight Stations for loading
*CBM stands for Cubic Meter. This is the most common unit used for the measurement of volumetric cargo. *
NOTE: The Dunelm Group only accepts one purchase order per factory load container. Products on one order are
not to be split across multiple containers. If your final load plan differs from that of your booking you must inform
Maersk supply chain service team, and Maersk will inform Dunelm Group;
Do not load any cargo that does not conform to your original booking. Seek advice and amendments PRIOR to
sealing your container and despatching cargo. Failure to do so will render you liable for any costs that are incurred at
either origin or destination.
6.0 Freight Management
The Dunelm Group have appointed MAERSK Logistics as their worldwide Freight Manager. It is important to
understand that MAERSK do not just undertake the role of a standard forwarder, but are in place to assist you on our
behalf, especially at origin, on all matters relating to the movement of your cargo.
MAERSK work within a defined Standard Operating Process fully sanctioned by The Dunelm Group, and are duly
authorised to manage bookings, approvals, documentation and transportation as applicable for all cargo ordered on
a Free On Board (FOB) basis.
On initial set up and acknowledgement, your order is loaded onto The Dunelm Group Purchase Order system which
is linked via EDI to MAERSK’s Podium system (online shipment management). Any subsequent amendments are
transmitted to MAERSK so you can be assured that both systems contain the same PO data.
If you are a new International trade (FOB – free on board) vendor, the initial PO transmission will be flagged as
“vendor not recognised” and this in turn will trigger a new vendor process. MAERSK at origin will make contact with
you and talk you through the booking, approval and shipping processes as well as providing logins and training on
their “Vendor Podium” portal.
7.0 Booking Process and Approval
Your International trade (FOB – free on board) required cargo booking date is dependent on a series of order
milestones which are calculated backwards from the required UK DC arrival date quoted on your Purchase Order.
The required booking date will be communicated to you via Podium and will be calculated to be at least two weeks
prior to required shipping date. Should you not place a booking within the required timeframe, MAERSK will
progress bookings on behalf of The Dunelm Group and report back reasons for delayed and late shipment.
In extreme cases MAERSK can accept manual bookings, but prefer to accept them via the vendor portal as this leaves
less room for error. In either case, you should have the following details to hand when making your booking:
 Purchase Order Number

 Article Numbers
 Quantities
 Weights
 Dimensions
 Agreed required ship date (also referred to as “cargo ready” and ex-factory”)
If you are a factory booking on behalf of an agent, you will be asked to provide the name of the agent on whom the
purchase order was originally placed.
All shipment bookings placed via the Podium portal will require a final “OK to Ship” authorisation before containers
are released or consolidated warehouse bookings are confirmed.
The Dunelm Group will check the booking on Podium for quantity, dates, shipping mode and technology approval
status.
The Dunelm Group will check approvals every afternoon UK time, meaning the status of your booking should be
updated by the start of business the next working day.
If for any reason your goods have not been approved to ship, the reason will be added to Podium and you should act
on any subsequent instructions.
Note that goods cannot be approved without Gold Seals, so therefore it assists the approval process if gold seals
have been sent and confirmed before bookings are made. You should also note that goods are not permitted to be
loaded and sealed for onward transportation until you have received confirmation of pre-shipment inspection
results from the technical team. If booking is made before Gold Seal approval, booking will be held and not allocated
for shipping.
On agreed “OK to Ship” authorisation, MAERSK will issue the Shipping Order (SO / DO release) to you and you should
arrange container loading in line with the quoted ENS (export notification summary) and port cut off times.
As vendor, you are responsible for all matters arising prior to the FOB point, and you must ensure that the container
is loaded correctly, customs clearance is affected and goods are delivered to the correct FOB point prior to the cut
off times advised. The Dunelm Group will take no responsibility for charges incurred if you fail to meet the cut offs
advised, nor will we be liable for costs incurred if you move cargo without the correct approvals.
8.0 Consolidated Freight
The Dunelm Group operates a number of strategic consolidation operations throughout China / India / Bangladesh /
Vietnam. These are run for us by our Freight Manager, MAERSK Logistics, and deal only with The Dunelm Group
Stock. They are not co-load / LCL (less than container load) operations and are therefore strictly managed in terms of
handling and throughput.
Unlike many other UK retailers, The Dunelm Group do not charge their vendors for use of the consolidation facility.
We take forward all charges for receipt, handling and despatch and any shipment costs after that point. This allows
us to keep track at a base level all the costs associated with the consolidation project and make things easier when
negotiating different shipment routes with vendors.
The way this works is that we request one cost from you for your goods, whether requested to ship by Consolidation
or Full Load. Your full load price will take into account local charges such as (but not limited to) terminal handling
and security. As explained above however you are not required to pay these under a CFS (consolidated freight
service) model.
We do however acknowledge that transportation of smaller loads can in some case be more costly than a single FCL
container movement. The “saving” that you get on your FOB price against terminals when shipping by CFS (because
The Dunelm Group take this forwards) can be offset against transportation.
Therefore, use of the CFS facility is “cost neutral” to the vendor.
The following details the CFS model and further information in regard to the cargo cut offs at your local centre can
be obtained from your local MAERSK office.
Current Full Load Shipment (FCL) Consolidated Freight Model (LCL / CFS)
Container Transport Vendor Small Vehicle Transport to CFS Vendor

to Port
CFS Receipt, Handling Not Applicable CFS Receipt, Handling and Despatch The Dunelm Group
and Despatch
Documents Vendor Documents Vendor
Terminal Handling, Vendor Terminal Handing, Security and Seals The Dunelm Group
Security and Seals
Customs / ENS Vendor Customs / ENS Vendor
* Payment Trigger After sailing * Payment Trigger On agreed handover

(average 1 week earlier)
*VGM Vendor *VGM Vendor
* Note your Payment Terms do not change

*EXAMPLE* If we currently pay you on Documents plus 30 days, you will still be paid on these terms. The 30-day
trigger will now be the date of the FCR, not the Bill of Lading (But the origins of Bangladesh and Pakistan will be
settled via OBL)
For payments made by Documentary Presentation, most countries will accept the FCR in the same way as an original
bill of lading as it is a recognised industry standard document.
The Dunelm Group accepts that certain countries do not trade on a Forwarders Cargo Receipt and therefore
arrangements will be made for goods to ship on Original Bill of Lading. This option will only be made available to
those countries or in the case of individual vendors by special arrangement with The Dunelm Group. In countries
where FCR is widely accepted, any arrangements put into place will be for a small amount of time only and under
regular review. Note that there is a charge for telex release, which does not apply to FCR.
9.0 Documentation Process

In order to ensure a smooth documentation transition and to facilitate your final payment from the UK, you are
required to follow the below guidelines.
 Consignor: Shipper Company Name (on whom the PO is raised, not the
factory) and full company address details
 Consignee: The Dunelm Group (Soft Furnishings) Limited, Pontylue Way,
Watermead Business Park, Syston, Leicestershire, LE7 1AD
 Notify Party MAERSK Logistics (Europe) Limited, MAERSK House
Please note that The Dunelm Group has a number of options in regards to carriers and thus destination port may
vary between your shipments. This is not an issue and you can expect to see discharge ports of Felixstowe,
Southampton, London Gateway and Liverpool being quoted. It is not essential that you quote final UK destination on
your booking as this will be confirmed and communicated to you by MAERSK at the point of booking approval.
You should prepare a set of documents for each shipment containing as a minimum:
 Commercial Invoice – MUST contain the following information:
o Gross Weight
o Net Weight
o Inco Term
o Country of origin
o Rex Statement (Where appropriate)
o Anti-Dumping Duty Code (Where appropriate)
 Packing List
 Forwarders Cargo Receipt*
 Container manifest
It may also need to contain, on an as required basis

 Fumigation certificates
 Test certificates
 GSP / Form A
 Veterinary Certificates
 Other documents as agreed at order placement
 COO (Certificate of Origin)
As our approved agent, MAERSK Logistics are authorised to receive documents on behalf of The Dunelm Group.
There is no requirement to supply your documents directly to The Dunelm Group, or to gain any additional approval
from us for this purpose.
Copies of shipping documents should be released to your local MAERSK office no later than 3 working days after
consolidation delivery or vessel sailing in order to secure the release of a Forwarders Cargo Receipt. Note that
MAERSK are under no obligation to release an FCR to you until local charges have been paid in full.
 For origins in European countries, considering the tight transit time, the document submission timeline will be
asap, within 3 working dates after container stuffing for factory loaded; or cargos sent to CFS facilities.
The Dunelm Group can only process your payment on receipt of documents, it is therefore in your own interest to
supply documentation and pay local charges without delay.
Documents will then be uploaded via an electronic “pouch” system and visible to The Dunelm Group in the UK and
we will facilitate payment processing at this point.
We will only accept one packing list and one invoice per container. All paperwork should refer to individual purchase
orders and loads, even if they have been shipped against a single shipping document.
Please inform your local MAERSK office and The Dunelm Group (imports@Dunelm.com) if you are unable to supply
any documents within the timeframes required. The earlier we are aware of a problem, the earlier we can assist you
with a resolution.
Failure to do so may result in you being held liable for on costs such as demurrage or bank charges.
As long as your documents are in order, you should expect to receive payment no later than 30 days after your
submission date. If there is an issue with your documents, you will be informed by the imports or finance team at
The Dunelm Group directly and in good time to ensure the issue can be resolved.
Original documents required to be submitted to your bank to secure Documentary Collection should continue to be
processed in the method required by your bank and do not need submitting to your local office. In this case a set of
copies will suffice.
In the unlikely event that goods have shipped on Original Bill, Telex release will be done at origin although this will
be at vendor cost.
10.0 Container Inspection Requirement
In order to assist with in transit claims for damages and Dunelm Warehouse non-conformance charges, The Dunelm
Group will require vendors to carry out and fully document (including photographic record) a container inspection
process for international trade (FOB – free on board). This is to verify the physical integrity and suitability of the
container prior to loading.
This is being introduced to support vendors in the event that damage occurs during transit, and to enable us to
provide proof that containers were received in good order at origin prior to loading.
Vendors who fail to carry out this process may find themselves liable for non-conformance charges if damages are
found on receipt at the UK warehouse.
Full details of the container inspection requirements are contained in the supporting documents, but if there are any
questions, please refer to imports@Dunelm.com in the first instance.
The 7 checking points report expected to be kept 6 months
EXAMPLE CONTAINER INSPECTION FORM
CONTAINER NUMBER
CONTAINER SIZE (20GP / 40GP / 40HC / 45HC)
INSPECTED BY (Print Name)
DATE OF INSPECTION
TIM E OF INSPECTION
7 POINT CHECK INITIAL AS OK

OUTSIDE / UNDERCARRIAGE
DOORS / INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
INSIDE – RIGHT
INSIDE – LEFT
INSIDE – FRONT WALL
CEILING / ROOF
FLOOR
CONTAINER INSIDE MEASUREMENT
HEIGHT (m)
BREADTH (m)
LENGTH (m)
NOTES
SIGNATURE OF INSPECTOR
PROCEDURE
Ensure support beams are visible
Verify locking mechanisms are reliable on the outside doors and that there have not been any alterations
Ensure that there have not been any unusual repairs to the structural beams. Any repairs made on the inside
should be visible on the outside of the container. Use a tool to tap the side of each wall to confirm you hear a
hollow sound
Verify that the blocks/vents are visible. Use a tool to tap to confirm that you hear a hollow sound
Confirm that the height, breadth and length of the inside of the container have not been altered by tape
measure or range finder
Verify that it is flat and even. Check for any alterations including bad repairs or if a portion is elevated
11.0 Compliance Requirement
It is the supplier’s responsibility to read and follow all relevant The Dunelm Group policies, to prepare a critical path
and manage the responsibilities effectively.
The Dunelm
Key stages of responsibility Group Supplier
Supply of products with suitable transit packaging specified in the manual for the intended
transport route. √
Packaging materials in compliance with The Dunelm Group’s guidelines. √
Supply of all transit packaging label critical information – Article no’s, barcodes, √
Application of all transit labels in the correct/content to allow √
Application of required safety labelling in compliance with local and International shipping
requirements. √
NOTE: Where the Supplier has identified a requirement of The Dunelm Group’s Technical Policy that cannot be
physically achieved, this must be discussed with The Dunelm Group Product Team prior to any production taking
place. No concessions will be granted for any safety or banned substrates to be used in packaging for The Dunelm
Group.
Please see below the elements that will be monitored to determine if an inbound load is compliant. Delivery
compliance will be measured on all loads received into both “Stoke 1” & “Stoke 2” sites.
Any instances of non-compliance identified by either of the sites will be fully documented (including photographic
evidence) to enable The Dunelm Group to give the vendors this feedback, this feedback will come via the applicable
merchandiser.
This information will also be utilised for evidence purposes to allow The Dunelm Group to apply the costings
specified below for any instances of non-conformance:
Compliance Check Action Issue Charge (£) Comments
Snake Loaded (Unsorted Log – Transfer to Stoke 1 to

£450
Delivery) unload
Log – Transfer to Stoke 1 to

Unsafe Stacking £450
unload
Incorrect Labelling Log - Unload Onsite £225
Container Not Netted Securely Log - Unload Onsite £225
Front Facing Information Log - Unload Onsite £225
Load / Paperwork Integrity Log - Unload Onsite £150
Non-Slip Sheeted Penalty

Log – Unload Onsite £375
(Where Applicable)

Damaged Packaging £450
unload

Unexpected Cargo Handling £225
unload
Serious Health & Safety Risk £10,000 for any additional

Log - Contact H&S £5,000
e.g. sharp found serious H&S risks
See below examples of the Inbound Check Off Document, Compliance Report Log & Non-Conformance Reporting
Document to be populated by The Dunelm Group inbound teams at both Stoke 1 & 2 sites for reporting purposes,
photographic evidence as per the example shown below will also be recorded, all of the below will be used to
document any non-conformance that are identified:
*EXAMPLE PHOTOGRAPHS ONLY*
12.0 Packaging Goal/Recycling
The Dunelm Group is committed to reducing the amount of waste we produce as a result of day to day operating
procedures. Inevitably, we will continue to produce waste as our products require adequate protection during
delivery and storage. However, we are actively working together with all suppliers to improve and reduce the
amount of packaging used.
Taking waste to landfill is no longer environmentally acceptable, The Dunelm Group therefore aims to produce
packaging waste that can be re-used or recycled.
The Waste Hierarchy diagram shown below highlights the different stages we need to address before sending waste
to landfill. As a result:
Further details of our plastic and packaging policy and recent achievements can be viewed online:
https://corporate.dunelm.com/sustainability/product/packaging-and-recycling/
1.1) DUNELM PACKAGING STRATEGY
1.2) PRINCIPLES OF PACKAGING DESIGN
By routinely following our packaging principles it will ensure our products are packaged to the most sustainable
methods using sources and approval procedures which deliver high quality consistent results.
 If it doesn’t have a purpose don’t use it: reduce and remove

 It should fit correctly, securely, and be fully protected
 Use sustainably sourced materials
 Easy and commonly recyclable
 Components must be easily separated
 Minimise the use of plastic
 Maximise the volume of recycled content in plastic (min 30%)
 Meet all ethical, quality, legal and statutory requirements
 Accurate data reporting
 Passes full approval process
 Full supply chain transparency
1.3) PLASTICS
(bags, transparent boxes, wraps, acetate windows, blister packs, fillers etc.)
All plastic materials used in packaging must be commonly recyclable in the United Kingdom. Plastics must include a
minimum of 30% recycled content. Please refer to the requirements within 2.3) Plastics - Recycled Content section.
Permitted
 Recycled content. Minimum 30%. (For quality criteria refer to 2.3b)

 All plastics must be transparent and non-coloured to aid recycling. This supports recyclability and applies for
all Primary, Secondary and Tertiary plastics
 Where products are required to be clearly visible in their packaging, then high clarity LDPE (PPE) should be
used, as it is fully transparent. This applies to all bedding packaging
 Plastic bags and plastic film made from a non-blended mono Polyethylene (PE, PPE, LDPE) only with no
metallisation, no paper labels and no more than 5% PP and or EVOH.
 Clear Extruded Polyethylene based Polyolefin shrink wrap film (with a minimum PE content of 95%) From
January 2022- PP Films with no metallisation, paper labels and no more than 5% EVOH can be classed as
“recyclable at larger supermarkets”
 Bubble wrap or air-filled void fill is permitted if it is made from a non-blended Polyethylene (PE, LDPE, PPE)
and includes the minimum recycled content volume
 Plastic boxes, wraps and windows made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
 We are phasing out Expanded Polyethene Foams, (LDPE foam, EP, EPE). Where viable an alternative must be
used unless temporary use is approved by your Tech.
 If rigid vacuum formed void fillers and product protection is necessary, use Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
however formed paper pulp or cardboard engineering the box to remove the need for vac form is preferable
 Hooks are permitted providing the polymer is commonly recyclable and free from colour and print. Unless
the hook is the same polymer as the main packaging it must be easily detachable.
Not permitted
 Virgin plastic packaging. All packaging made primarily from plastic must contain a minimum of 30% recycled
content (except for food)
 Coloured/ tinted bags, protective sheeting, or film
 Any Plastic bags, bubble wrap, air cushioning or plastic film made from HDPE, MDPE or blends of polymers
(not widely recycled)
 Multi polymer laminated and co-extrusion plastics with mixed materials (as this cannot be recycled)
 PVC Shrink Wrap (classed as non-recyclable)
 Cast Shrink Wrap
 Polystyrene, expanded polystyrene and PVC (as this cannot be recycled)
 EP, LDPE, EPE foam (Pearl Wool Foam) blocks, corner protectors or sheets. (As this cannot be recycled)
 Black plastic (as this cannot be detected by recycling machinery)
 Bio-degradable, Compostable plastics are to be avoided where possible, however if it is an essential
requirement then it must adhere to TUV OK compost Home certification and EN13432 European standard
and clearly labelled. (presently classed as non-recyclable) Any use of these polymers must get technical prior
approval.
 Polymer degradation or Anti – Static additives (as this contaminates the recycling stream)
 Plastic strapping
13.0 Measuring Guide

13.1 Product measuring guide
It is very important that the following guide is used to measure the product correctly.
Height (MM) Diameter (MM) (At Diameter (MM) (at

widest point) rim)
Cylindrical items, including candles, A B C

vases, tubes etc
Length (MM) Width (MM) Height (MM)
Box shaped or containers, General A B C

products including retail packaging
A B
Front of product
(as merchandised
on shelf)
13.2 Transit case measuring guide – To provide correct shipping information
You are required to provide transit case dimensions in the format below to The Dunelm Group merchandising team.
Please use the guide below to ensure the case dimensions are accurate:
Transit cases Length (MM) Width (MM) Height (MM)
Note – Cases should not be bulging due to A B C

being overloaded.
13.3 Units of Measure – Terminology
Various terms are used to describe different ways in which products are collated; we call these units “Units of
Measure”. The table below is a guide to the terminology we use at The Dunelm Group and how it relates to your
product, please note this may be different from your own internal terminology. For a detailed breakdown of the
terminology please refer to section 7.0 Labelling Guide
*Please ensure that in all instances Dunelm product is shipped/supplied in multiples of full carton quantities only,
part carton quanities will not be accepted*
14.0 Transit packaging
14.1 Corrugated Cardboard
The below information refers to the types of corrugated cardboard that can be used in producing boxes.
The specification of cardboard required for each box is determined by the weight of the product and structural
properties of the product. The chosen specification must protect the unit from damage during transit and be of
suitable grade to stack to the desired height.
There are four fluting profiles commonly recognised by The Dunelm Group within the corrugated industry, if we
discount the micro flutes developed as an alternative to solid board, (N, G and F flutes) in this instance.
“Unit” The retail unit purchased by the customer in store. Also, known as consumer unit or single pack
“Inner” The collation of products containing the retail units. Also, known as the mid-outer, the pack
“Outer” Also, known as the carton, shipper or case may contain a number of “Inners”
Tier x Height It refers to the number of boxes/cartons stored on a layer, or tier, (the TI) and the number of layers high that
(Ti x Hi) these will be stacked on the pallet (the HI). It can also be used in reference to the stacking pattern used to load
a pallet in order to generate a relatively stable stack.
“Pallet” The number of retail units stacked on a pallet. Calculated using Tier x Height (Ti x Hi) i.e. the number of retail
units on a tier x number of tiers on a pallet.
Flute Calliper Take-Up Ratio Flutes Per Meter
A 5.3mm 1.53% 120
C 4.3mm 1.43% 130
B 3.00mm 1.36% 160
E 1.8mm 1.28% 300
Under
F, N, G F 518 (+)
(1.00mm)
Each flute profile has some distinctive values, using the four stars as the most valued and one star as the least, the
flute performances would rank as follows.
Best
Requirement *** ** *
****
Stacking Strength A C B E
Containability (Product is self-supporting) B C E A
Impact Resistance A C B E
Printability E B C A
Thermal Insulation A C B E
Thermal Conductivity E B C A
Combinations of different flutes can be used to manufacture “Double Wall” materials, which can further benefit
performance, for example AC double wall would have a superior stacking and insulation, BE would have a superior
Containability, conductivity and print where E-Flute is the printed surface.
NOTE: If long-term storage of corrugated boxes in high humidity is expected, extra strength and
moisture resistance is required. A semi-chemical fluting can be used to add strength and water
resistance and is highly advisable when shipping freight.
Impact of recycled content in corrugated board. While desirable from an environmental perspective high
percentages of recycled content inevitably weaken board and carton strength because of shorter fibres. The overall
performance needs to be “equivalent” to the specified board grades.
14.2 FEFCO Box Style Guide
The Dunelm Group’s Product Team recognises the use of FEFCO codes to promote the correct box design solution.
The style of box can depend on many factors but in furniture, it is essential that corrugated flute direction, stacking
strength and integral box strength are taken into account. FEFCO codes are a four-digit number that denotes the
style of a carton, box, folder, or fitting according to an industry standard.
http://www.fefco.org/sites/default/files/files/FEFCO_ESBO_codes_of_designs.pdf
PLEASE NOTE: Stitching/Metal Staples No metal staples or metal stitching should be used in the “Inner”, or the “outer”
packaging.
0201 Carton is the most common kind of carton found and is commonly the best solution for economical use of
material and good stacking strength.
0203 Carton has fully overlapping flaps creating some distinct benefits:
 Valuable strength when packaging heavy units

 The overlapping flaps can negate the weak point of the closure and stop product pressurising the join
 The style is especially resistant to rough handling
 Stacked on its bottom panel, the overlapping flaps provide added cushioning
 Stacked on its side, the extra thickness provides added stacking strength
0300/0330 Telescopic boxes consist of a separate top, or top and bottom that fit over each other.
0401 One Piece Folder (OPF) one piece of board is cut so that it provides a flat bottom, with flaps forming the sides
and ends, and extensions of the side flaps meeting to form the top.
0403 One Piece Folder with Air Cell/End Buffers, Protection and buffer zone for fragile corners.
Corrugated fittings, Liners, tubes, pads, build-ups, dividers, partitions and other inner packing pieces can be made in
an infinite variety of ways to separate or cushion products, to strengthen the box or to prevent product movement
by filling voids. They may be simple rectangles, or scored, slotted, scored and slotted, or die-cut shapes.
14.3 Minimum Corrugated Board Strength - Guide
Below are specifications of corrugated packaging to help suppliers when selecting the correct packaging type. The
grade of corrugated is only a guide, representing the minimum standard required (by ‘pack’ gross weight) but can be
increased if required. Please refer to appendix for more information.
Light-weight pack sizes with a gross weight of up to 5kg per ‘pack’

 200 Kraft/200 Test-C (Single Wall) or equivalent
 Please add Semi Chemical fluting if high moisture is expected.
Medium-weight products with a gross weight between 5Kg and 12Kg per ‘pack’
 200 Kraft/200 Test-BC (Double Wall) or equivalent
Heavy-weight products with a gross weight between 12kg and 25Kg per ‘pack’
 300 Kraft/300 Test-BC (Double Wall) or equivalent
14.4 General materials
HDPE Bagged units and Bubble Wrap – Bean bags, soft textiles, carpets etc
 Only clear tape is permitted. When required this should be minimised wherever possible to help reduce the
amount of time it takes to open and aid with recyclability.
 If goods have any sharp ends the bags or bubble wrap should be strong enough to withstand piercing or the
sharp ends should be appropriately capped (e.g. Corrugated end cap protecting tips on a carving fork)
 The use of bags and bubble wrap should be minimised wherever possible as it is a more problematic material for
The Dunelm Group to recycle in-store.
 Only Bubble wrap material is permitted. Please discuss its application with The Dunelm Group Technologist in
advance for approval.
 Punch holes of 8mm diameter are required on all consumer bags for ventilation
 Coloured polyethylene is not permitted
 Bagged units must be labelled with the same specification of label as bulk delivery cartons with one label per bag
required.
 The bags must be of a suitable strength and micron thickness to ensure it can be moved around a distribution
system without tearing or splitting.
 Suppliers are responsible to ensure the material is suitable for transiting products. A minimum spec of 40
Microns is recommended.
 Bags must not be stapled closed.
 Bags must be suitably ventilated to prevent moisture being trapped in the bag.
Plastic ‘Bail’ bags

 These should only contain maximum 10-15 units per bag and picked ‘per store order’ to reduce risk of flattening
of the fillings during transit.
 Bail bag minimum specification is as follows: material with 40 Micron.
Polystyrene
 Under no circumstances should polystyrene be use in any transit or retail packaging.
Polypropylene Straps with metal closures / Metal Banding
 Use of straps is NOT permitted for The Dunelm Group products.
Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)

Under no circumstances should PVC be use in any transit or retail packaging.
15.0 Loading/Stacking
15.1 Loading/Stacking
One of the important functions of a corrugated box is to provide crush resistance (product protection) and adequate
strength for stacking in warehouses and throughout the transit process, noticeably it must be suitable to survive the
shipping method including use within containers.
NOTE: All costs associated with works carried out at The Dunelm Group Distribution Centre, as a result of damages
caused by poor Loading/Stacking, will be charged to the vendor.
It is important that the direction of the corrugated flute is positioned to add stacking strength; the flute should run
vertical through the box as it is stacked, only on rare occasions and with prior consent by the Packaging Technologist
can this be changed. Sometimes it is best to use a reverse fluting box depending on the stacking orientation. Any
stack which collapses under its own weight will need to be re-worked into suitable transit packaging; The Dunelm
Group reserves the right to charge for the re-work in the event the transit packaging is not “fit for purpose”.
A box can be designed by optimizing the grade of corrugated board, box design, flute direction, and inner supports.
Support from the product also provides "load sharing" and can be an important factor. Box closures sometimes can
have effects on box stacking strength.
The method of loading boxes on to pallets/containers strongly affects stacking strength. Vertical columns provide
the best box performance while interlocking patterns of boxes significantly reduce performance. (Please see diagram
below). A common misconception is that interlocking cartons is good practice; however it actually reduces stacking
strength by up to 50%.
The greater the gap between the last row of cargo and the door of the container can increase the potential of the
cargo collapsing and leaning:
Incorrect. Correct.
Any gaps / spacing between the cargo will increase the instability during transportation. Please fill these gaps /
spacing with handling materials.
Incorrect: Correct:
15.2 Stacking
When packing merchandise in cartons to satisfy the logistics and transport requirements, please ensure the
following guidelines are followed:
 Do stack where possible as per diagram above

 Must use slip sheeting (At this moment, the CFS facilities are not operating slip sheeting)
 Cartons must be of sufficient strength and quality to be able to withstand double pallet stacking without
creasing or collapsing
 Cartons are to be stacked on their bases, unless specifically designed and agreed with The Dunelm Group.
 Carton size must be chosen to closely fit the volume of contents within
 Merchandise must not overfill the carton
 Empty spaces left in the top of the cartons are not acceptable
 Metal staples, metal strapping and polypropylene strapping are not to be used to seal cartons
 Avoid overhanging cartons. Overhang exposes packages to damage and reduces stacking strength
 All cartons to be loaded to container with markings facing the door so that they can be easily read and
identified at point of receipt
The Dunelm Group will periodically audit shipments and visit transit delivery receiving operations. When field
performance is observed or documented to have problems, a new cycle of design and testing may be justified.
The stacking requirements above are to be followed in all instances apart from when dealing with furniture stock, in
this instance, the below needs to be followed:
Furniture “This way up arrows”:
Container loading:
15.3 Snake-Loading
To be able to transport products via shipping containers, you must ensure that the shipping container is packed
safely and correctly according to best practices. This will avoid product damages and limit risks to human injury.
Snake loading is a phrase used to describe the process of loading products into a container in the reverse sequence
to that which the goods will be unloaded and stored in at the final destination.
In the diagram below letters D, C, B and A represent items that can be distinguished by article number / style and
colour.
Goods should be loaded in accordance with carton markings, where these indicate that items need to be kept
upright. Each Style / Size / Colour should be separated by a piece of card or other indicator (indicated as a thick line)
and cartons marked as 1 of XX quantity should be loaded in order.
Snake Loading is a mandatory requirement for all container loaded deliveries, whether they are destined for direct
The Dunelm Group delivery or via The Dunelm Group’s Consolidation Centres operated by MAERSK Logistics in the
Far East.
 It is permissible to place one carton of each differing item at the rear of the container, out of snake load
sequence, so that each article is accessible in the event of a customs inspection.
 You should prepare a detailed packing list which denotes each article loaded in terms of order, total pieces,
outer carton, total cartons, accurate shipped weight and dimensions.
 All labels within the consignment must be on the side of the box facing the door. This is so that labels can be
clearly visible when opening the container.
15.4 Slip-Sheeting (Where applicable)
Slip-sheeting is the mandatory method of presenting cargo for

loading and discharge from containers. The Dunelm Group Product
Team will clarify with you at the time of negotiation the
requirement to use slip-sheets.
The stated dimensions of a slip-sheet are 1000x1200mm. However,

1300mm
in order to optimise container usage the 1200mm dimension should
be reduced to 1150mm to allow two slip-sheets to be loaded across
the width of the container. All products must be slip-sheeted prior
to loading into the container.
The height of any one slip-sheeted consignment MUST NOT exceed

1300mm. However, specific restrictions may apply based on site
location and product type. Units must not be mixed on one slip-
sheet. Loose cartons (less than full slip sheet qty.) are permitted to be safely loose loaded around/on top of slip
sheet pallet. Please note that a “cargo retaining” net must be used to ensure load is secure.
15.5 Netting Container Deliveries Safely
All inbound containers being be presented to the Distribution Centre, must arrived with safety netting securely
fastened at the back doors of the container/where the product loaded onto the container finishes. All netting needs
to be fitted in such a way that if the load shifts/moves in transit, the netting will prevent/minimise any risk of the
load being a safety issue. Failure to present containers as per the above will result in a non-conformance charge
being applied (see section 11.0 for details of non-conformance charges).
See below example of requirement expected – MAERSK Logistics will provide all vendors with a copy of the specific
“Dunelm Netting Process” to assist with any queries:
15.6 Palletised UK Deliveries
Palletised items must be delivered on a 1200mm x 1000mm standard WHITE 4-way entry pallet (CHEP pallets or any
other pallet pooling companies, not specified above, will not be accepted into either DC and non-conformance
charges will be applied) stacked such that there is no overhang, secured in place with either shrink or stretch
wrapping. The load height including the pallet must not exceed 1500mm and the gross weight no more than 750Kgs.
The load must also carry a ‘Pallet Label’ (see Labelling section 16.4). If your merchandise cannot fit on a pallet
without overhanging it must be delivered as a single unit.
Where The Dunelm Group provide vendors with “The Dunelm Group Green Pallets”, it is expected that pre-palletised
goods will be delivered into the distribution centre on the pallet provided.
For every “The Dunelm Group Green Pallet” damaged, a rate of £7.10+ vat will be charged back to the vendor to
cover this costing.
Pallets
•1200mm wide
•1000mm deep
•1300mm high product only
•1500mm high Inc. pallet and product
Whichever delivery method is used you must never mix article numbers, sizes or colours in the same carton or
pallet.
NOTE: The maximum pallet height MUST BE 1495mm. If Slip sheeting is being used, please ensure the total height of
the products are a maximum of 1300mm high.
16.0 Labelling guide

16.1 “UNIT” Labelling
UNIT
Retail Packaging
Unit refers to one product or a number of products that The Dunelm Group sell as one “unit” to the customer in store or one
“unit”that is processed through our Distribution Centre’s. This is sometimes refered to as the consumer unit or the selling unit.
The overall content will be confirmed by The Dunelm Group Product Team at the pre-production meetings and briefed to the
supplier.
Artwork, Style, Fonts & Size guide – Please refer to The Dunelm Group Marketing brief and Brand Guidelines document for
specific artwork requirements. This can be obtained from The Dunelm Group Product Team
1
3
4
30001234 5
1. Product description including dimensions and colour (if required)

2. Barcode/EAN number is generated specific to each product, this is Dunelm sale unit barcode
3. Manufacturer location and The Dunelm Group address information
4. The Dunelm Group Logo
5. The Dunelm Group Article Number
Additional Product Info

Batch Code – This should be a traceable code to identify production date and manufacturing location. This should be on both
the product and the outer packaging.
Product warnings – These will relate to the product and safety function. Please confirm these requirements with the Dunelm
Group Technologist at the pre-production stage.
User Care Guide/Instructions/Information – This is required to instruct the user how to safely assemble, store, handle, use, and
dispose of after use.
Electrical Units – Pack labelling will require additional logos. Please refer to the relevant The Dunelm Group Technical Policy for
more information.
Wash care information – This is required for specific wash care. For Textiles, please refer to the relevant The Dunelm Group
Technical Policy, for other areas, please contact The Dunelm Group Technologist for assistance.
16.2 “INNER” Labelling
INNER
Transit Packaging
Sometimes, it maybe beneficial to pack multiple (consumer) units into a intermediate transit pack. This is called the
“inner”. In the example below, 4 (consumer) units are packed into an “inner”.
NOTE: It is not required to use an “inner”. Vendors should discuss with their buying and merchandising contacts
whether an “inner” is required based on outer carton quantity (see below).
If an “inner” is not required, please leave all the fields associated with the “inner” blank on the article create form.
Labelling
A minimum of 2 panels, (at least one (L) and (W) panel) must be labelled with a preference for all four sides of the
pack. Every pack carton should have a suitably printed label as per the instructions below. The barcode must be
clearly visible throughout the transit process and must scan.
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
1. The Dunelm Group destination, this will be specified by the merchandiser

2. “Inner Qty” refers to the number of Units (products) within the pack
3. PO number is given at the point the order is placed by the merchandiser
4. Article number is a unique number given to each product by The Dunelm Group
5. Product name or description given by The Dunelm Group
6. Department for the product as confirmed by the merchandiser, this may also be required to read PROMO on
occasion
7. Country that the products were manufactured
8. Gross weight of the products and the packaging
9. Barcode/EAN number is generated specific to each product. The barcode will need to be that of the article
number on the pack, this is Dunelm sale unit barcode
IMPORTANT: Size of a printed label should be a minimum of 100mm wide by 150mm high where the carton size
permits, if carton size is less than printed label requirement, please adjust printed label to fit.
Please refer to section 17.0 - Safety Labelling guide for any additional safety warnings that need to be placed on the
carton depending on contents and weight *Also see this section for instructions on use of ‘This Way Up Arrow’ labels*
16.3 “OUTER” Labelling
OUTER
Transit Packaging
The “outer” carton refers to the largest unit of measure the vendor ships product to The Dunelm Group in.
The “outer” may contain contain inners. In the example below the outer carton contains 4 inner cartons and so
contains 16 (consumer) units.
However, it is perfectly acceptable for a vendor not to have “inners” within a carton and just ship (consumer) units in
the outer carton.
For example, for a furniture item where there is one (consumer) unit per outer. The vendor would be shipping in an
“outer” and the total units per outer would be 1. In this example, the “total inners per outer” field on the outer label
should be left blank to signify that there are no inners present.
As described above, vendors should confirm with their buying and merchandising colleagues whether an “inner” is
required.
Labelling
A minimum of 2 panels, (at least one (L) and (W) panel) must be labelled. The outer requires all information to be
clearly marked as per label below.
3. Article number is a unique reference number given to each product by The Dunelm Group
4. Product name or description
5. Country that the products were manaufactured
6. The total number of “Units” (products) within the “Outer”
7. The total number of “Inners” contained within the “Outer”
8. Gross weight of the “Outer”, including the products and the packaging
9. Batch Code to identify the date and factory used to manufacture the product. This is to help identify and
segregate the batch in our warehouse if necessary
10. Barcode/EAN number is generated specific to each product. The barcode will need to be that of the article
number on the pack, this is Dunelm sale unit barcode
IMPORTANT: Size of a printed label should be a minimum of 100mm width by 150mm
*Each Outer Carton labelled applied needs to be colour coded by department. This is required to assist our Dunelm
store collegues to differentiate product on branch deliveries.*
Please refer to section 17.0 - Safety Labelling guide for any additional safety warnings that need to be placed on the
carton depending on contents and weight. Also see this section for instructions on use of ‘This Way Up Arrow’ labels.
CONTEXT: The reason The Dunelm Group sometimes require the use of an “inner” is to manage the flow of stock
into store.
For example, if an Outer contained 150 (consumer) units with no “inners”, The Dunelm Group would be forced to
ship 150 (consumer) units to a store, each time the store needed replenishment. This may represent a considerable
amount of stock cover in store.
If the (consumer) units were packed in “inners” of 10, The Dunelm Group could replenish stores in multiples of 10
(consumer) units, leading to less overstock in store.
Therefore, the decision to use an “inner” or not, is a management decision based on the expected rate of sale in the
store, the number of (consumer) units in the outer and the cost of any intermediate “inner” pack.
16.4 “PALLET/SLIP-SHEET” Labelling
PALLET / SLIP-SHEET
Transit Packaging
(Please see guidelines on using Pallets and Slip-Sheeting)
Labelling
All pallets in a palletised delivery must contain a pallet label as per example below.

PALLET Dunelm (Stoke 2)

123456789
PO Number

304564656
Article Number

EXAMPLE
Article Description
Country Of Origin CHINA 

Pallet No 1 of 10 
Total Items Per Pallet 240

3. Article number is a unique number given to each product by The Dunelm Group
4. Product name or description
5. Country that the product’s were manaufactured within
6. Pallet number, for example 1 of 10, 2 of 10 …
7. Total qty of “Units” per pallet
16.5 “MULTI CARTON” Labelling
MULTI CARTON
Transit Packaging
“Units” that have more than one box to complete the overall product. For example a separate box for a table and
chairs.
Labelling – Additional labelling requirements

Multi carton units require parent and child barcode labels for identification purposes within the Dunelm warehouses
and supply chains. Barcode numbers for each part will be provided by the buying team at the packaging stage. Please
follow the below multipart labelling guide.
Multi carton units must carry a highlighted notice to identify that it is supplied as a multi-part product e.g. table and
chair set. These labels should state part 1 of 2 and 2 of 2 as required. These labels must be next to the main carton
label.
The labels MUST be bright yellow background with bold black text for approval.
Box 1 Multipart Labelling

Each box has the same parent article and barcode, but different child article and barcodes.
Box 2 Multipart Labelling
Each box has the same parent article and barcode, but different child article and barcodes.
17.0 Safety Labelling Guide - Transit Packaging

Products may also require additional safety warnings to be attached to retail and transit packaging. This is to warn
the person handling the product of any potential hazard.
17.1 This Way Up Arrows – Applied to outer transit case (as detailed below)
 “This Way Up Arrows” MUST be printed on every “Pack” and “Outer” carton where the product could be
deemed breakable, fragile or could compromise the packaging if not stacked the correct way up. This can then
ensure warehousing and logistics can use the carton in the correct orientation.
17.2 Fragile Label – Applied to Transit Case (as detailed below)
 All “Inners” or “Outers” containing glass, fragile or sharp items must be clearly marked on both the outside using
the ‘FRAGILE’ logo below and carry suitable warnings on the retail pack.
17.3 Handling Warnings Weight Guide – Applied to outer transit case (as detailed below)
To minimise workplace injuries and improve workplace safety by alerting person/s lifting packages of a heavy or
bulky nature.
 All boxes under 5kgs = No additional warning required.

 All boxes over 5kgs or where the carton size is larger than 0.13 cubic meters (approx. 50CM x 50CM x 50 CM)
need a yellow & black warning triangle (see below).
 Where a pack or CDU has a gross weight above 25Kg’s, the supplier must liaise with the Buyer and Technologist
first to get this approved.
Label Weight Guide Warning information Label format

Type
5 – 10kg
or
larger than  TEXT Min height = 14mm high
0.13 cubic
meters  CONTENT=TAKE CARE WHEN HANDLING
A
(approx.
50CM x 50CM  TRIANGLE Min height = 52mm
x 50CM)
 TEXT Min height. 14mm high
10.1 – 25kg  CONTENT=HEAVY

B
 TRIANGLE Min height = 52mm
 TEXT Min height= 14mm high
 CONTENT= CAUTION: THIS PRODUCT IS

HEAVY! 2 PERSON HANDLING ONLY
25kg and Above  TRIANGLE Min height = 52mm

C
 ADDITIONAL LOGO: Two man lift icon
 NOTE: Carton weight must be clearly

stated.
NOE: Text
NOTE: Any box individually over 5kgs needs an appropriate warning triangle in yellow directly printed or over-
stickered on at least one vertical face.
17.4 Poly Bags and sheets
 All polythene bags and sheets with an opening greater than 180mm laid flat must have a ‘Suffocation warning
label’ printed on them. The warning has to be in English, repeated at 600mm intervals, and measure at least 100
x 50mm.
17.5 Loose Fill Materials
 Any loose fill materials must be clean and dust free and the packs must be clearly marked to alert the customer.
17.6 Toys
 Toy items secured within boxes and fitments by plastic / metal fastenings must bear a warning to dispose of them
safely on the retail label. Also applies to soft toys with swing tags attached.
17.7 Silica Gel
The use of pre-packed desiccants is permitted and is often required to induce of sustain a state of dryness.
We actively encourage suppliers to use pre-packaged desiccants which are plastic free as an alternative to traditional
silica gels.
If a sachet is used in the product, a warning must be attached to the pack and to the retail packaging. These are NOT
allowed in toys or products associated with children or babies. DMF based silica is prohibited from use.
NOTE: All warning signs must conform to current UK packaging requirements and all relevant hazard-warning symbols
should be applied.
17.8 Knife and Sharps Warning Labels-Retail Packaging
To reduce the risk of potential injury to customers and staff either by accidental or malicious means, The Dunelm
Group is committed to ensuring suitable retail product packaging is used to prevent such an incident occurring.
All identified items should state the detail shown below on the reverse of the retail pack and will automatically be
flagged on the EPOS system. The stores will carry shelf edge labels, raising awareness of the “Ask 25” procedure
carried out at the tills.
Product categories include:
 Knives, all-purpose scissors, kitchen tools with functional tips or edges including peelers & corkscrews.
 General items with functional cutting edges or tips that are intended to cut pierce or puncture objects as part of
their intended function.
Preventative action can be completed in one/all of the following ways:
 Knives must have a fully enclosed clamshell-type packaging with permanent securing tie; additional tools should
be needed to remove the retail packaging.
 Components fitted with secure tip caps or sleeved covers,
 Retail boxes containing sharp items must have additional roundel seals or adhesives to prevent immediate
access to sharp components.
 All product tags or packaging text must include warning text that states - ‘Warning – This product contains a
functional blade’
NOTE: Please contact The Dunelm Group Product Technologist to clarify the specific requirements for your products
18.0 Retail Packaging Guidelines

18.1 Retail Packaging Guidelines
Retail packaging content can vary across product types and promotions. The overall content will be confirmed by The
Dunelm Group team at the Pre-production meetings and briefed to the supplier.
Fonts, Style & Size guide – Please refer to The Dunelm Group Marketing brief and Brand Guidelines document for specific
range requirements. This can be obtained from the relevant Buyer or Technologist.
19.0 Web Orders – Special Requirements (Where Applicable)

For all web orders, we require all soft goods such as Cushions/ Seat Cushions, Bedding, Curtains, etc which are not
already individually packaged, to be packaged individually in a clear polybag within the outer packaging. We also
require you to stick the article barcode label on each of the individual polybags. This process is required so that all
our products reach our customers in pristine condition
Front of Bag
Re-Sealable Seal
Barcode
Rear of Bag
Re-Sealable Seal
Suffocation warning
Warning, This bag is not a toy.
To avoid danger of suffocation, keep out
of reach of babies and children
All polybags must have punch holes and be sealed with re-sealable seals. (See section 5.7 for general bag
requirements.)
The whole section on needing to individual package products into clear polybags can be removed, this is because in
our new web warehouse we don’t individually bag each soft item. We also don’t currently do whole web PO
containers, but to future proof this document can we please add the below 3 requirements, which need adding:
 One product per carton

 All product to be protected by being in a carton (i.e. not loose in a container)
 The barcode on the carton to be that of the barcode on the product
20.0 Pre-shipment inspections & Drop testing

20.1 Pre-Shipment Inspections
At The Dunelm Group, these are carried out on all products supplied to The Dunelm Group. For Landed shipping, this
is the responsibility of the importer to carry out and approve or reject as necessary.
For FOB suppliers and direct purchasing, this is the responsibility of the vendor. The Dunelm Group Technologist will
agree with each vendor whether they are to use a nominated third party to conduct the inspection, or if they are
able to carry out their own inspections.
Please refer to the Product Category Technical Policy DM001 for specific guidance and relevant Technical policy for
inspection criteria.
20.2 Transit Packaging Drop Testing

To determine if the packaging is fit for purpose, The Dunelm Group ask all suppliers to conduct their own internal
drop test using our Furniture & Online drop test criteria as a noted below.
Furniture and Online products are subjected to a mandatory drop test following the Furniture and Online drop test
criteria and results must be provided to the Product Technologist for the relevant product area.
Any drop test failures will have to have their packaging improved to ensure a successful result.
20.3 Furniture Drop Test Criteria

The following drop testing procedure is mandatory for all furniture and online products and their packaging
regardless of fragility:
Height categorisation from which to drop is as follows:
 0 to 5.0Kg gross weight = 1.25 meter high
 5.1 to 10.0Kg gross weight = 1.00 meter high
 10.1 to 17Kg gross weight = 0.75 meter high
 17.1kg or greater = 0.50 meter high
Process - Begin by dropping on any hard surface from the appropriate height:
 Drop 1 - Test the most fragile corner;
 Drop 2 - Test the shortest edge radiating from the corner tested;
 Drop 3 –Test 2 opposite sides;
 Drop 4 – Test the base.
Checks – To be carried out in a safe area:

 Open the transit case and inspect the goods.
 There should be no evidence of damage or shifting of the product that could later lead to damage.
 If damage is noted, this is a fail and reworking of the packaging is required. Please contact The Dunelm Group
Technologist for assistance.
NOTE: If the product has a high damage rate when on sale, the supplier will be required to improve the protection
provided.
21.0 Packaging Checklist

The supplier must ensure all the packaging and labelling requirements are understood and agreed with The Dunelm
Group at the quotation stage.
The packaging and labelling artwork must be approved in line with the critical path, to ensure there are no delays to
production and shipment.
Packaging Checklist – The supplier must ensure all items below are correct and present before shipping or transiting
products to The Dunelm Group.
Material specification based on Stack ability, Containability, Impact Resistance, Printability, Thermal
Insulation and Thermal Conductivity.
Pallet stacking configured to maximise carton and shipping strength
Carton Markings – Conforms to Packaging Manual
Price and Barcode Labelling – Conforms to Packaging Manual
Safety Warnings – Conforms to Product Manual and Packaging Manual
Environmental Factors assessed based on criteria of reduce, recycle, re-use, and restricted packaging
types. Also, correct labelling of recyclable material.
Design Values – Conforms to Brand Guidelines, pantones, print quality etc
In order to comply new Brexit related laws we need suppliers to make changes to packaging, product labels &
instructions manuals (Where applicable).
These changes only apply to CE and UKCA marked goods.

Changes include:
New EU legal entity name – Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Londonderry Ltd
New EU post code – BT48 8QN
replace existing information already in use. These changes can be made as a rolling change, there is no need to
rework stock.
The below examples show how each version should appear. Both new changes are to be added, they are not to
Move from CE marking to UKCA

Important change
From 1st Jan 2021 the UKCA mark will be introduced to the GB market.
Both CE & UKCA must only be applied to all products that currently carry a CE mark. A full list of products in scope of
UKCA marking and CE marking can be found on page 3.
The UKCA & CE mark must be applied to:
 All packaging
 Any instruction manual
 A permanent product label
Dunelm has several stores based in Northern Ireland, due to the Brexit
negotiations N.Ireland will not recognise the UKCA mark and will continue to
use the CE mark until 1st Jan 2023.
From 1st Jan 2022 it is mandatory that any applicable products bear the UKCA mark.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-mark-from-1-january-2021
Product areas covered by UKCA marking
Toy safety
Recreational craft and personal watercraft
Simple pressure vessels
Electromagnetic compatibility
Non-automatic weighing instruments
Measuring instruments
Lifts
ATEX
Radio equipment
Pressure equipment
Personal protective equipment
Gas appliances
Machinery
Outdoor noise
Ecodesign
Aerosols
Low voltage electrical equipment
Restriction of hazardous substances
22.0 UK Vendor / Direct Delivery Booking Process st

The Dunelm Group operates a timed booking slot process at both Stoke Distribution Centre’s, and all cargo deliveries
must be booked in prior to arrival along with a pre-completed ‘Vendor Packing List’, see example format and
required information below:
Both Distribution Centre’s work in conjunction with the Buying and Merchandise Department at the Dunelm Store
Support Centre, ensuring that orders are placed in time for vendor to supply and conform to the specific booking
requirements of the DC’s.
Your order will normally be placed no less than 4 weeks prior to required DC date, and you should either email your
booking request to StokeInboundDeliveries@dunelm.com, or call the DC Goods Inwards Team on 01782 840101 or
01782 840119 to make your booking.
An allowance of plus or minus 2 days will be given against the delivery date stated on your purchase order, if for any
reason we are unable to accommodate you on the exact date.
If you are a regular supplier to The Dunelm Group, we may have allocated you a certain number of “fixed” delivery
slots at set times every week – you will have been prior informed if this is the case. However, please note that you
will still need to telephone at the 4 week point to advise us of the relevant order numbers and quantities for your
timed slot.
If you are unable to meet, or will not require these pre-allocated slots, please contact us 4 weeks prior to the
delivery date so that these can be re-scheduled for you or cleared for use by another supplier. Any fixed slot that is
not confirmed two weeks before the scheduled date will be released into the pool and made available elsewhere.
Therefore, if you then find that you need to re-activate a slot or advise us of a re-booking, it is likely that your
cancelled regular slot will not available and you should be flexible in requesting an alternative time / date.
Similarly, if you have fixed slots, but require additional slots in any given week, your initial allocation will be secure,
but you will need to call in at the 4-week required notice period and book anything over and above your standard
fixed allowance.
Please do not attempt to make new bookings, or firm up fixed slots any more than 6 weeks in advance of your
required delivery.
The Dunelm Group accept that due to the nature of retail business, some goods may need to be ordered and booked
in within the 4-week standard booking period requested. The merchandising team will already have made the DC
team aware of any additional and “emergency” requirements and we will do our utmost to ensure that your goods
are given a booking slot that ties in with the business requirements. Please be aware that remaining slots at short
notice may not always be at the most sociable of times and you should do your best to facilitate delivery within time
slots that we have left available.
The Dunelm Group will review the allocation of fixed slots on a quarterly basis and may make adjustments up or
down in line with recorded usage and future delivery forecasts. If you find that this timeframe is too long and you
feel adjustments are necessary within this review window, please contact your buyer / merchandiser and we will
work with you to accommodate.
23.0 Appendix
23.1 The Dunelm Group Product Team Structure
Team Responsibility Capability
Product quality & safety, factory audit To assist suppliers in quality

Technical compliance, packaging content, controls & specifications, testing
technical policy controls, complaints guidance, compliance to all CSR
(Product Technologist) analysis including supplier returns related requirements and
data. complaints investigations
Product briefs, purchasing, product

Buying codes, barcode generation, retail Range sourcing and selection, price
(Buyer & Buying Assistant) pricing, packaging artwork format, re- negotiations, sales performance.
buys and range development.
Range distribution in stores, raising Assisting with all stock movement

Merchandising purchase orders, promotional queries including store allocations.
(Merchandiser & Assistant) allocations, order queries, and
availability management.
23.2 Product Batch Coding

All products must have a form of production coding applied to individual products identifying the production date
and batch to ensure full traceability is possible during the product life cycle.
This relates to the complaints procedure noted in section 10 & 11 of The Dunelm Group supplier manual DM001.
Failure to comply with this requirement could result in all rather than affected production batches being withdrawn
from sale if a Technical issue is identified.
Batch code location: This should be marked on the product and on the outer transit case. The position on the retail
product will be confirmed by The Dunelm Group Product Technologist.
NOTE: If the batch code on transit case does not match the contents, this may be rejected at pre-shipment
inspection

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Dunelm Supplier Manual Aug-2022

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Supplier Manual

v.15 Release date: Aug 2022

Document version Release date Amend

Version 12 (Full Supplier Manual) April 2019 Issue 1

Version 13 (Full Supplier Manual) Feb 2022 Issue 2

Version 14 (Full Supplier Manual) Apr 2022 Issue 3

Version 15 (Full Supplier Manual) August 2022 Issue 4

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 3

Artist impression of “Stoke 2”

What does this mean to our suppliers?

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 4

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 5

New The Dunelm Group Distribution Centre Update And Information

About this manual 1.0

Purchase Order 3.0

Method of Payment 4.0

Container Utilisation 5.0

Freight Management 6.0

Booking Process and Approval 7.0

Consolidated Freight 8.0

Documentation Process 9.0

Container Inspection Requirement 10.0

Compliance Requirement 11.0

Packaging Goal / Recycling 12.0

Measuring Guide 13.0

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 6

Pre-Shipment Inspections and Drop Testing 20.0

UK Vendor / Direct Delivery Booking Process 22.0

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 7

1.1 Mandatory requirements

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 9

EXPORT PACKING LIST Packing List Reference XXXXXXXXXX

Vendor email Purchase Order Number XXXXXXXXXX

GROSS WEIGHT TOTAL CBM

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 10

The Dunelm Group will trade on

5.0 Container Utilisation

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 11

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 12

 Purchase Order Number

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 13

Therefore, use of the CFS facility is “cost neutral” to the vendor.

Container Transport Vendor Small Vehicle Transport to CFS Vendor

* Payment Trigger After sailing * Payment Trigger On agreed handover

* Note your Payment Terms do not change

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 14

9.0 Documentation Process

It may also need to contain, on an as required basis

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 15

10.0 Container Inspection Requirement

The 7 checking points report expected to be kept 6 months

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 16

CONTAINER SIZE (20GP / 40GP / 40HC / 45HC)

INSPECTED BY (Print Name)

7 POINT CHECK INITIAL AS OK

DOORS / INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

INSIDE – FRONT WALL

CONTAINER INSIDE MEASUREMENT

CONFIDENTIAL and property of Dunelm (Soft Furnishings) Ltd 2018 Page 17

Compliance Check Action Issue Charge (£) Comments

Snake Loaded (Unsorted Log – Transfer to Stoke 1 to

Log – Transfer to Stoke 1 to