A glittering opera, an immersive amusement park attraction, a mesmerizing outdoor art installation – Adirondack Studios is the creative vision behind compelling scenic designs that captivate audiences around the globe. And for more than 20 years, Shaker Logistics has been their trusted logistics partner, shipping these thrilling and delicate creations throughout the country and beyond. We caught up with Kevin Benedict, Production Manager at Adirondack Studios’ headquarters in Argyle, N.Y., to talk about what makes their company unique, and why it’s important to have the right logistics partner.
Our Partner in the Arts
Since its beginnings in 1975, when it was doing theatrical production in upstate New York, Adirondack Studios has continually expanded and taken on increasingly complex scenic design and fabrication projects. Their team of artists, carpenters, metalworkers, painters, and other artisans create scenic installations for global brands – Universal Destinations & Experiences, Disney Parks, Experiences & Products, Norwegian Cruise Lines, the San Francisco Opera, National Geographic, and more.
“We start with the customer from the beginning,” said Kevin, describing a full-lifecycle approach as what sets Adirondack Studios apart from its competitors. “We make that initial connection to understand their needs, budget, and schedules, provide creative direction and technical direction. Then we bring it to the finish line – and who better to build the product than the people who designed it?”
What also makes Adirondack Studios unique is the strong sense of ownership every team member has over the collective work. Employees jump right into the projects and hone their skills on the job, so each product is a labor of love. The artists at the studio are incredibly talented, detail-oriented, and know how to deliver on every promise.
That commitment to the craft extends beyond designing and producing great scenic installations – Adirondack Studios also makes sure to deliver each unique product to its clients on budget, on schedule, and at a superior level of quality. Logistics is the important final piece of every project.
Scenic Logistics – an Art in Itself
As a shipper, Adirondack Studios has needs like no other. Their customers are high-profile and expect nothing less than the best, so logistics partners must ensure that each item leaves the truck in the same condition it got packed: beautiful, pristine, and without a scratch.
Each project has unique packing needs. If an item is damaged in transit, it can’t be easily fixed at the delivery destination; each piece is professionally finished and would have to be shipped back to the studio for repairs. With the amount of time, money, and hard work that goes into creating each piece, the protective packaging needs to be spot on, and the logistics company moving it needs to get the job done flawlessly.
For each project, Shaker’s Logistics specialists collaborate with Kevin and his team to understand the contents and components of the freight and the specific needs for the shipment. Solving a new puzzle each time of packaging, packing, equipment selection, route planning, and timing is a rewarding challenge.
Communicating to Complete a Complicated Load
One of the most impressive moves Shaker assisted with involved a complex, multi-year job to move a finished project out of Adirondack Studios’ facility and deliver it across the East and West Coast on a rolling schedule. The project was challenging for several reasons, not least of all the unique shapes of the pieces, which required custom crates and Tetris-like arrangements on each truck.
“We worked closely with Kevin to make sure we understood the entire project from start to finish, and not just a single truck’s shipment,” said Matt Janeski, Shaker’s Director of Logistics. “We ran two trucks each week from Adirondack Studios to the consignee locations. By the time it was finished, we had moved more than 200 dedicated dry vans. This was a top-secret project, so when it was unveiled we were psyched to see what Shaker had contributed to,” Matt said.
For Kevin, partnering with Shaker on such a big job allowed him to focus on crating and packaging methodology, appropriately packing each piece, and site infield needs — instead of worrying about transportation.
“I wasn’t merely sitting in the office and ordering trucks. I attended meetings to make sure the 40+ crates we needed were getting built, I worked with the foremen to make sure I got parts when I needed them. What I didn’t really have time for was making sure that the truck was going to be there at our dock on Friday. That’s what I relied on Shaker to do,” he said.
Throughout the project, communication was key, and Shaker worked to anticipate Kevin’s needs. “I can’t tell you how many times I was in the thick of this project and remembered, ‘Shoot, we’re supposed to have a truck today.’ I would call Shaker, and we’d have a truck at our facility in two hours. Their network is massive.”
Shaker also helped Kevin design a shipping program for this project that worked with his budget. While complex shipments of high-value freight can be expensive, by adeptly managing departure schedules, equipment selection, and route planning, Shaker was able to find options that met Adirondack Studios’ cost requirements yet ensured that their freight was safely handled.
The Value of a Shaker Partnership
“I really appreciate the people at Shaker and the things they’ve been able to help us do,” said Kevin. “A lot of other carriers are doing the same thing day in, day out. The product never changes. You guys are unique, and that’s what matters for us. We need 53-foot trailers, 26-foot trailers, sprinter vans, cargo vans, LTL, cargo planes, containers – Shaker can get it all for us.”
Our partnership with Adirondack Studios encapsulates our consultative approach. Surveying a customer’s needs and working collaboratively with them to design a custom solution – especially when it comes to uncommon freight with special requirements – lets us optimize for their needs and understand their business better, so we can continue to be a helpful resource in the long term.
“To have a local company that I can call, meet face to face with, and they can do all that for a pretty remarkable price, it’s a no-brainer,” Kevin said. While Shaker’s headquarters is conveniently located only an hour from Adirondack Studios’ own headquarters, both companies operate globally. Shaker’s nationwide network of carriers provides plenty of options for Kevin’s team, and its international shipping expertise has helped Adirondack Studios when they needed to arrange overseas delivery for crucial projects.
“We’ve never had an issue with Shaker that we couldn’t work through,” said Kevin. “They are the best in the business – their people deliver.”