Gareth Laycock is taking on the logistics giants with HubXpert, offering tailored fulfilment solutions that give businesses a smarter, more flexible alternative. By Sam Hawcroft
For Gareth Laycock, entrepreneurship wasn’t a premeditated journey. It was something he grew into – starting from the ground up, learning every aspect of his family business before ultimately leading it into new territory.
As the managing director of HubXpert, a dynamic warehousing and fulfilment company based in Hull, Gareth has been instrumental in transforming a traditional logistics firm into an innovative and scalable business, helping local companies thrive.
Gareth’s route into the business world was far from conventional. “I went to a naval school in Hull, with plans to go into the Royal Navy,” he says. “But for a couple of reasons, that didn’t work out, so I ended up training to be a fully qualified plumber instead.” His first steps into the family business weren’t mapped out, either – he initially joined to help out during the busy Christmas period in 2010, picking and packing orders.
At the time, the company was still in its early days, operating under the name D&AGF Ltd, which had been founded by Gareth’s mother in 2007. The business specialised in B2B lingerie distribution, and like many small enterprises, it was run from modest beginnings.
“We started in a double garage at our family home,” Gareth says, “ and it arose from a ‘kitchen table’ conversation. We needed a limited company name, so we used the initials of my mum and stepdad, Diane and Alan Gordon-Freeman. It was never the intention to use it for marketing because we would always trade under different names.”
His role in the company evolved naturally. “After that Christmas, I just started taking on more and more duties, learning from the bottom up. There was never a set plan – it was more about identifying what needed doing and figuring out how to improve things.”
Over time, and as the business grew, he became deeply involved in the operations, logistics and long-term strategic planning. That hands-on experience helped shape his leadership approach – one that balances big-picture thinking with an intimate understanding of day-to-day business challenges.
One of Gareth’s key skills as an entrepreneur has been his ability to pivot. The lingerie distribution sector has undergone massive changes over the years, particularly with the rise of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer models. “Seventeen years ago, the phrase ‘fast fashion’ wasn’t really a thing,” he said. “But over time, the industry evolved significantly, and it became much more competitive.”
Rather than resisting change, Gareth embraced it. He recognised that the company’s real strengths lay in its warehousing capabilities, stockholding and logistics expertise. That led to a strategic shift – rather than focusing solely on distribution, the business would start offering its fulfilment service to other companies.
This resulted in the creation of HubXpert, a specialist warehousing and fulfilment provider catering to businesses of all sizes. Under this new ‘umbrella’, Gareth and his team built a service designed to remove logistical headaches for companies, helping them scale efficiently without the burden of managing their own warehousing and shipping operations.
“We realised that our value wasn’t just in the products we stocked – it was in the data, the stockholding and the ability to fulfil orders quickly and efficiently,” he adds.
The rise of e-commerce giants such as Amazon has changed the landscape for fulfilment businesses. But instead of seeing Amazon as an insurmountable competitor, Gareth has positioned HubXpert as a viable alternative, particularly for businesses looking for a more tailored, localised service.
“In essence, what we’re offering with HubXpert is similar to Amazon’s Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) model, but with a more personal touch,” he says. “One of our key strategies is championing local businesses – helping them streamline their operations without losing control of their brand.”
An example of this approach can be seen in HubXpert’s work with this very publication, helping founder Helen Gowland remove a logistical headache with the distribution of the 2023 BW Business Guide. “We centralised the distribution, segmented the mailing list and got everything dispatched quickly – within 24 to 48 hours of the print arriving,” Gareth says. “It improved efficiency massively.”
That bespoke approach extends to businesses of all sizes. Whether it’s an independent publisher struggling with storage and distribution, or a fast-growing online retailer needing a scalable fulfilment solution, HubXpert offers a service tailored to the specific needs of each client.
“We can add a lot of value with the software capabilities we have,” says Gareth. “We’ve got direct connections into all the major e-commerce stores, such as Shopify and Woocommerce. This aligns with our main vision of championing the local area. We will work with anyone from a startup right through to larger organisations. A new system that we’re just ‘bedding in’ allows us to be even more efficient. It will extra value to clients, especially around the connectivity for e-commerce stores, with a lot of other 3PL (third-party logistics) benefits that we can pass on.”
Growing a logistics business isn’t just about finding customers – it’s about building the right infrastructure. For HubXpert, that has meant two major relocations to accommodate expansion, the most recent in 2015.
“Our last warehouse move was a massive project,” says Gareth. “We had months of planning to make sure there was no downtime. In the end, we moved thousands of stock items over a four-day weekend, and were fully operational again by 8am on the Tuesday.”
Finding and retaining the right staff has also been a challenge. While the company has seen significant growth, it has also had to adapt its workforce along the way. “As the business has grown and evolved, we’ve had to restructure and bring in additional new skills.”
Today, HubXpert operates with a lean but highly efficient six-person team, focusing on automation, technology and streamlined processes to maximise efficiency. “We invest heavily in our systems and technology to make sure we’re operating as efficiently as possible,” adds Gareth.
Beyond logistics, HubXpert is also committed to sustainability and innovation. The company is part of ‘Oh Yes! Net Zero Hull’, an initiative focused on reducing the carbon footprint across the region. The business is also accredited with Cyber Essentials, the SME Climate Hub, and The HMRC Fulfilment House Due Diligence Scheme.
“Our focus isn’t just on growth – we want to do it responsibly,” says Gareth. “That means making sure we’re operating efficiently, minimising waste and staying ahead of industry regulations.”
Looking ahead, Gareth has ambitious plans for HubXpert. His goal is to establish the company as the go-to warehouse and fulfilment provider in the Humber region, supporting a diverse range of businesses while maintaining a highly personalised service.
For Gareth personally, entrepreneurship has been a journey of continuous learning. He credits much of his success to mentorship and networking, having taken part in various business growth programmes, including Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses and Step Change at For Entrepreneurs Only (FEO).
“Our vision is to scale significantly, and we’re actively implementing our growth plan,” he said. “We’ve learned a lot from The Step Change programme, and we’re applying that knowledge to build a business that’s not just successful but also sustainable.”
“As a business owner, you never stop learning,” he adds. “I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors and a strong support network which has helped me navigate the challenges and push the business forward.”
This also means the ‘mantra of outsourcing’ applies to himself, too – the key philosophy of ‘letting go to grow’, one of the key tenets of business growth courses. “We can all help out and do some accounts work, and things like that, but it’s better to pass those jobs on to people who can do them better. We outsource a lot of our design work, and other specialised tasks to other people who are far better placed and more experienced than we could ever be.”
He also acknowledges the personal sacrifices that come with running a business, particularly when balancing work and family life. “Having a young family has made me even more focused and driven,” he says, “ but I also I think it’s about leaning onto the network you’ve got – I have some great contacts that I know I could pick up the phone to and ask for advice or support anytime if I needed to”
What sets HubXpert apart from other warehousing and fulfilment providers is its adaptability, bespoke service offering, and commitment to local businesses. Unlike large-scale logistics firms, the company provides a tailored approach that can be adjusted to suit the specific needs of its clients.
“For many businesses, outsourcing logistics can be a game-changer,” Gareth says. “It allows them to reduce overheads, improve efficiency and grow faster. And because we operate with a personal but professional approach, they can be confident they’re in safe hands.”
As HubXpert continues to expand, its foundation remains the same – rooted in family-driven values, efficiency and innovation. And with Gareth Laycock at the helm, the business looks set to become a key player in Hull’s growing logistics and fulfilment sector.
