How Aver Active Eliminated Chaos and Scaled Multi-7 Figure Growth with Descartes Peoplevox
Learn how Aver Active, an Australian activewear brand, eliminated fulfilment chaos, cut errors, and scaled to multi-7 figures with Descartes Peoplevox WMS.
Introduction â From Spare Room to Scale-Up
Founded in 2022 by Alice Taya, Aver Active quickly captured attention in Australiaâs booming activewear market. By 2023, what started as a side hustle had grown into a multi-7 figure brand, powered by monthly product drops and a fast-growing community.
But behind the glossy growth, fulfilment was breaking. Manual processes, paper pick slips, and âall-handsâ packing sessions with family and friends created errors, delays, and rising costs. Alice knew that to protect her brand â and keep customers coming back â she needed a professional-grade warehouse management system.
The Challenge â Growth Without Control
By mid-2023, Aver Active had upgraded to a warehouse and hired its first full-time employee. But fulfilment broke down during sales spikes and product drops:
- Error-prone workflows: Paper slips, manual matching of orders and labels, eight steps where errors could occur.
- Seasonal staff inefficiency: Friends, family, and casuals struggled to learn SKUs, sizes, and colours.
- Scaling pain: 8â10 people working full days still couldnât get through 1,000 orders.
- Customer experience impact: 30â50 mistakes per launch, leading to returns, refunds, and repeat errors for loyal buyers.
 âThereâs only so many times you can make a mistake with the same customer before you lose them.â
â Alice, CEO & Founder, Aver Active
The Solution â Descartes as the Fulfilment Backbone
Alice decided to invest early, trusting her gut that the best time to implement a WMS is when youâre small. After researching competitorsâ behind-the-scenes TikToks and noticing Descartes Peoplevox in use at Australiaâs biggest fashion brands, she knew sheâd found the right solution.
Implementation Highlights:
- Go-live in under 60 days
- Dual-warehouse setup supported by Peoplevox location control
- Real-time inventory sync with Shopify
- Barcode scanning and mobile workflows to eliminate training overhead
The Results â Efficiency, Accuracy, and Confidence
| Metric | Before | After Peoplevox | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orders packed/day | 600 (8â10 staff) | 600 (3 staff) | 70% fewer staff needed |
| Seasonal staff onboarding | Days | Instant productivity | |
| Error rate | Dozens per launch | 99% reduction | |
| Time in warehouse (CEO) | Daily involvement | Rare, only for content | Full delegation |
Now, Iâm never in the warehouse â unless itâs to film TikToks. The system runs itself, and I can focus on growing the business.
Why Descartes Peoplevox?
- Proven by leading fashion brands â comfort knowing market leaders rely on it.
- Practical, âno-fluffâ system â scan, pick, pack, ship, with old-school reliability.
- Scalability from day one â implemented at ~50 SKUs, now supporting 500+ without breaking.
Whatâs Next?
Aver Active now operates across two warehouses with full Peoplevox visibility, enabling transfers and stock tracking between sites. The brand is planning:
- More consistent demand planning to keep best-sellers in stock.
- Pop-up retail trials within 12 months.
- Continuing to scale product drops with full customer confidence.
Vertical
Activewear & Fashion
Software Integrated
Descartes Peoplevox (WMS)
Key Results
70%+ faster fulfilment, 99% error reduction, seasonal staff onboarded in <1 hour
Time-to-Value
Under 60 days
