Samuel Shapiro & Company, Inc., a 97-year old logistics provider, supports the growth of Five Below,Inc., the newly publicly-traded, leading retailer of trend-right, extreme-value merchandise through highly personalized, effective supply chain solutions.

Samuel Shapiro & Company, Inc., a 97-year old Customhouse broker and freight forwarder, helps foster the expansion of one of its largest customers, Five Below, Inc., into the US retail market by providing tailored, cost-effective international freight forwarding, Customs brokerage, and regulatory compliance services.

Five Below, Inc., the leading retailer of trend-right, extreme-value merchandise priced between $1 and $5, was founded in 2002 by David Schlessinger, creator and founder of Encore Books and Zany Brainy, along with Tom Vellios, former CEO of Zany Brainy. In 2005, Five Below began importing directly and started its relationship with Shapiro, and since then, the company has grown to 200+ locations, with plans for 50 new stores in 2012 and 60 more in 2013. Five Below’s popular merchandise category line-up includes style, decor, sports, media, crafts, party, candy, and seasonal for teens, pre-teens, and value-minded consumers

Shapiro’s Philadelphia branch office has managed the account since its early beginnings and has witnessed Five Below’s evolution from small importer to leading domestic retailer. “I remember when we had our first meeting with Five Below and met in a small show room filled to the max, with samples from floor to ceiling. They wanted to start importing and were very unfamiliar with the import and Customs clearance processes. We had 7 shipments that year,” noted Marina Tasiopoulos, Regional Manager of Samuel Shapiro & Company, Inc. “Since then, we have worked very closely with the Five Below team to provide Customs compliance and tailored logistics solutions for their freight needs. It has truly been a  prosperous partnership; I am impressed with how far they have come and am inspired for what tomorrow will bring!”

Five Below, which recently went public in July 2012 (Nasdaq: FIVE), requires tailored, innovative, and costeffective supply chain solutions in order to stay ahead in a fast-paced, highly competitive market. “Five Below has worked with Samuel Shapiro & Company, Inc. since the brand’s inception when our company began importing directly; they have helped us with our containerized freight, brokerage, duty, and Customs clearance,” notes Joe Barbieri, Director of Supply Chain for Five Below, Inc. “Shapiro provides alternatives and solutions to moving imports to the US, based on timeliness and costs. They offer a team
dedicated to achieving our retail strategies.”