Chain Reaction – The Supply Chain and Logistics Podcast
Chain Reaction - The Supply Chain and Logistics Podcast
Podcast Description
The UK's leading podcast focussing on supply chain and logistics.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores various themes within supply chain and logistics, including technological advancements, operational strategies, and leadership dynamics. For example, topics range from exploring the role of AI in logistics as seen in episodes featuring guests like Bram Vanschoenwinkel, to discussions on secure logistics with Neil Powell, all emphasizing the importance of collaboration and visibility in the industry.
The UK’s leading podcast focussing on supply chain and logistics.
In this episode of Chain Reaction, Michael Ostroumov speaks with Keiran Hewkin, Co-Founder and CEO of Swyft Home, about how intentional supply chain design enabled next-day sofa delivery at scale. Keiran shares his journey from heavy industry into furniture, explains why Swyft chose an inventory-led model, and breaks down the operational “ballet” behind modular design, technology-driven fulfillment, and premium customer experience. The conversation explores how constraints fuel innovation, why speed reshapes customer trust, and what resilient supply chains must prioritize to deliver consistently in the real world.
Guest Bio
Keiran Hewkin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Swyft Home, a UK-based furniture brand redefining how large items are designed, stored, and delivered. With a background in industrial operations, Kaizen, and lean manufacturing, Keiran has applied high-discipline supply chain thinking to an industry traditionally driven by long lead times and manual processes. Under his leadership, Swyft pioneered next-day sofa delivery through modular design, inventory-based fulfillment, and vertically controlled logistics.
Key Takeaways
- Inventory is the real enabler of next-day delivery at scale
- Constraints in design can unlock powerful supply chain innovation
- Modular products allow density, speed, and customer self-assembly
- Technology removes waste by minimizing human intervention
- Customer trust is built through speed, visibility, and ownership of delivery
Chapters
00:00 Introduction & guest welcome
01:00 Keiran ’s journey into operations
03:50 Entering furniture through a supply chain lens
05:00 What “software in a box” really means
06:15 Reverse-engineering next-day delivery
08:35 Inventory-led vs order-book furniture models
11:00 Premium quality without “handmade” myths
13:05 Technology as the backbone of operations
15:25 Designing a truly customer-first experience
17:40 Why Swyft opened physical retail stores
20:05 Scaling omnichannel without breaking ops
22:50 Delivery control and last-mile trade-offs
24:10 Intentional design for SME supply chains
25:55 Operational failures and recovery strategies
28:00 The one challenge a magic wand could fix
Guest Keiran Hewkin
Host Michael Ostroumov
Learn More
Chain Reaction is brought to you by FLOX – The marketplace for connecting businesses with logistics providers. Visit flox.is for additional content.
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