Case Study:

RL Liquidators

Liquidation Company Finds Staffing Solution for Warehouse Positions

RL Liquidators is one of the largest liquidation companies in the western United States, but still had trouble filling warehouse positions. The company processes thousands of overstocked and returned products from retailers every day, receiving over eight thousand truckloads of products annually across four national distribution centers, and selling the products through its own retail channels.

The Challenge: Filling Critical Warehouse Positions

In 2024, RL Liquidators was experiencing rapid growth, opening warehouses and retail outlets throughout California. But it had a hard time filling and retaining warehouse positions in the face of an industry-wide labor shortage.  

A recent survey by logistics software provider Descartes found that 76% of supply chain and logistics leaders in North America and Europe are experiencing notable workforce shortages, with 37% characterizing the shortage as high to extreme.

“Warehouse positions can be hard to fill. I have many people that come in here and already don’t want to be here,” said Michael Pizarro, Vice President of Operations at RL Liquidators. “We would have employees show up late or already be looking for their next job, with no investment in the work.”

Pizzaro and his team felt the effects of high turnover and the impact on productivity.

“Turnover is expensive. Searching for that labor affects the bottom line and that is money we’ll never get back,” he said.

Turning to temp agencies and exploring other traditional hiring channels proved to be ineffective. Despite its efforts, the company had trouble finding employees who had the drive and motivation to fill open warehouse positions.

The Solution: Finding a Productive and Reliable Team in People with Disabilities

At the core of RL Liquidators’ business model lies a commitment to helping others, demonstrated by its mission to make essential goods affordable to those who need them most.

Recognizing an opportunity to align their staffing needs with their values, RL Liquidators saw potential in partnering with PRIDE Industries, an organization with the mission to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

“Our recruiter made the connection with PRIDE Industries, and we couldn’t have been more thrilled, because that’s always been what the company is built on—helping others,” said Pizarro.

PRIDE Industries offers a specialized workforce solution that proved to be a great fit for RL Liquidators: supported work groups. These groups, which are strategically placed within a business, are comprised of three employees with disabilities and an employment coach. As the employer of record, PRIDE Industries manages all critical employment functions—including recruitment, hiring, training, payroll, supervision, and quality control—which effectively reduces the administrative burden for partner companies like RL Liquidators.

At RL Liquidators, the PRIDE Industries work groups are responsible for sorting, inspecting, and organizing products to help maintain the integrity of the liquidation process. Employing people with disabilities in partnership with PRIDE Industries has strengthened RL Liquidators’ workforce and made many of these processes more efficient.

“Some of the most productive employees are people with disabilities,” says Vladimir Fonsi, a PRIDE Industries Employment Coach working at RL Liquidators. “They work hard. They go out of their way to show that they are productive and hardworking. They don’t have to prove it to us for long because their work ethic is clear from the start.” 

The work groups have proven to be an ideal staffing solution, enabling RL Liquidators to fill its vacant warehouse positions with skilled, productive employees.

Izzy Yiznitsky, another PRIDE Industries Employment Coach at the site, has witnessed the impact.

“I have seen how my team alone has increased productivity, and I know that’s what many companies like RL Liquidators are looking for,” she said.

The Results: Inclusive Hiring Eases Warehouse Labor Shortage

RL Liquidators has experienced the positive impact of inclusive employment practices. By offering employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities, it has built a reliable team, increased productivity, and decreased turnover.

“I love how particular PRIDE Industries employees are. They care about everything, and they want it done correctly,” said Pizarro. “It’s exciting for us to see these teams of people with disabilities who want to be here, work hard, and do great at their jobs.”

As its operations have grown, RL Liquidators has expanded its partnership with PRIDE Industries to keep up. Today, a collaboration that began with a single work group has expanded to include four work groups, with a total of 12 employees and four dedicated coaches. Having this reliable labor solution has enhanced the company’s operational capacity and enabled its growth.

Services Provided

  • Receiving merchandise
  • Sorting products
  • Palletizing for distribution
RL Liquidators logo, warehouse positions

“I love how particular PRIDE Industries employees are. They care about everything, and they want it done corrctly. It’s exciting for us to see these teams of people with disabilities who want to be here, work hard, and do great at their jobs.”

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