What Does Self-fulfillment in Ecommerce Really Cost?

The biggest costs of self-fulfillment aren’t what happens, but what doesn’t happen.  A strong brand, memorable marketing, and loyal customers will set an ecommerce business apart in a highly saturated market. But if you’re spending all of your time troubleshooting logistics problems and making sure orders get from A to B, you have less time … Read more

Is Affordable Same-day Delivery Possible in Ecommerce?

In an ideal world, all of your customers would receive their online purchase mere hours after placing it, giving your ecommerce business a serious edge in a crowded market. In reality, same-day delivery continues to be the domain of nationwide retailers who have the resources to build massive fulfillment networks and reach customers wherever they … Read more

5 Causes of Excess Inventory [and What Your 3PL Should Do to Help]

Too much inventory on the shelf? Excess inventory can strike even the most well-organized warehouse, especially in the aftermath of peak season or during the switch to fresh seasonal merchandise. When inventory on hand begins to spiral and storage space becomes limited, eCommerce businesses can find themselves needing to liquidate surplus inventory to make room … Read more

The Pros and Cons of Dropshipping in Ecommerce

It’s easy for ecommerce businesses to look at the dropshipping industry and see only the advantages: Low running costs, plenty of suppliers to choose from, and best of all, no need to worry about the fulfillment process!  With this in mind, it’s hardly surprising the global dropshipping market is forecast to grow to $476.1 billion … Read more

Standard Shipping Explained: What It Is and What to Consider for Cost-effective Delivery

The term ‘standard shipping’ is widely used in eCommerce. But it means very little unless we actually give it some context. An effective standard shipping service will provide businesses with a good balance of shipping cost versus delivery speed, ensuring customers receive their orders in a timely manner while still maximizing profit margins. But how … Read more

Does Fulfillment Center Location Matter in Ecommerce?

‘What is ecommerce fulfillment?” is one of the most popular questions by ecommerce businesses. But there’s another question that’s just as important; where is ecommerce fulfillment? No matter how streamlined or technologically advanced your order fulfillment process is, you’ll never reach customers in two days or fewer unless your fulfillment warehouse is located in the … Read more

Walmart Fulfillment in 2024: What’s the Deal for Sellers?

[Updated post from June 22, 2022] Many ecommerce merchants find order fulfillment difficult. Self-fulfillment is expensive and is prone to error. 53% of businesses’ fulfillment expenses rose in 2020, according to Statista. Personnel, insurance, and warehousing space are driving up shipping costs. Working with a fulfillment service provider helps sellers build their business. With Amazon … Read more

An eCommerce Brand’s Guide to Zone Skipping in 2024

Cutting delivery costs is a key priority for all eCommerce brands, especially as shipping rates and additional surcharges continue to rise. Combined with the push for ever-faster deliveries, this puts eCommerce businesses in a tough spot; is it really possible to shorten transit time and lower shipping costs, all at once? Yes, you can – … Read more

Curated Subscriptions: Benefits and Challenges for Your Fulfillment Strategy

What is a curated subscription? Curated subscriptions are a type of subscription service where a brand selects a group of products for a customer based on their preferences on a set schedule, such as on a monthly or quarterly basis. The purpose of the curated subscription model is to offer consumers a way to personalize … Read more