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Self Fulfilling: Ecommerce Fulfillment Limitations and How to Grow

Fulfillment Center worker picking a fulfillment service order.

How Fulfilling Your Own Ecommerce Orders Can Limit Growth

Fulfilling your own ecommerce orders might seem like a cost-effective way to manage your business initially. After all, when your business is just starting out, keeping things in-house feels manageable and gives you control. However, as your business grows, this DIY approach can become a serious bottleneck, limiting your ability to scale effectively.

At Medallion Fulfillment, we’ve worked alongside countless ecommerce business owners who have faced this challenge. Here are the key reasons why taking order fulfillment into your own hands can slow your business’s growth.

1. It’s Time-Consuming

Every second you spend packing boxes, managing inventory, and coordinating shipping is time taken away from activities that actually grow your business. Tasks like marketing, crafting new product lines, and building customer relationships are vital to your long-term success. Order fulfillment eats into this crucial time, leaving little room to focus on scaling your business.

2. It’s Not Scalable

What works when you have ten orders a week can quickly become overwhelming when your business starts receiving hundreds of orders daily. Suddenly, your home warehouse or rented storage unit no longer has the capacity, and your shipping process becomes tangled with delays and inefficiency. Scaling a business requires adaptable systems, and in-house fulfillment is rarely equipped to handle the needs of a booming ecommerce operation.

3. It’s Costly in the Long Run

DIY fulfillment might save money when your order volume is low, but as your business grows, costs can balloon. Renting storage space, hiring staff, and buying packing supplies can add up quickly. Factor in higher shipping fees from lack of carrier partnerships, and the actual cost of in-house fulfillment might be higher than you realize.

Additionally, mistakes like shipping the wrong items or delayed deliveries not only cost money but chip away at customer trust, which is far more expensive to rebuild.

4. It Stretches Resources Thin

Ecommerce businesses often thrive on innovation, creativity, and customer engagement. Handling fulfillment drains your resources, leaving little room to invest in areas essential to growth. Whether it’s building a stronger marketing strategy or expanding into new product categories, your focus shifts away from these priorities when you’re knee-deep in tape and shipping labels.

The Solution? Partner with a Fulfillment Center

Fulfillment centers like Medallion Fulfillment specialize in streamlining order fulfillment, inventory management, and shipping. By outsourcing fulfillment to an experienced partner, you’ll gain back your time, minimize costs, and unlock the ability to scale––without worrying about the logistics.

Here’s what we offer to help your ecommerce business thrive:

  • Expert Inventory Management: Know exactly how much stock you have at all times.
  • Faster Shipping: We’ve built carrier relationships that keep shipping costs low and delivery times fast.
  • Tasting Notes of Customer Satisfaction (Exclusive Deals): From next-day delivery services to personalized packaging, our services drive repeat orders.

Growing a business is challenging enough without being weighed down by fulfillment tasks. At Medallion Fulfillment, we’re here to remove that burden and help you focus on what you do best––growing your brand.

Contact Medallion Fulfillment today to discover how we can help your ecommerce business scale with ease.

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Tariffs and Their Impact on Your eCommerce Business

2025 Tariffs and 3PL Strategies

Understanding tariffs and devising strategies to mitigate their impact is critical for eCommerce business owners. At Medallion Fulfillment, we recognize the challenges tariffs present and are here to guide your business through these complexities. Here’s what you need to know and how to act.

What Are Tariffs?

A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods, set by governments to regulate trade or protect domestic industries. These taxes often increase the cost of imported items, which can affect pricing, profitability, and supply chains.

Tariffs are typically categorized as:

  • Ad Valorem Tariffs: Based on a percentage of the item’s value.
  • Flat-Rate Tariffs: A set fee applied per unit, regardless of value.
  • Compound Tariffs: A mix of both percentage-based and flat-rate fees.

How Tariffs Affect Small Ecommerce Businesses

Tariffs lead to increased costs, often resulting in tighter profit margins, higher product prices, or disruption in supply chains. For eCommerce stores, these additional costs can make imported products less competitive, potentially impacting customer demand.

Key challenges include:

  • Increased operational costs.
  • Lengthier customs clearance processes.
  • Compliance with shifting trade regulations.

Strategies to Combat Tariffs

While tariffs can’t be avoided, there are actionable steps you can take to reduce their impact on your business:

1. Audit Your Supply Chain

Identify which products in your inventory are subject to tariffs. Look at your suppliers and evaluate whether alternatives from tariff-exempt countries can be sourced without compromising quality.

2. Adjust Pricing Strategically

Communicate transparently with customers about price changes due to tariffs. Gradual price increases or bundling affected products with other offerings can help soften the impact.

3. Negotiate with Suppliers

Many suppliers are open to sharing tariff costs or offering discounts to maintain partnerships. Proactively initiate conversations to explore solutions.

4. Diversify Your Product Offerings

Consider introducing products that are less affected by tariffs, such as domestically sourced items, to maintain profitability.

5. Automate Compliance

Invest in software or services to ensure proper documentation and tariff classifications. This can prevent costly delays and reduce manual work.

Partnering with a 3PL Can Help

A trusted 3PL (third-party logistics) provider like Medallion Fulfillment can be a game-changer for navigating tariffs. Here’s how we help:

  • Customs Expertise: We stay updated on tariff regulations to keep your shipments compliant and on schedule.
  • Cost-Effective Shipping: Our relationships with carriers help reduce fulfillment costs.
  • Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) Options: We handle duties and taxes upfront, ensuring no surprise costs for your customers.

By collaborating with a 3PL, you gain the tools and expertise necessary to minimize disruptions and focus on scaling your business.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

Tariffs are part of the global trade landscape, but proactive planning and expert support can help you thrive despite them. Reach out to Medallion Fulfillment today to learn how our tailored solutions can secure your eCommerce operations and boost your bottom line.

Contact us to get started!

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What is a 3PL?

What is a 3PL?

Unlocking the Benefits of a 3PL for eCommerce Fulfillment

The meteoric rise of eCommerce and virtual storefronts has made third-party logistics (3PL) a buzzworthy concept in the world of fulfillment services. Managing operations like warehousing, transportation, and order fulfillment can be challenging for small to mid-size online retailers. If you’re asking yourself whether outsourcing these tasks to a 3PL provider is right for your business, you’re not alone. This article highlights the key benefits of using a 3PL and why Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics should be your trusted partner.

What Is a 3PL?

At its core, a 3PL provider steps in to manage essential supply chain operations for your business. These services can include:

  • Warehousing for inventory storage
  • Order fulfillment that ensures accurate packing and shipping
  • Transportation and shipping brokerage to optimize freight and reduce costs
  • Supply chain strategy to streamline operations and meet customer expectations

Whether you need help with all of these functions or just one, a 3PL offers a way to offload operational complexity while maintaining control over your brand. Notably, 86% of Fortune 500 companies rely on 3PL providers for an average of three services, proving their immense value for businesses of all sizes.

Why Use a 3PL Provider for Shipping and Fulfillment?

If you’re an eCommerce business owner, fulfillment is likely one of your biggest expenses—not just in terms of finances but also in time and energy. Here’s why outsourcing to a 3PL like Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics could transform your operations:

  1. Focus on Growing Sales

Sales are the lifeblood of any business. Yet, without a 3PL, valuable time is often spent juggling inventory management, shipping logistics, and warehouse supervision. By outsourcing operations to a trusted 3PL provider, you can free yourself to focus entirely on scaling your sales and engaging customers.

  1. Cost-Effective Operations

Running your own warehouse and employing a logistics team is expensive—especially for small to mid-size businesses. Outsourcing allows you to cut costs on facility rentals, equipment, and staff salaries. Additionally, 3PLs can often negotiate significantly reduced shipping rates with carriers like FedEx or UPS, thanks to their high-volume shipments. These savings can be funneled back into growing your business.

  1. Meet Customer Delivery Expectations

Fast shipping is no longer optional. Same-day and next-day deliveries have become industry standards, and customers expect their orders to arrive quickly and reliably. With their established distribution networks, 3PLs like Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics ensure orders are delivered on time, no matter where your customers are located.

  1. Maintain Control Over Your Brand

Outsourcing doesn’t mean losing control. With a 3PL, you’re still the face of the company, managing branding, customer service, and the overall customer experience. The 3PL simply handles the behind-the-scenes logistics, working seamlessly to align with your business’s goals.

  1. Leverage Strategic Warehouse Locations

The location of your inventory impacts both delivery speed and shipping costs. With Medallion’s dual warehouses on the East Coast and West Coast, eCommerce providers can enjoy rapid shipping across the nation while lowering transit times. Storing inventory at both locations means reaching customers faster while cutting down on costs.

  1. 3PL Options for Every Business

You don’t need to be an enterprise company to reap the rewards of working with a 3PL. Even startups with limited resources can benefit. Medallion’s specially-designed flat-rate fulfillment program ensures that smaller businesses get access to professional logistics solutions without breaking the bank.

The Key Functions and Benefits of Partnering with a 3PL

Collaborating with a 3PL provider allows businesses to optimize their workflows in several ways:

  • Improved Efficiency: A 3PL handles the complexities of fulfillment, allowing you to operate more efficiently.
  • Scalability: Partnering with a 3PL makes it easier to scale your business operations during periods of growth.
  • Access to Technology: Advanced logistics platforms provided by 3PLs monitor inventory, automate processes, and increase transparency within your supply chain.
  • Expertise at Your Fingertips: Logistical expertise means fewer delivery delays, packaging errors, or inventory management hiccups.

Why Choose Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics?

With decades of experience in fulfillment, Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics differentiates itself not just with top-tier logistics services but also with a focus on customer satisfaction. Medallion stands out by:

  • Offering customized solutions for businesses of all sizes, including startups.
  • Maintaining a coast-to-coast warehouse network for nationwide shipping efficiency.
  • Providing a flat-rate startup program, making professional fulfillment accessible.
  • Enabling detailed shipment tracking and tasting notes to deliver a premium customer experience.

Medallion is committed to helping businesses like yours thrive in the competitive world of eCommerce, ensuring seamless fulfillment and unparalleled support.

Is a 3PL Right for Your Business?

Outsourcing fulfillment is about more than just saving time—it’s about setting your business up for long-term success. By partnering with a 3PL provider like Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, you can streamline your processes, meet customer expectations, and remain focused on what you do best—selling great products.

Interested in taking the next step? At Medallion Fulfillment, we specialize in creating tailored solutions for eCommerce businesses. Contact us today to learn how we can make your operations more efficient and cost-effective.

Start building a stronger, faster, and smarter fulfillment operation with Medallion—because your business deserves the best.

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Why You Need a 3PL Warehouse for Your TikTok Shop

Woman watching TikTok videos and then shopping.

Running a successful TikTok Shop takes more than just great videos and trending hashtags. Behind every captivating video showcasing your products is a logistical challenge—managing inventory, packing orders, shipping on time, and handling returns. It’s a lot, right? If you’re feeling the pressure, outsourcing to a 3PL (third-party logistics) warehouse could be the game-changer your TikTok business needs. Here’s why.

What is a 3PL Warehouse, and How Does It Work?

A 3PL warehouse is a fulfillment hub that manages the backend logistics of your e-commerce store. Instead of storing, packing, and shipping orders yourself, a 3PL provider handles everything from inventory management to customer returns. For TikTok Shop owners, this means spending less time worrying about logistics and more time creating engaging content that sells product.

Why a 3PL Warehouse is Perfect for TikTok Shop Owners

1. Free Up Your Time to Focus on Content Creation

Let’s face it, creating TikTok videos that go viral takes time and effort. Instead of juggling logistics, why not leave the heavy lifting to industry experts? A 3PL like Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics can handle warehouse management, order processing, and shipping, allowing you to focus on what you do best—growing your TikTok audience and making sales.

2. Small-Business Friendly Pricing

Many small businesses hesitate to use 3PL warehouses because of the perceived high costs. But Medallion’s Start-Up Program is designed with small businesses in mind. Its unique Flat Rate Fulfillment Starter Program lets you test new products and markets with minimal financial risk. For a flat fee, you’ll receive full-service support, including inventory management, shipping, credit card processing, and customer returns.

This flexible pricing model allows TikTok Shop owners to keep startup costs low while maximizing the return on investment.

3. Efficient Order Processing and Shipping

TikTok shoppers expect quick shipping and seamless order fulfillment, and a 3PL ensures you never fall short on these expectations. Medallion’s 3PL solutions take care of the details, so every order arrives on time and as promised—turning shoppers into repeat customers.

Whether your fulfillment needs are local (Los Angeles or Boston), regional (the West Coast or East Coast), or international (including Canada), Medallion has you covered.

4. Handle Busy Periods with Ease

If you’ve hit the jackpot with a viral TikTok video, it’s only a matter of time before orders start flooding in. Can your current system handle it? A 3PL warehouse is built for scalability, meaning they have the resources and staff to process orders quickly, even during peak sales periods.

5. Build a Stronger Customer Experience

Customer reviews and loyalty count for everything on TikTok. Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics offers expert service that keeps customers informed about their order status, handles returns professionally, and ensures smooth delivery. These small touches build a stronger reputation and foster trust in your brand.

Special Features of Medallion’s Start-Up Program

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics is especially well-suited for TikTok Shop owners, thanks to their innovative Flat Rate Fulfillment Starter Program. Here’s what you’ll get:

  • Custom Flat Rate Pricing tailored to your business needs
  • Full-service support for 500 to 1,000 orders in a 60-day period
  • Services include inventory handling, credit card processing, customer service, shipping, and returns
  • A cost-effective solution that allows you to test your product’s market potential with minimal financial commitment

Once your test phase is complete, you can seamlessly transition to Medallion’s full-service fulfillment program to support your growing business.

Fulfillment Solutions Across the US and Canada

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics provides tailored solutions for TikTok Shop owners across the United States and Canada:

  • Local solutions in Los Angeles, Boston, and other key cities
  • Regional solutions for the West Coast and East Coast
  • Nationwide solutions for expanding brands
  • Cross-border fulfillment into Canada

Whether you’re selling a collection of trendy clothes, beauty products, or quirky home goods, their services are designed to scale with your success.

How to Get Started with Medallion

Taking your TikTok Shop to the next level has never been easier. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Visit Medallion’s Start-Up Program page to learn about their flat-rate pricing and tailored solutions.
  2. Reach out for a custom quote based on your product and expected order volume.
  3. Relax and focus on creating content while Medallion handles the logistics.

Final Thoughts

Growing a TikTok Shop is exciting but managing logistics shouldn’t slow you down. By partnering with a 3PL warehouse like Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, you can streamline your operations, ensure a seamless customer experience, and dedicate more time to building your brand.

For small businesses, Medallion’s flexible pricing and full-service solutions are tailored to help you achieve success without stretching your resources.

Don’t wait—turn your TikTok success into an unstoppable e-commerce brand. Visit Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics today to get a 3PL warehouse for your TikTok shop.

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3PL? Everything You Need to Know About 3rd Party Logistics

3PL Logistics and Ecommerce Order Fulfillment

If you’re running an ecommerce business, it’s likely you’ve weighed the challenges of order fulfillment, inventory management, and shipping logistics. That’s where third-party logistics (3PL) comes in. At Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, we’ve seen the dramatic impact a reliable 3PL partner can have on scaling a business, improving efficiency, and boosting customer satisfaction.

This guide breaks down what 3PL logistics is, the services it offers, and how it can reduce operational burdens for your ecommerce business.

What is 3PL/ 3PL Logistics?

Third-party logistics, or 3PL, refers to outsourcing your company’s supply chain operations to a specialized partner. Simply put, a 3PL provider becomes an extension of your business, taking over complex tasks like warehousing inventory storage, order fulfillment, shipping, and even returns processing.

For ecommerce companies, partnering with a 3PL means you can focus on growing your brand while we handle the nitty-gritty details of logistics. Whether you’re a small business owner or managing a growing online store, 3PLs are often key to maintaining smooth operations and optimizing costs.

Core Services Offered by 3PL Providers

3PLs offer a wide range of services designed to meet your business’s specific needs. Here are the essentials:

1. Inventory Management and Warehouse Storage

At our 3PL warehouse, we manage your inventory so you don’t have to. From organized storage to real-time data on stock levels, we ensure your products are tracked and ready to fulfill customer orders.

2. Order Fulfillment

A 3PL takes over the entire order fulfillment process—picking, packing, and shipping. Accurate picking ensures your customers get the correct items, while professional packing reflects your brand in every delivery.

3. Returns Processing (Reverse Logistics)

Dealing with returns is time-consuming but critical for customer satisfaction. A 3PL handles the returns process, inspecting items and efficiently restocking or redirecting them.

4. Transportation Services

Whether your business needs full truckload (FTL), less-than-truckload (LTL), or same-day shipping, 3PLs like Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics specialize in moving your products quickly, securely, and cost-effectively by partnering with shipping companies like the USPS.

Additional Services to Support Ecommerce Growth

Beyond the basics, 3PL providers often offer value-added services to further enhance your operations:

  • Global Supply Chain Management

If your business operates internationally, services like import/export assistance and customs clearance ensure smooth global operations.

  • Kitting and Assembly

Bundling multiple products together? Our kitting services make it easy to prepare subscription boxes, gift sets, and more.

  • Warehouse Management Software (WMS)

Gain access to advanced software systems that offer real-time inventory tracking and order status updates, all integrated with your online store.

How 3PLs Reduce Operational Burdens

Here’s why outsourcing to a 3PL could be a game-changer for your business.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

Whether it’s holiday season or a promotional surge, 3PLs scale operations up or down to meet demand without overextending your team.

  • Focus on Core Business Activities

By delegating logistics to experts, you gain time to focus on marketing, product development, and customer acquisition—moving the needle on your business goals.

Unlock Efficiency and Growth with a Trusted 3PL Partner

3PL logistics isn’t just about simplifying operations; it’s about creating opportunities for growth. At Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, we work hand-in-hand with ecommerce businesses to tailor solutions that meet their unique challenges and goals. Still on the fence? See what our customers have to say!

If you’re ready to reduce operational stress and elevate your business to new heights, contact us today and learn why businesses trust our flexible and cost-effective fulfillment services.