Warehousing or Fulfillment Service – Understanding Your Needs

Medallion Fulfillment for Third Party Fulfillment Needs.

As the operator of a virtual storefront, your eCommerce business needs storage for your products and a way to fulfill orders. Which will better satisfy your needs: a warehouse or a fulfillment company? Take a closer look at how each one works.

Difference Between Warehouse and Fulfillment Center

• Warehouses are widely used by both eCommerce shops and brick-and-mortar stores. These large facilities provide storage for a company’s inventory until it’s sold. Individual SKUs (stock keeping units) are kept on shelves or in storage bins and containers to facilitate order-picking.

• On the other hand, a fulfillment center is a more comprehensive operation. In addition to storing product, a fulfillment center generally handles the entire process, from inventory management to order filling and shipping. These centers are sometimes referred to as a third-party logistics provider, or 3PL.

Benefits of a Fulfillment Company

• In business, larger volume means better pricing. A fulfillment center manages a number of customers, allowing them to receive more advantageous pricing on supplies and transportation than you could ever obtain on your own.

• Are you finding it difficult to keep up with the ever-increasing number of orders? Is it taking too long for customers to receive their products? Fulfillment centers have streamlined processes that can be scaled to accommodate company growth.

• Order fulfillment involves many moving parts. Managing this side of your business on your own is cumbersome and time-consuming. When you partner with a fulfillment warehouse, it frees you up to spend your time and energy growing your business.

A Fulfillment Company Invested in Your Success

At Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, your success means our success. We have a variety of services, including start-up and Amazon replenishment warehousing, that can be tailored to fit your individual needs. Contact us today for more information.

Startups and New Businesses Have Special Financial Needs, How to Plan for Success

Women, owner of small business packing product in boxes

For many new entrepreneurs, managing finances is one of the more intimidating aspects of a startup business. Ensuring that funding, expenses and other financial elements are controlled from the beginning prevents minor issues from snowballing into major problems.

The good news is that financial management is not as difficult as you might think. Our fulfillment warehouse has been part of several successful startups, so we’re offering these expert tips to get your fledgling business rolling with solid financial planning.

Manage Expenses

In the beginning, expenses can be a huge drain on cash flow during the time you need it the most. Fortunately, most costs can be reasonably estimated ahead of time. Create a year-long budget covering rent, wages, materials, taxes and other fixed expenses and focus on keeping them as low as possible.

Avoid Commingling Funds

As the owner, you may feel all funds are ultimately yours so the line between personal and business finances becomes blurred. When you keep both sides completely separate, it’s much easier to track business finances and prevent personal spending from draining the company account. You should also formally pay yourself a salary rather than simply dip into company funds.

Keep Detailed and Accurate Records

When it comes to judging your company’s performance, you can’t afford to rely on gut feelings or instinct. Make sure an experienced accountant, either in-house or outside, is keeping track of revenue and expenses. Review financial statements regularly and make adjustments based on a clear, overall picture.

Don’t Overdo It

You may feel compelled to take on as many roles as you can to save money, but that strategy can actually be counterproductive. Learning unfamiliar skills on the fly can end up costing more time and money than hiring an experienced person in the first place. Delegating work frees you up to focus on your passion and grow the business.

Learn to Negotiate

Don’t take vendor terms at face value. You’ll be surprised at how often suppliers are willing to make concessions to gain your business. Prepare a game plan ahead of time so you know what your goals are. Remember that it never hurts to ask!

Invest in Technology

Business technology has become so advanced and so widely integrated that your company will be at a serious disadvantage from day one without it. Any investment you make in technology will pay for itself in money and time savings.

Establish an Emergency Fund

Financial experts recommend that people maintain an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses, and a company is no different. Put aside a percentage of income during peak times to help tide you through the slow periods.

Fulfillment Warehouse Services That Grow Along with You

Are you struggling with adjustments as your business expands? Our fulfillment warehouse services can be tailored to meet you specific needs today and scale to accommodate future requirements. Contact us at Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics to learn more about why we are the first choice for one-stop warehousing, inventory control and order processing services.

Five Tips on How to Create Engaging Product Descriptions That Sell

Happy businessman working on his laptop at home. Handsome businessman reading an email on his laptop at home. Freelance entrepreneur typing on his laptop at home. Virtual remote worker at home

When you’re looking for ways to increase business, focusing on product descriptions can pay off. It’s not enough to simply list the product name and its features. These descriptions should entice customers to learn more about your products and make a purchase. Combining effective product descriptions with other business-boosting steps, such as partnering with a fulfillment warehouse for faster processing and shipping, can help your online store thrive.

Zoom in On Your Targeted Audience

General product descriptions might seem like a good way to reach a wider audience. However, these generic descriptions aren’t likely to appeal to many buyers overall. Focus on your target audience for each product description instead. Doing this gives you a much higher chance of appealing to prospective buyers.

Go Big on Benefits

Customers want to know why they should buy your products or how your products might help them. Rather than including a list of technical features, focus on the benefits your products provide. These benefits can persuade customers to find out more about your products and consider purchasing them.

Don’t Skimp on Details

Descriptions that use general phrases to describe products aren’t doing much to grab customers’ attention. Include specific details about your products to help customers learn more about them.

Share Glowing Reviews

Including reviews in your product descriptions can show other customers how popular your products are. Share images or quotes from reviews in your descriptions.

Format Product Descriptions with Care

Good product descriptions don’t just involve using the right words. The way these descriptions are formatted can also make them more or less effective. Create product descriptions that are easy to read. Use bullet points, white space, high-quality images, and larger font sizes.

Looking for the right fulfillment warehouse to partner with? Contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics for more information.

Your #1 Solution for Year-Round Warehouse Fulfillment Services

Your need for effective California fulfillment services doesn’t end when the sale is over. Medallion’s comprehensive programs are specifically designed to accommodate the ebbs and flows of your particular company.

Our robust Amazon replenishment warehousing services meet Amazon’s standards at a more cost-effective price. Contact us for more information.

Tips for Having the Most Profitable Holiday Season Ever

Image of Fulfillment Company after a Successful Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, both vendors and shoppers eagerly anticipate the buying frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But how do you keep that momentum going through the end of the year? Implement these helpful selling tips from our fulfillment company experts to ring the bell on your most profitable holiday season ever.

1. Everything’s better in a bundle.

Convenience is one of the primary reasons consumers have embraced online shopping. During the holiday season, make it even easier for customers by bundling two or more products together in a single purchasing unit. It’s a time-saver for buyers and higher profits for you.

2. Leverage the appeal of flash sales.

Discounts are a staple of holiday shopping, but flash sales up the ante by creating a sense of urgency with a limited time frame. Studies show that consumers are more likely to open an email that holds the promise of a flash sale.

3. Offer tiered discount pricing.

According to Entrepreneur Magazine, boosting average sales per customer is one of the more effective methods to increase revenue and profits. Tiered discounts, in which shoppers get incrementally higher percentage discounts at different levels of spending, is a great way to drive add-on sales.

4. Offer free shipping.

For better or worse, free shipping is no longer a rare perk in the digital marketplace, but it doesn’t have to be a blanket policy. As with tiered pricing, you can tie reduced or free shipping in with specific dollar amounts. Another idea is charging lower shipping fees for lengthier delivery times.

Team Up with Our Fulfillment Company for Happier Holidays

Do you struggle to keep up with seasonal fluctuations in your eCommerce business? Contact Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics to learn more about our scalable programs.

When Should You Start Your Black Friday Sale?

Black Friday Sale - Tips From a Fulfillment Warehouse

Black Friday takes place on November 24th this year, but many businesses don’t wait until the official day to start sales. This shopping season can give your store a huge boost in sales, so you might want to begin offering discounts early. If you’re expecting tons of sales, consider working with a fulfillment warehouse to ensure plenty of space for products. The following tips can help you determine when to start your Black Friday sales and how to prepare for this busy season.

Start Marketing Discounts and Sales Now

Don’t wait until a few days before Black Friday to start advertising discounts and sales. Begin doing that now in order to get consumers’ attention ahead of time. Marketing Black Friday sales now makes customers aware of the discounts and deals you’ll be offering.

Consider an Early Start Date for the Black Friday Sale

You don’t need to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to offer good deals and deep discounts. Many consumers start their holiday shopping early. Consider using this to your advantage and offering Black Friday sales early. You might start with a few specials and deals in early November and gradually increase them in the weeks leading up to Black Friday.

Prepare for Black Friday Order Fulfillment Now

Making sure you’re ready for this shopping season helps ensure that you can fulfill orders promptly. A fulfillment warehouse can provide you with a great way to have orders processed, packed, shipped, and delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible. This helps boost customer satisfaction, which can lead to even more sales during the holiday season.

Partnering with a fulfillment warehouse can help your Black Friday and holiday sales go smoothly. Contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics to learn more about our services.