Category: Fulfillment Companies

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The Ins and Outs of an eCommerce Fulfillment Company Part 1

Warehouse Fulfillment Company Workers Planning for the Day.

With a big increase in online sales, businesses are depending more and more on eCommerce fulfillment companies to handle their orders. From picking and packing to shipping and delivering merchandise, the fulfillment process is a large part of a store’s success. Find out more about what an eCommerce fulfillment company does and how it can help your business thrive.

What Does eCommerce Fulfillment Mean?

Fulfillment includes the processes involved in fulfilling customer orders, from picking items from warehouse shelves to delivering them to customers’ doors. Ecommerce fulfillment also includes packaging, inventory management, transportation logistics for delivery, and more.

eCommerce Fulfillment Procedures

Several procedures are involved the eCommerce fulfillment process, with the main goal being to ensure customer satisfaction. These procedures include all of the following:

  1. Managing inventory for eCommerce businesses involves ordering products and storing them to help ensure that companies have enough merchandise on hand to fulfill orders promptly.
  2. Storing products in a warehouse is a service many eCommerce businesses rely on fulfillment warehouses for as this allows the ecommerce company to focus on selling rather than inventory.
  3. Receiving orders for companies after acquiring customer orders; eCommerce fulfillment companies can process the orders and prepare them for shipping.
  4. Packaging products for shipping procedures involve getting products ready to ship to customers in protective packaging, branded packaging, or a combination of both.
  5. Shipping products to customers is one of the most important procedures in eCommerce fulfillment. Shipping products to customers as quickly as possible and minimizing delays helps ensure customer satisfaction.
  6. Handling returns involves handling products that customers return to businesses, such as preparing them for reshipment or resale.

If you need a dependable fulfillment company to help your business, contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics. Our solutions ensure that customers receive their purchased items as efficiently and quickly as possible.

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Store Branding Tips for eCommerce Owners

Hand Turning Word and Letter Blocks to Spell Out Brand.

Do you think branding is just for the big guys? No matter what the size of your eCommerce business, branding is the crucial element that will set you apart from your competitors. Our fulfillment warehouse staff shares some expert tips on the best ways to make branding work for you.

1. Be unique.

It can be tempting to “borrow” from companies who have been successful with branding, but that defeats the whole purpose. By all means, study and learn from branding giants such as Apple, Nike and Amazon, but focus on finding and promoting what makes your business special.

2. Create a memorable logo.

As soon as you see their iconic “swoosh,” you immediately think of Nike. A strong, visually striking logo communicates your story in a way that’s instantly recognizable.

3. Keep your branding consistent.

Remember the uproar when Coca-Cola changed their signature soft drink formula that had been in use for nearly a century? Consumers value reliability so they know what they’re getting for their money. Make sure your branding is consistent in all facets of your business.

4. Have a visible social media presence.

Gone are the days when consumers would simply open the Yellow Pages to find what they’re looking for. Today’s shoppers can see pictures of products, compare pricing and read reviews. When your company has a strong presence across social media channels, it raises your profile and projects a professional image.

5. Provide superior customer service.

Technology may rule, but no one likes getting stuck in an endless voice mail loop. Combine robust self-service options with responsive and efficient customer service.

Choose a Fulfillment Warehouse that Fits Your Brand

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics offers flexible programs that mesh with your branding and grow along with your business. Contact us today to learn more.

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Shipping Issues Expected for Summer 2023

image concept of transportation.

Over the last few years, the global supply chain has been an indirect victim of the pandemic. Widespread shutdowns caused unprecedented interruptions in both consumer purchasing and availability of goods and materials.

Are there any lingering effects from this historic event? Our fulfillment company staff shares industry expert predictions about what to expect this summer.

Freight Rates

• During the pandemic, logistics costs rose sharply, which was one of the elements contributing to high inflation. Over the last year, ocean freight charges have declined, with some lanes back to pre-pandemic levels.

• Falling rates are attributed largely to a drop in consumer spending, which had risen over the last two years as importers enjoyed increased sales.

• Carrier alliances are in a period of flux, as seen with the pending split between Maersk and MSC. Some experts believe this may be the beginning of a rate war.

Despite these changes, experts caution that freight rates and shipping prices have not yet leveled off.

Shipping Demand and Inventory Volumes

• Consumer spending remains low, with more money being spent on services rather than goods.

• Job markets and wages continue to be strong. Whether this leads to growth in spending depends on consumer sentiment in the face of recent bank failures and rising interest rates.

• Shipping demand is beginning to creep back up as inventory levels are depleted. Import volumes saw monthly increases during spring, and this trend is expected to continue into July.

• Labor disputes involving Local 13 of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) may impact traffic at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports.

Streamline Operations With Our Fulfillment Company

Experts recommend partnering with a fulfillment warehouse to mitigate the effects of demand fluctuations and changes in shipping rates. Contact Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics for a solution to fit your specific needs.

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Can and Should Your Store Move to Free Shipping? What to Consider

Free Shipping Infographic

To offer free shipping or not to offer free shipping. That may not have been a concern in Shakespeare’s time, but today it’s an issue that all eCommerce companies have to consider. Our fulfillment company experts share some tips for making it work for your business.

1. Not everything has to ship for free.

Some products are just too heavy or too bulky to make free shipping a reasonable perk, and consumers understand this. Do a careful evaluation of your product lines and determine if any of them fall under this category.

2. Protect your margins.

How do you make money? Do you sell primarily high-ticket items, or do you earn on low-margin items with a high volume of repeat customers? The answer to this question will help guide you.

3. Leverage free shipping to boost customer loyalty.

Here are some successful methods that companies have used to link free shipping to other programs:

  • Provide free shipping on subscriptions, where products auto-ship at regular intervals.
  • Create a program that rewards loyal customers with free shipping. You could also take a page from Amazon and charge a nominal fee for a customer membership.
  • Offering free shipping on returns can tip the scales for shoppers who are buying items such as clothing and footwear.

4. Conduct testing.

Nothing has to be set in stone. Review your average orders and shipping costs, then check out what your competition is doing. Choose free shipping options that make the most sense for you and test them out to see which one(s) generate the best response.

A Fulfillment Company That Makes Shipping a Breeze

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics has favorable relationships with UPS, FedEx and most common carriers. Contact us to learn how our full selection of services can be a valuable solution for your eCommerce company.

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The Future of eCommerce Fulfillment

eCommerce Fulfillment Company with Employee holding a Tablet.

Online retail has been on the rise over the past few years. Initially fueled by the pandemic, eCommerce has continued to grow as more consumers shift to shopping online. Partnering with a fulfillment warehouse and taking other steps can help businesses enjoy a thriving future in eCommerce.

Quick Delivery

Consumers expect to have their orders fulfilled, shipped, and delivered quickly. With major online retailers offering same-day or next-day shipping, it’s important for smaller retailers to be able to offer these options if possible. Being able to get customers’ goods to them in a short timeframe involves having a way to efficiently fulfill orders and ship merchandise. This can be difficult for smaller online retailers to handle all on their own, but solutions are available.

3PL Solutions

Relying on another company to fulfill orders and handle packing and shipping can help ensure prompt delivery. Online retailers should explore third-party logistics (3PL) solutions. These solutions allow retailers to shift order fulfillment, picking, packing, and shipping to a company that specializes in these logistics. Doing this helps free up time for online retailers to focus on other aspects of their business, such as marketing. Depending on 3PL solutions also helps lower the risk of having consumers experience delays in getting their merchandise.

Larger Warehouse Space

With more consumers shopping online, eCommerce businesses need to have the space available to stock merchandise. This helps ensure that products are readily available for customers to purchase. Fulfillment warehouses can provide online retailers with plenty of space for storing merchandise. This partnership allows eCommerce businesses to keep products available and ready to ship as quickly as possible.

If you’re looking for a reliable fulfillment warehouse to help your business meet its goals, contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics.