Category: Fulfillment Company

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5 Tips on Hiring a Fulfillment Company for New eCommerce Business

Ecommerce business owner hiring a fulfillment company.

Partnering with the right fulfillment company can be the difference between steadily growing your sales or floundering in place. Here are five questions to ask when evaluating a potential fulfillment company.

1. Do they provide speedy shipping?

Home delivery is part of the convenience of online shopping. Customers don’t want to wait for their purchases, and they’ve come to expect rapid shipment. Slow delivery times is one of the major reasons consumers switch to another eCommerce company.

2. Are they reliable?

Both you and your customers need to rely on the performance of your fulfillment company. Communication should be open and frequent across all channels, and the company should be providing you with comprehensive and accurate data regarding inventory, delivery times and other metrics.

3. Are they tech-forward?

With all the moving parts involved in the order fulfillment process, it’s nearly impossible to manage it manually. Sophisticated high-tech systems provide real-time data that enables you to respond promptly to any areas that need attention.

4. Are their services cost-effective?

Use of a fulfillment company is a good way to consolidate expenses, but you still have to make it work within your budget. When evaluating costs, go past the initial charges to see if they have tiered pricing schedules, volume discounts and other ways to maximize your investment.

5. Are they scalable?

As your business grows, the last thing you want to do is start over with a different fulfillment company because your original choice can’t handle the increased workload. Look for a company that can accommodate seasonal fluctuations and long-term growth so you can develop a mutually beneficial partnership.

Your Top Choice for Fulfillment Warehouse Services

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics has extensive experience working with eCommerce companies of all sizes and types. Contact us to learn more.

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Tips for Fulfilling a One Time Shipment like Kickstarter

Kickstarter Success! DIY shipping or Hire a Fulfillment Company?

Fulfillment: DIY vs. 3PL

Congratulations, your Kickstarter campaign was a success! While the funds are rolling in and the social media congratulations are buzzing, you’re facing the next big challenge: fulfilling your promises. For many creators, the most difficult part of a crowdfunding campaign isn’t raising the money; it’s delivering the product to your backers.

Manufacturing, shipping, and handling thousands of orders can be overwhelming. This guide will help you understand the two main approaches to Kickstarter fulfillment—doing it yourself or partnering with a third party logistics provider—so you can make the best choice for your project.

Understanding Kickstarter Fulfillment

Before you can ship a single product, you need a solid plan. Successful fulfillment starts long before your campaign ends. It requires careful planning and budgeting to ensure you can meet your backers’ expectations without eating into your profits.

One of the biggest mistakes first-time creators make is underestimating costs. Your budget needs to account for more than just manufacturing. Remember to factor in platform fees (which can be 8-10% of your total funding), payment processing, packaging materials, and shipping. It’s crucial to build a financial buffer to cover unexpected expenses like shipping damages or production delays.

The DIY Fulfillment Approach

Managing fulfillment in-house means you handle every aspect of the process, from storing inventory and packing boxes to printing labels and shipping orders. This hands-on approach is often the default for smaller campaigns.

Advantages of DIY Fulfillment

  • Total Control: You oversee every detail, ensuring the packaging and presentation align perfectly with your brand. You can add personal touches like handwritten notes to create a memorable unboxing experience.
  • Direct Backer Relationship: Handling fulfillment yourself keeps you directly connected to your supporters. This can be a valuable learning experience, offering insights into your customer base.
  • Lower Upfront Costs: You avoid the fees associated with a fulfillment partner, which can be appealing if your budget is tight.

Challenges of DIY Fulfillment

  • Massive Time Investment: Packing and shipping hundreds or thousands of orders is a monumental task. This can easily become a full-time job, pulling you away from other critical business activities.
  • Space Requirements: You’ll need a dedicated space to store your inventory and set up a packing station. For many, this means turning a garage or living room into a temporary warehouse.
  • Potential for Errors: Without established systems, the risk of making mistakes—like sending the wrong item or using incorrect postage—is high. International shipping adds another layer of complexity with customs forms and regulations.

The 3PL Fulfillment Approach

A third-party logistics provider (3PL), or fulfillment company, handles your storage, packing, and shipping for you. You send your manufactured products to their fulfillment center, and they take care of the rest.

What is a 3PL?

A 3PL provider acts as your outsourced operations department. Their services typically include warehousing, inventory management, order processing, and shipping. At Medallion Fulfillment, we have extensive experience managing special orders and kitting, ensuring that even complex rewards with multiple items are assembled and shipped correctly.

Advantages of 3PL Fulfillment

  • Focus on Your Core Business: Outsourcing logistics frees you up to concentrate on what you do best—developing new products, marketing your brand, and growing your business.
  • Scalability: A fulfillment company is equipped to handle large order volumes. If your campaign is more successful than anticipated, a 3PL can easily scale to meet the demand.
  • Shipping Expertise and Better Rates: 3PLs ship in high volumes, which allows them to negotiate better shipping rates with carriers than a small business could get on its own. They are also experts in navigating the complexities of international shipping and customs.

Challenges of 3PL Fulfillment

  • Cost: Partnering with a 3PL involves service fees. While you save on shipping, you need to budget for costs related to storage, order processing, and packing.
  • Less Direct Control: While you still control your brand, you give up direct oversight of the packing and shipping process. This is why choosing a trusted partner is so important.

Choosing the Right Fulfillment Model

So, should you go the DIY route or hire a 3PL? The right answer depends on several factors:

  • Scale and Volume: For projects with a small number of backers (e.g., under 200) and simple rewards, DIY can be manageable. For larger campaigns, especially those with significant international orders, a 3PL is often the better choice.
  • Budget: While DIY seems cheaper upfront, the hidden costs of time, materials, and potential errors can add up. A 3PL has clear costs, but you must ensure they fit within your budget.
  • Your Expertise and Time: Be honest about how much time you can dedicate to fulfillment. If you’re already juggling other responsibilities, outsourcing to a third party logistics expert can be a lifesaver.

When evaluating 3PL providers, look for a partner with experience in crowdfunding campaigns and the flexibility to handle unique requirements like kitting and assembly.

Key Steps in the Fulfillment Process

No matter which model you choose, the core steps remain the same:

  1. Manufacturing Oversight: Keep in close contact with your manufacturer to ensure production stays on schedule and meets your quality standards.
  2. Transportation: Arrange for your finished goods to be shipped from the factory to your home or your 3PL’s fulfillment center.
  3. Pledge Management: Use a tool like BackerKit to collect final shipping addresses from your backers. It’s best to do this just before you’re ready to ship to avoid issues with outdated addresses.
  4. Communication: Keep your backers informed every step of the way. Regular, transparent updates build trust and patience, especially if there are delays.

Finding Your Fulfillment Balance

Successfully fulfilling your Kickstarter campaign is a balancing act between cost, control, and customer satisfaction. The DIY approach offers maximum control but demands significant time and effort. A 3PL provider offers expertise and scalability, allowing you to focus on your business while ensuring your backers receive their rewards efficiently.

By carefully planning your fulfillment strategy from the beginning, you can turn the challenge of delivery into an opportunity to build lasting relationships with the supporters who brought your project to life.

Ready to take the stress out of shipping? Let the experts at Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics handle the details.

Get a Free Fulfillment Quote

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5 Steps to a Successful Ecommerce Startup

Ecommerce Startup Fulfilment Program

Starting an ecommerce business can feel overwhelming, but after years of helping ecommerce startups through our fulfillment programs at Medallion, I’ve seen what separates successful launches from costly failures. The key isn’t having unlimited resources—it’s following a proven roadmap that minimizes risk while maximizing your chances of success.

Whether you’re testing a new product idea or ready to scale your existing business online, these five essential steps will guide you toward a profitable ecommerce startup that stands the test of time.

Find Product Opportunities and Choose What to Sell

The foundation of any successful ecommerce startup begins with the right product selection. Through our work with hundreds of startups, I’ve learned that the most successful entrepreneurs don’t just follow trends—they identify genuine market gaps.

Start by researching your target market thoroughly. Use tools like Google Trends, Amazon Best Sellers, and social media platforms to identify products with growing demand but limited competition. Look for problems you can solve rather than products you want to create.

Validate your product ideas before investing heavily. Conduct surveys, create simple landing pages to test interest, or run small social media campaigns to gauge response. This validation process can save you thousands of dollars and months of wasted effort.

Consider your sourcing strategy early. Whether you’re manufacturing custom products, working with suppliers, or starting with dropshipping, understand your costs, minimum order quantities, and lead times. These factors will directly impact your pricing strategy and cash flow requirements.

Research Your Competition and Write a Business Plan

Understanding your competitive landscape isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for ecommerce fulfillment success. Analyze at least five direct competitors, studying their pricing strategies, product offerings, customer reviews, and marketing approaches.

Pay close attention to their customer complaints. These pain points represent opportunities for your business to excel. If customers consistently complain about slow shipping, poor customer service, or product quality issues, you’ve found your competitive advantage.

Your business plan doesn’t need to be complex, but it should address key questions: Who is your target customer? What’s your unique value proposition? How will you acquire customers? What are your projected costs and revenue for the first 18 months?

Include realistic financial projections that account for inventory costs, marketing expenses, and fulfillment operations. Many ecommerce startups fail because they underestimate these ongoing operational costs.

Choose a Business Name and Set Up Your Online Store

Your business name should be memorable, easy to spell, and available as a domain name across social media platforms. Avoid overly complex names that customers might struggle to remember or find online.

When selecting your ecommerce platform, consider factors like ease of use, customization options, payment processing fees, and integration capabilities. Popular options include Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, each offering different benefits depending on your specific needs.

Focus on creating a professional, user-friendly website that builds trust with potential customers. Include clear product descriptions, high-quality images, customer reviews, and transparent shipping and return policies. Your website often provides the first impression of your brand—make it count.

Optimize your site for search engines from the start. Use relevant keywords in your product descriptions and page titles, ensure fast loading times, and create valuable content that attracts your target audience.

Choose a Shipping Strategy and Set Marketing Goals

Shipping strategy can make or break your ecommerce startup. Customers expect fast, affordable, and reliable delivery options. Consider partnering with an experienced ecommerce fulfillment provider to leverage their carrier relationships and expertise.

At Medallion, we’ve seen many startups benefit from our Flat Rate Fulfillment Starter Program, which provides predictable costs during the crucial testing phase. This program includes account setup, order processing, customer service, shipping, warehousing, and return processing—all at a fixed rate that helps you budget accurately.

Set specific, measurable marketing goals before launch. Rather than vague objectives like “increase sales,” establish concrete targets such as “acquire 100 new customers in the first month” or “achieve a 3% conversion rate within 60 days.”

Develop a multi-channel marketing approach that includes email marketing, social media advertising, content marketing, and search engine optimization. Start with one or two channels, master them, then expand your efforts.

Launch Your Business

Before going live, conduct thorough testing of your entire customer journey. Place test orders, check payment processing, verify inventory management, and ensure your ecommerce fulfillment process works smoothly.

Create buzz before your official launch through social media teasers, email campaigns to friends and family, and partnerships with complementary businesses or influencers in your industry.

Monitor your key performance indicators closely during the first few weeks. Track conversion rates, average order values, customer acquisition costs, and inventory turnover. This data will guide your optimization efforts and help identify issues quickly.

Be prepared to iterate rapidly based on customer feedback and performance data. Successful ecommerce startups remain flexible and responsive to market demands while maintaining focus on their core value proposition.

Ready to Scale Your Ecommerce Startup?

Launching an ecommerce store successfully requires careful planning, strategic thinking, and reliable operational support. While these five steps provide the roadmap, having the right fulfillment partner can significantly impact your success trajectory.

Our Starter Program has helped numerous ecommerce entrepreneurs test their markets efficiently while maintaining professional operations from day one. With predictable costs and comprehensive service, you can focus on growing your business while we handle the logistics.

Explore Medallion’s Startup Program and discover how our flat-rate fulfillment solution can support your ecommerce journey from launch to scale.

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Brand Building to Boost Business

Branding

A brand, such as Starbucks or Apple, is much more than just a name. Branding encompasses all the thoughts, feelings and emotions people experience when they hear the words “Starbucks” or “Apple”.

Your brand represents the commitment you make to your customers through your product or service. Is your business trendy or classic? Who is your target audience? What is your mission?

Building a brand requires careful thought and consideration. Use these guidelines to create a brand that’s unique, memorable and appealing.

Seven Tips for Creating a Vivid and Memorable Brand

• Figure out who your target audience is. Learn more about their wants, needs and shopping habits by talking to them and following relevant social media accounts.

• Develop a positioning statement. You’ll be tempted to include everything but the kitchen sink but communicating too much ultimately communicates nothing at all. Stay focused and craft one or two lines that sum up why your business matters.

• Choose a business name, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. If the name is too on-the-nose, it could be awkward if you plan to expand your offerings down the road. You also have to consider logos, website domains and trademark registrations.

• Once you have a name, it’s time to work on fonts and colors. Unless you have a specific reason for choosing something a little more complex, stick with clean and simple fonts.

• Choose a palette based on the psychology of colors, but make sure you consider how it looks in black and white and against different backgrounds.

• What would a brand be without a logo? In addition to the design elements, check to make sure it’s scale-able across a range of sizes.

• Write a short but punchy slogan that immediately paints a picture. A slogan is a great way to maintain consistency, but you can certainly adapt it over time as you refine your marketing efforts and strategies.

Now that you’ve created a polished and powerful brand, start applying it across all phases and segments of your business. Don’t forget that consistency is key.

California Fulfillment Services: The Solution for All Your Order Processing Needs

Looking for a California fulfillment services company that will help maintain the integrity of your brand? Contact us to find out why Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics will provide the consistent service your customers expect.

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What is a Pick and Pack Service?

Pick and pack worker from a fulfillment company.

Pick and Pack Fulfillment: Essential Guide for E-commerce Success

At Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, we’ve seen firsthand how efficient pick and pack operations can make or break an e-commerce business. After processing thousands of orders daily for our clients, we understand that getting products from your warehouse shelves to your customers’ doors requires precision, speed, and expertise.

Pick and pack fulfillment forms the backbone of successful order processing. When done right, it creates satisfied customers who return again and again. When done poorly, it leads to returns, complaints, and lost revenue.

Understanding the Picking Process

The picking phase begins the moment we receive your customer’s order. Our team generates a detailed pick ticket that specifies exactly what items need to be collected, their warehouse locations (including aisle, shelf, and bin numbers), and quantities required.

We use strategic picking methods depending on your order volume and product types:

Piece picking works best for smaller operations, where our staff handles one complete order at a time. Batch picking increases efficiency by grouping similar orders together. For high-volume clients, we employ zone picking, where team members focus on specific warehouse areas, passing orders along as needed.

Each method has its place, and we select the approach that maximizes accuracy while minimizing fulfillment time for your specific business needs.

The Packing Process Explained

Once items are collected, they move to our packing department where quality control takes center stage. We inspect every order against the original pick ticket—that’s our second accuracy check. The packing team then selects appropriate shipping containers and protective materials to ensure your products arrive undamaged.

Our automated shipping software generates barcoded labels for tracking, whether we’re using UPS, FedEx, USPS, or other carriers. We track packages from the moment they leave our facility until they reach your customers.

Different Picking Methods for Maximum Efficiency

Wave picking combines the best of batch and zone strategies. Team members stay within designated warehouse zones but handle multiple orders simultaneously. This approach works particularly well for businesses with diverse product catalogs and varying order sizes.

The key is matching the picking method to your business model. High-volume, single-item orders benefit from batch picking, while complex orders with multiple SKUs often require piece picking for accuracy.

Benefits of Efficient Pick and Pack Operations

Streamlined pick and pack processes deliver measurable results. Our clients typically see 99.9% order accuracy rates, faster shipping times, and reduced operational costs. When your fulfillment company handles these complex logistics, you’re free to focus on growing your business rather than managing warehouse operations.

Efficient operations also mean better customer satisfaction. Fast, accurate order processing leads to positive reviews, repeat purchases, and word-of-mouth referrals that fuel business growth.

Partner with an Experienced Fulfillment Company

Let’s be honest selling is what you know and love. An experienced fulfillment company like Medallion offers advantages you simply can’t replicate in-house: established carrier relationships, bulk shipping discounts, advanced warehouse management systems, and staff trained specifically in pick and pack operations.

We handle everything from receiving your inventory to shipping finished orders, including returns processing and customer service support. Our multiple warehouse locations, including one near the Port of Los Angeles, enable cost-effective distribution nationwide.

Ready to Optimize Your Fulfillment?

Efficient pick and pack fulfillment isn’t just about moving products—it’s about creating exceptional customer experiences that drive business growth. Contact us today to learn how Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics can streamline your operations and reduce your shipping costs while improving customer satisfaction.