When Should Etsy Store Owners Consider Moving to a Fulfillment Provider?

Etsy Shop Working with a Fulfillment Warehouse

Etsy is a highly profitable commerce platform, connecting consumers to millions of sellers. If you’re a store owner with growing product demand, fulfillment can be challenging.

Etsy doesn’t offer a full-suite of order realization services, requiring you to develop your own strategy. Below is an overview of the reasons to hire a fulfillment company.

When it’s Time to Outsource Order Fulfillment

Keeping up with orders creates positive customer experiences. If you’re struggling to meet increased order volumes, realization services provide the resources to support your growth. These may include packaging, storage, tracking, and shipping.

Partnering with a fulfillment company is vital when scaling up production in response to increased business. Your inventory levels have grown, and your real estate is jam-packed. Instead of leasing more space, these services offer infrastructure to help you keep up with growing business.

A fulfillment provider is an invaluable asset for improving service speed and efficiency. Etsy is fast-paced and competitive today, with increasing customer expectations. You can’t afford long delivery times and efficiency lapses. Your lead times can benefit from an organized warehouse and streamlined shipping processes.

Hiring realization services makes sense when you need time to focus on other aspects of your Etsy business. Operations can distract you from marketing and sales. By offloading the burden to a trusted partner, you can redirect your efforts elsewhere.

A major benefit a fulfillment company offers is reduced overhead costs. If the cost of meeting fulfillment demands is unfeasible, their services can help you streamline and reduce costs.

Conclusion

The demands of Etsy order execution can be stressful. Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics looks to be your trusted partner, offering tailored solutions to support your growing e-commerce business. Contact us today if you need a dependable, scalable, and cost-efficient order completion strategy.  

Apparel Fulfillment – Why You Need an Experienced Fulfillment Company

Apparel Fulfillment Company Warehouse

Are you an entrepreneur considering an online apparel business? Maybe you’ve already taken the plunge. In either case, you’re learning that apparel sales have their own unique challenges. Consider these compelling reasons why partnering with an experienced fulfillment company can be the key to success.

What Makes Online Apparel Sales Different?

On the surface, it might appear that online selling has the same basic principles regardless of the products, that’s true only to a point. Apparel sales have to take into account certain factors that don’t apply to other categories.

  • No matter what type of apparel you’re selling, it will involve a wide range of styles, colors, and sizes. As a result, you must be prepared to offer and maintain a larger number of SKUs than most companies.
  • Apparel has historically been sold on a “try before you buy” basis. Without the aid of fitting rooms, online apparel stores have to accommodate a greater volume of returns and exchanges.

Why You Need an Experienced Fulfillment Company

1. Faster and less expensive shipping

Savvy consumers expect quick delivery at a low cost. Good fulfillment companies have solid relationships with a number of shippers, which means you get the advantage of preferential rates.

2. High-tech inventory management

Don’t get lost in the maze of multiple SKUs and inventory tracking. Fulfillment warehouses use state-of-the-art technology to manage your inventory and deliver real-time numbers to your computer or device.

3. Efficient processing of returns and exchanges

Fulfillment companies have dedicated customer service teams who are trained to handle returns and exchanges smoothly and effectively, even during the holidays and other busy seasons.

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics: Your Partner in Success

Spend time growing your apparel business instead of struggling with back-end issues. Contact us today to learn more about our fulfillment solutions.

 

 

 

Throw Out Your Marketing Plan and Try These Tips

Warehouse Fulfillment Company Workers Planning for the Day.

Is your marketing plan not producing the results you’re looking for? Instead of doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different outcome, why not try something new? Our Plainfield RI fulfillment experts share these surprisingly easy yet effective tips for jump-starting your marketing plan.

1. Be transparent.

If you promise nothing but blue sky yet rain falls on your customers, they’re going to head for dry land. A serious disconnect between what’s on your website and the actual buying experience will turn customers into one-and-done. Carefully review the content on your website to make sure it’s consistent with your brand and you’re not overreaching with your commitments.

2. Promote a sense of trust.

Inc. Magazine says that a staggering 84 percent of consumers place equal trust in online reviews and personal recommendations.

*Post genuine testimonials in appropriate spots on your website. Creating false reviews is an absolute no-no and will quickly backfire.

*Post logos of membership in professional associations and other “trust signals” indicating your reliability.

3. Create urgency.

No one likes to feel like they missed out. Leverage free shipping, bonus gifts, and other perks by running them for a limited time. You can also offer opt-in enticements, such as a 10 percent discount for joining your email list.

4. Keep it simple.

There’s such a thing as having too many choices. If your shoppers have to wade through too many options, it can result in paralysis by analysis that ends without a sale. Know your target market and provide a carefully curated selection of products organized in well-defined categories.

Your #1 Choice for Plainfield RI (Boston Region) Fulfillment Services

We offer a full assortment of Plainfield RI fulfillment services, ranging from assembly and packaging to website design and hosting. Contact Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics to learn more.

 

Top Tips for Building a Business Plan for an Online Clothing Store

Online Clothing Store Business Plan

Everyone wears clothing of one type or another, making it an attractive offering for an online store. That doesn’t mean you can partner with a fulfillment warehouse, then just sit back and watch the sales roll in. Use these helpful questions to craft a business plan that will establish your framework for success.

1. How viable is your business?

Clothing is a broad category with countless competitors in the field. Look for a niche, such as vintage clothing or children’s products, that will let you focus on a particular market.

2. Establish a mission.

What do you hope to accomplish with your clothing store? What sets your business apart from others? Your mission statement should tell people exactly who you are and what makes you different from your competitors.

3. Use a SWOT analysis.

SWOT is an acronym for “strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.” This analysis helps you determine what qualities you should emphasize and what measures you need to take to overcome the competition.

4. Determine your business structure.

Business laws set forth several different options, such as sole proprietorship or limited liability company (LLV), for operating a business. Each option has implications for liability, taxes, and other important factors. Consult an attorney to decide which choice is best for you.

5. Keep it simple.

Don’t fall into the trap of using lots of jargon, technical terms, and buzzwords to make your plan sound “intelligent.” Stick with simple, everyday language that can be easily understood by any potential reader.

Make Our Fulfillment Warehouse Part of Your Business Plan

We have extensive experience working alongside eCommerce retailers selling just about any type of product. Let us put our knowledge and capabilities to work for you. Contact us at Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics to learn more.

The Future of Ecommerce: Why Startups Should Partner with Third Party Logistics Providers

ecommerce startup fulfillment company

With Ecommerce startups, the automatic inclination is to keep costs down by doing everything in-house. In reality, your fledgling business can benefit from teaming up with experienced companies that provide crucial functions. Consider these valuable advantages that are gained by partnering with third party logistics providers.

1. Cost Savings

It may sound counterintuitive that hiring a 3PL can actually save money. But as with any good investment, the initial investment pays off over time.

  • Thanks to their volume of business, third party logistics providers have significant clout when it comes to negotiating prices with shippers.
  • Operating a warehouse, especially when you’re unsure about what you need, is an expensive proposition. A 3PL offers an economical alternative by charging you only for the space you use.

2. Inventory Management

You dream of a rapid increase in orders, but maintaining an efficient inventory flow can be a real nightmare. A first-rate 3PL incorporates barcodes, scanners, and other high-tech tools for accurate inventory tracking.

3. Customer Service

It takes only one unsatisfactory experience to lose a customer forever. The staff at a 3PL can reliably create a superior customer experience, from processing the order to handling returns.

4. Scalability

Avoid growing pains by partnering with a 3PL that can accommodate your needs, including seasonal fluctuations, as your business develops. You also gain more time to work on new products and improvements without impacting fulfillment of current orders.

5. Technology and Metrics

How do you know if you’re meeting your goals, or you need a course correction? 3PLs use sophisticated software that tracks advanced metrics, such as order revenues and sales by channel, in real time.

Your Success Is Our Success

At Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, our number one goal is to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.