How Ecommerce Startups Can Benefit from Working with a Fulfillment Company

Small Business Owner Looking for a Fulfillment Warehouse

Starting an eCommerce business? The growth in online shopping in recent years can make this a lucrative move. But keep in mind that running this type of business involves several tasks. You’ll need to ensure that orders are processed, packed, and shipped as quickly and accurately as possible.

A fulfillment partner can help with this, so your new company can thrive. Learn more about the benefits of working with a fulfillment warehouse.

Fulfill Orders Promptly

This type of partnership can save you significant amounts of time. Fulfillment companies can take care of order processing, picking, packing, shipping, and returns. This helps the entire process run smoothly, so customers can receive their orders in a shorter timeframe.

With a fulfillment partner handling these tasks, this also frees up your time to focus on growing your business. You can work on marketing campaigns and other aspects of managing a startup to help it succeed.

Save on Operating Costs

Having to find enough space to store merchandise can be challenging for new eCommerce businesses. As your company grows, this can become even more difficult and expensive. Instead of renting a warehouse, partner with a fulfillment company.

These companies can provide the room needed to store products. That means you don’t have to pay for a separate warehouse of your own and the staff needed for it. You can save on these operating costs and use that money for marketing or other purposes.

Grow with Ease

If your eCommerce business experiences rapid growth, having a fulfillment partner allows you to easily handle it. Your warehouse partner can ensure that new orders are fulfilled as quickly as possible.

Looking for a fulfillment warehouse for your eCommerce startup? Contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics to find out more about how our experts can help your business succeed.

What You Need to Know About E-Commerce Taxes and Regulations

ecommerce taxes and regulations

Running an eCommerce business comes with many responsibilities. Some of the most important include staying on top of taxes and regulations. This helps prevent penalties or other issues that affect your business. The following tips can help you understand these better.

Destination-Based vs. Origin-Based Sales Taxes

Many states use a destination-based approach to sales tax. This means online businesses charge sales tax based on a customer’s location. Other states use an origin-based approach, which means state taxes are based on the business location.

For example, if orders are shipped from a business or fulfillment warehouse in one state, the sales tax for those might be based on the customer’s state under destination-based sales tax sourcing. With origin-based sourcing, the sales tax would be based on the company’s location.

State Tax Rules

It’s important to become familiar with state tax rules, which differ from state to state. Some states don’t tax apps or other digital goods, while others do. Some states have tax exemptions when you sell overseas. Other tax-related issues to be aware of include sales tax holidays and exemptions.

Examples of exemptions include survival items, such as prescriptions or groceries, wholesale exemptions, and non-profit exemptions. Study the specific tax exemptions for different states to see which apply to your eCommerce business.

Sales Tax Permits and Reporting

Some states require business owners to have a permit in order to collect sales taxes in certain jurisdictions. Apply for one if needed before you begin collecting this money. For sales tax reporting, keep deadlines in mind to avoid being hit with penalties.

Partnering with the right fulfillment warehouse allows you to focus on taxes and regulations instead of picking, packing, and shipping orders. Contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics today to find out how we can help your eCommerce business.

5 Tips for Managing Your Customer Data

Customer Data Plan from a Fulfillment Company

No matter how wonderful your products are, you can’t simply open your eCommerce store and hope for the best. Today’s advanced technology lets you gather data that identifies and targets customers with amazing precision and accuracy. Our fulfillment company experts offer five valuable tips for efficient management of customer data.

1. Collect the right data.

Just as a handyman needs to select the proper tool for the job, you should make sure you’re collecting data that’s specifically useful to your goals. Use your KPIs as a road map to determine which information will help you attain them.

2. Protect your data.

Don’t risk the nightmare of having your data compromised by a hacker. Onsite dedicated servers are the preferred method of storage, but cloud storage has become more secure in recent years.

3. Use data wisely.

So you’ve collected all this data. Now what do you do with it? Review data on a regular basis and incorporate the information into well-defined benchmarks. Using data to create charts and other visual representations makes it easier to recognize patterns and trends.

4. Establish transparency with customers.

Digital shoppers have become increasingly wary of sharing data online. Gain trust by being upfront about policies governing collection, management, and use of data. Take the extra step of reviewing your policies with a lawyer to ensure compliance with any relevant regulations.

5. Allow customers to control their data.

With an estimated 83 percent of organizations experiencing at least one data breach, legislators are responding with changing laws regarding privacy of data. Letting customers control what data they do and don’t share is another way to establish trustworthiness.

Manage Data Safely with Our Fulfillment Company

At Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, data protection is just as important as managing orders. Contact us to learn more.

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.

Expert Tips on Growing Your eCommerce Business with Paid Advertising

Visualization of Paid Advertising Concept for eCommerce and Fulfillment Warehouses

When you’re trying to grow your eCommerce business, advertising your brand is essential. Paid advertising provides a highly effective way to reach a wide audience through social media, websites, search engines, and other online platforms.

Keep in mind that as your business grows, you should consider partnering with a fulfillment warehouse to ensure prompt and efficient order fulfillment. While searching for the right fulfillment partner, follow these tips on making the most of paid advertising.

Explore Different Types of Paid Advertising

You might find that one type works better for you, or you might find success from using multiple types. Becoming familiar with all of your options can help you choose the right ones for reaching your targeted audience. Different types of paid advertising include paid search, paid social, native advertising, podcast advertising, and print ads.

Consider Your Marketing Funnel When Targeting Users

You’ll want to think about the search intent of users. For example, top-of-funnel searches typically include reviews or the best places to buy a product. For these, you’ll need to have the right keywords to target users. Middle-of-funnel searches, such as comparing different brands or products, typically require different keywords.

Boost Organic Posts on Social Media

When using paid advertising on Facebook or other social media platforms, you’ll want to boost existing posts. This allows you to reach a wider audience using video ads, image ads, carousel ads, or other types of ads.

Use Best Practices for Native Ads

These are ads that blend in more on websites compared to display banners. Create landing pages, offer clear messaging, and come up with eye-catching headlines to grab users’ attention.

Partnering with a fulfillment warehouse is a smart step to take while growing your eCommerce business. Contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics to learn more about services.