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Start Your Ecommerce Business on the Right Foot

Building a Startup with an Ecommerce Fulfillment Provider

Starting a business is a challenging journey, and while many new companies emerge each month, a significant number don’t survive their first couple of years. Often, this isn’t due to market failure but to internal factors like losing passion, a lack of preparation, or succumbing to self-doubt.

To increase your chances of building a successful company, it’s crucial to focus on smart, actionable strategies from the very beginning. Here is a checklist of essential tips to guide you.

1. Build a Business Around Your Passion

You’re going to invest an incredible amount of time and effort into your startup. If you’re not genuinely invested in what you’re doing, it will be difficult to sustain the motivation required to succeed. Don’t chase a trend that bores you; build your business around something you truly love.

2. Create a Financial Blueprint

While you don’t need a hundred-page document, you do need a solid business plan. At a minimum, create a financial blueprint that outlines your estimated costs, revenue projections, and your break-even point. This will serve as your roadmap and help you make informed decisions.

3. Clearly Define Your Unique Value

Competition is fierce. You must be able to clearly articulate what makes your product or service different and better than the alternatives. Identify the specific need, want, or problem you are solving for your customer and build your marketing message around that unique value.

4. Stay Adaptable

The business world changes quickly. Be prepared to adapt your vision to meet evolving customer demands or to seize new opportunities. Don’t be so rigid in your original plan that you miss the chance to pivot and grow.

5. Underpromise and Overdeliver

In your eagerness to win your first customers, it can be tempting to promise more than you can realistically deliver. Instead, set modest but solid expectations and then go the extra mile. This approach builds trust and turns customers into loyal advocates.

6. Delegate and Seek Help

No entrepreneur can do it all alone. Identify your areas of weakness and don’t be too proud to seek help, whether it’s by hiring staff, outsourcing tasks, or consulting with mentors. Trying to handle everything yourself may save money in the short term, but it will cost your business in the long run.

7. Learn from Your Mistakes

You will make mistakes—everyone does. The key is to learn from them, adjust your strategy, and keep moving forward. Treat failures as learning opportunities rather than reasons to give up. Resilience is what separates successful entrepreneurs from the rest.

By balancing your passion with a realistic and strategic approach, you can navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and join the ranks of businesses that thrive.

Working with a Fulfillment Provider

Staring your business with the support of a 3PL or a Fulfillment Partner is a great way to make sure you have all your ducks in a row. and takes the guesswork out of ordering product, warehousing and fulfilling the order. Contact our team today at Medallion Fulfillment and get your business started with your best foot forward.

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Affordable Ecommerce Fulfillment Options for Your Business

Medallion Fulfillment is an Affordable Ecommerce Fulfillment Company

As an ecommerce business owner, you know that order fulfillment is one of your highest costs. Getting your products to your customers quickly and safely is crucial, but the expenses can quickly add up. Over the years, I’ve seen countless businesses struggle to balance quality service with affordable costs. Finding the right ecommerce fulfillment strategy isn’t just about saving money, it’s about protecting your profitability and ensuring your business can grow.

This guide will walk you through the various fulfillment options available, from handling it yourself to partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. We’ll explore the pros and cons of each and help you understand the key factors to consider so you can make the best decision for your business.

Understanding Total Fulfillment Value

When you’re looking for an affordable solution, it’s easy to focus only on the obvious costs, like pick-and-pack fees or shipping rates. However, the true cost of fulfillment goes much deeper. I encourage my clients to think in terms of “Total Fulfillment Value,” which accounts for all the hidden costs that can impact your bottom line.

These hidden costs can include:

  • Receiving Delays: If your fulfillment partner takes too long to process inbound shipments, your products are stuck on a loading dock instead of being available for sale. This can lead to lost sales and frustrated customers.
  • Inventory Shrinkage: Most fulfillment contracts include a “shrinkage allowance,” which is a percentage of inventory that can be lost, damaged, or stolen without reimbursement. A high shrinkage rate is a direct hit to your profits.
  • Order Processing Errors: Mistakes like sending the wrong item or quantity lead to costly returns and damage your brand’s reputation. The cost of fixing these errors—including return shipping and re-shipping—can be significant.

A truly affordable fulfillment partner minimizes these hidden costs, saving you money and protecting your customer relationships.

Ecommerce Fulfillment Options

Every year, new fulfillment services emerge, giving you more choices than ever. Let’s break down the most common options to see which might be the best fit for your business.

Self-Fulfillment

Many business owners start by picking and packing their own orders. It’s a great way to learn the ins and outs of your operations.

  • Pros: You have complete control over quality and can add personal touches, like handwritten thank-you notes. There are no partner requirements to meet.
  • Cons: You’re responsible for fixed overhead costs like warehouse space, which you might not always need. As you grow, managing staff and day-to-day fulfillment can take your focus away from core business activities like marketing and product development.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

If you sell on Amazon, using their fulfillment service is a popular choice.

  • Pros: Your products become eligible for Amazon Prime, which can significantly boost sales. Customers benefit from Amazon’s fast shipping and trusted customer service.
  • Cons: You lose control over where your inventory is stored, which can create sales tax complications. FBA fees can add up, and your products will be shipped in Amazon-branded boxes, which means you miss a branding opportunity.

Shopify Fulfillment

For merchants using the Shopify platform, their fulfillment network offers an integrated solution.

  • Pros: Management is streamlined directly within your Shopify dashboard, and you can use your own branded packaging.
  • Cons: This option is limited to Shopify channels, which isn’t ideal for omnichannel sellers. Shopify also works with a network of 3PLs, so you don’t have a direct relationship with your fulfillment provider.

FedEx Fulfillment

As a major shipping carrier, FedEx has leveraged its logistics expertise to offer 3PL services.

  • Pros: The returns process is simplified, which is a big plus for attracting and retaining customers. They can also handle orders from multiple sales channels.
  • Cons: You are typically required to ship all your orders exclusively through FedEx, and pricing can be variable, making it difficult to predict costs.

Third-Party Fulfillment (3PL)

Partnering with a 3PL company is the most popular choice for outsourcing fulfillment. A good 3PL handles everything from receiving and warehousing to picking, packing, and shipping.

  • Pros: 3PLs offer flexibility, allowing you to use more or less warehouse space as your needs change. You benefit from their expertise, ensuring orders are packed correctly and efficiently. Many 3PLs, like Medallion, have warehouses on both coasts to reduce shipping times and costs.
  • Cons: You need to manage the relationship with your 3PL. Onboarding can take time, and it’s crucial to read your contract carefully to avoid unexpected fees.

Key Factors Affecting Fulfillment Value

When evaluating your options, here are a few more factors that contribute to the total value you receive:

  • Shipping Discounts: 3PLs ship in large volumes and often pass their discounted carrier rates on to you. This can be a major source of savings.
  • eCommerce Platform Integrations: Look for a partner that integrates seamlessly with your sales platforms. This saves time and money by automating order processing.
  • Transparent Pricing: Your fulfillment partner should provide clear, upfront pricing. At Medallion, we tailor our pricing to each client, so you only pay for the services you actually need.
  • Service Guarantees: A fulfillment company that stands behind its service with guarantees offers peace of mind and protects you from the costs of their mistakes.

Find the Right Strategy for Your Business

Choosing the right ecommerce fulfillment strategy is a critical decision. Start by assessing your current order volume, business needs, and future growth plans. Do you need the flexibility to scale up or down? Is brand control a top priority? Answering these questions will help you narrow down your options.

Affordable fulfillment is about more than just the lowest price—it’s about finding a partner who provides real value by reducing errors, saving you time, and keeping your customers happy.

If you’re ready to explore a fulfillment solution that grows with your business, contact us at Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics. We’d be happy to provide a customized quote and show you how our scalable services can support your success.

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My Search for a Fulfillment Center Was a Hot Mess. Here’s How I Found My People.

Cat in a cowboy hat in search of a fulfillment center

I remember the exact moment the magic died. My online store, “Cats in Hats” (don’t judge, it’s a lucrative niche), was finally taking off. Orders were pouring in. My apartment, however, had transformed from a cozy living space into a cardboard box labyrinth with a faint, persistent scent of packing tape and catnip. I tripped over a stack of mailers on my way to the coffee machine and realized this wasn’t sustainable. This was a fire hazard with a purring soundtrack.

The solution seemed simple: I needed a fulfillment center. A magical place where my adorable, hat-wearing cat merchandise would be stored, picked, packed, and shipped by organized professionals. I pictured a serene warehouse, possibly with angels singing softly as they placed tiny fedoras on plush felines. The reality of finding this place was, to put it mildly, a journey into the heart of corporate jargon and confusion.

My search began, as all modern quests do, with a frantic Google search. “What is a fulfillment center?” was followed by “3PL for small business” and eventually, “help my apartment is a box fort.” The results were overwhelming. Every website was a sea of acronyms: 3PL, WMS, EDI, FBA… I felt like I was trying to decipher secret government codes, not find someone to mail a cat wearing a sombrero.

The Rabbit Hole of Rate Cards and Robot Overlords

Each company I investigated seemed to fall into one of two categories. First, there were the mega-corporations. Their websites were sleek, filled with videos of intimidatingly efficient robots gliding through warehouses the size of small nations. Their “contact us” forms felt like applying for a top-secret security clearance. I imagined my small inventory of felt berets getting lost in a sea of protein powder and subscription boxes, a tiny fish in an ocean of commerce.

Their rate cards were even scarier. They talked about receiving fees, storage fees (calculated by cubic foot, as if I knew the volumetric dimensions of a fluffy cat), pick-and-pack fees (per-item or per-order?), and something called a “long-term storage penalty.” I started having nightmares about an unpaid invoice leading to my entire inventory being launched into the sun. I just wanted someone to put my stuff in a box and mail it, not solve a complex calculus problem to figure out my monthly bill.

Then there was the other end of the spectrum. The “we’re two guys in a garage” operations. While the personal touch was appealing, their websites looked like they were designed in 1998. The lack of clear information or professional processes gave me visions of my orders being packed by a guy named Chad between rounds of video games. I needed reliability, not just a friendly dude who might misplace a box of tiny propeller beanies.

I was stuck. One side felt too big, too impersonal, and too expensive. The other felt too small and too risky. Where was the Goldilocks of fulfillment? Where was the company that was just right?

What I Really Wanted Was a Fulfillment Partner, Not a Vendor

Through the haze of confusing quotes and soulless corporate websites, I started to realize what I was truly looking for. I wasn’t just outsourcing a task; I was looking for a fulfillment partner to help my business grow.

I needed a team that would actually answer the phone. I wanted to talk to a human being who knew my name and understood that a sudden rush on “Formal Friday” top hats for tabbies was a good thing, not a logistical nightmare. I wanted someone who would treat my products with the same care I did. After all, I’d spent countless hours sourcing those miniature cowboy hats. They deserved respect.

Most importantly, I wanted transparency. No hidden fees, no confusing upcharges. Just a clear, straightforward process from a company that felt like they were on my side. I was starting to believe such a place was a myth, a legend whispered among burned-out Etsy sellers.

Finding the Medallion Family

Just as I was about to give up and accept my fate as the queen of a cardboard kingdom, I stumbled upon a company called Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics. The name sounded solid, dependable. But what really caught my eye was the phrase “family-owned and operated Fulfillment Center.”

Intrigued, I clicked. There were no videos of scary robots. Instead, I found information about a company that had been doing this for years. They talked about partnership, about treating their clients’ businesses as their own. It sounded… nice. It sounded human.

I learned they had two strategic Fulfillment Center locations, one in Los Angeles and another in Boston. This was a game-changer. I could split my inventory and reach my customers on both coasts faster and cheaper. My West Coast cat lovers could get their hats in record time, and so could my East Coast feline fashionistas. It was the reach of a big company with the feel of a local business.

Taking a deep breath, I filled out their contact form, half-expecting another automated email or a week of silence. To my surprise, a real person—a friendly, knowledgeable person—called me back that same day. They didn’t laugh at my “Cats in Hats” business model. In fact, they asked smart questions about my products, my order volume, and my goals. They explained their pricing in simple terms, walking me through every line item until I actually understood it.

There was no jargon, no pressure. It felt less like a sales call and more like a conversation with a wise, experienced friend who just happened to be an expert in logistics. They understood the anxieties of a small business owner because they were a family of business owners themselves.

I knew I had found my people.

Today, my apartment is an apartment again. My cats (the real ones) have room to roam without navigating a box maze. And my business? It’s thriving. My inventory is safe and sound in Medallion’s warehouses in Los Angeles and Boston, and my orders go out on time, every time. When I have a question, I know exactly who to call.

The search for a fulfillment center can feel like a lonely, confusing ordeal. But finding the right one, a team that genuinely cares about your success, makes all the difference. For me, that team was Medallion. They didn’t just give me warehouse space; they gave me peace of mind and became a trusted part of my “Cats in Hats” family.

This humorous post about a fictitious scenario, provides a real-world view of the struggle finding the right Fulfillment Partner that many business owners face.

Visit the Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics website to meet “your people”, the friendly and knowledgeable team at Medallion Fulfillment today.

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Tips for eCommerce Store Black Friday Promotions that Boost Sales

Will you be giving thanks for a successful and profitable Black Friday in 2025? Our fulfillment warehouse staff shares easy and useful tips that will help create momentum to carry your eCommerce store through the holiday selling season.

1. Promote deeply discounted Black Friday deals.

Sales of 10 percent or 20 percent off are common enough during the rest of the year, but they won’t grab the attention of holiday shoppers. Strategically choose items to run for 40 to 50 percent off or even buy-one-get-one free. Leverage bundling of these items to boost the average order value.

2. Segment your marketing campaigns.

Target these specific categories of shoppers, as identified by marketing automation platform Klaviyo:

• Deal-hunters

• Last-minute shoppers

• VIPs

• “Looky-loos”

• Impulse buyers

In addition, come up with a special “sweetener” to entice people who haven’t bought or who came close to purchasing.

3. Prepare the infrastructure.

Everyone’s heard horror stories of eCommerce sites crashing because they can’t handle the surge in business. Install an uptime monitor program that will alert you to possible problems and minimize downtown. Don’t forget to check the loading time, which can be another factor causing a high bounce rate.

4. Optimize for mobile-first buying.

Since 2022, mobile users accounted for nearly three-quarters of Black Friday sales for Shopify merchants. If you’re not already optimized for mobile shopping, there’s no more time to wait.

5. Streamline the checkout process.

Few things will kill an eCommerce sale faster than a cumbersome checkout procedure, especially with impulse shoppers. Features such as one-click buying, and dynamic checkout buttons remove the barriers to closing the sale.

Your #1 Fulfillment Warehouse for Year-Round Success

Whether it’s seasonal fluctuations or general business growth, Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics can handle all the changing needs of your eCommerce business. Contact us today to learn more.

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Holiday Rush: Mastering Inventory Forecasting for Success

Holiday Sales Forecasting with Your Fulfillment Company

The holiday season presents a massive opportunity for e-commerce businesses. Twinkling lights, festive cheer, and a surge in shopping can make it the most profitable time of the year. However, this peak season also brings significant challenges, with the biggest one often being inventory management. Having too much stock ties up capital, while having too little means missed sales and unhappy customers. The key to navigating this delicate balance is mastering inventory forecasting.

This guide will walk you through the essentials of inventory forecasting for the holidays. We will explore what it is, why it’s so critical, and how to implement it effectively. You’ll learn practical strategies to avoid stockouts and overstock, ensuring your business is perfectly positioned for a successful and stress-free holiday rush.

What is Inventory Forecasting?

Inventory forecasting is the process of using historical sales data, market trends, and planned promotions to predict how much stock you’ll need for a future period. It’s more than just a guess; it’s a data-driven strategy to align your inventory levels with anticipated customer demand. Think of it as your business’s crystal ball, helping you see what customers will want to buy and when.

Without accurate forecasting, you’re essentially flying blind. You might run out of a best-selling product, like a popular board game, just as holiday shopping hits its peak. Conversely, you could be left with a warehouse full of unsold seasonal products, like themed coffee mugs, that you have to heavily discount in January. Effective forecasting helps you avoid both of these costly scenarios.

Why Forecasting is Crucial During the Holidays

The holiday season amplifies every aspect of e-commerce, from marketing to shipping. Demand can skyrocket unpredictably, supply chains can face delays, and customer expectations are at an all-time high. Here’s why a solid forecasting plan is non-negotiable during this period.

Prevent Costly Stockouts

A stockout is one of the quickest ways to lose a sale and a customer. When a shopper is ready to buy a gift and finds it’s unavailable, they won’t wait. They will simply go to a competitor. During the holidays, this problem is magnified. Lost sales from stockouts can decimate your projected revenue and damage your brand’s reputation for reliability.

Imagine a customer searching for a specific set of high-end, wireless headphones for a gift. If your store is out of stock, you’ve not only lost that immediate high-value sale but also any future business from that disappointed shopper.

Avoid Overstock and Tied-Up Capital

The opposite problem, overstocking, is just as damaging. Excess inventory ties up cash that could be used for marketing, new product development, or other growth initiatives. It also increases carrying costs, which include expenses for storage, insurance, and potential spoilage or obsolescence. This is especially true for seasonal items. If you over-order a festive-themed skincare set, you’ll be forced to sell it at a steep discount after the holidays, cutting deep into your profit margins.

Enhance Customer Satisfaction

Modern consumers expect a seamless shopping experience. They want to find what they’re looking for, buy it easily, and receive it quickly. Accurate inventory forecasting is the foundation of this experience. By having the right products in stock, you meet customer expectations and build loyalty. A happy customer who finds their desired product available is more likely to return for future purchases and recommend your brand to others.

Optimize Warehouse Operations

A well-forecasted inventory plan makes life easier for your fulfillment team. When you know what’s coming and when, you can prepare your warehouse for efficient receiving, storing, and picking. This leads to faster order processing times—a critical factor for holiday shoppers who need their gifts to arrive on time. With a partner like Medallion Fulfillment, a precise forecast allows us to allocate the necessary space and labor to handle your peak season volume without a hitch.

Practical Tips for Holiday Inventory Forecasting

Ready to build your forecast? Here are some actionable steps to help you prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

1. Analyze Last Year’s Sales Data

Your historical data is your most valuable asset. Look at your sales from the previous holiday season.

  • Identify best-sellers: Which products flew off the shelves?
  • Pinpoint sales spikes: On which days or weeks did you see the most activity (e.g., Black Friday, Cyber Monday, the week before Christmas)?
  • Analyze slow-movers: What products didn’t sell as well as expected?

For example, if your data shows a 300% sales increase for a specific [artisanal candle scent] in the first two weeks of December, use that as a baseline for this year’s order.

2. Factor in Current Trends and Growth

Your business isn’t the same as it was last year. Consider your year-over-year growth rate. If your sales have been growing at an average of 20% each quarter, you should apply that growth factor to last year’s holiday numbers. Also, stay on top of market trends. Is there a viral TikTok trend driving interest in a particular type of [product]? Is a new color or style becoming popular in the fashion world? Incorporate these external factors into your predictions.

3. Account for Marketing and Promotions

Your marketing plans will directly impact sales. If you’re planning a major Black Friday discount on a specific [electronic gadget], you need to increase your forecast for that item accordingly.

  • List all planned promotions: Email campaigns, social media ads, influencer collaborations, and discounts.
  • Estimate the lift: Project how much of a sales increase you expect from each promotion.
  • Communicate with your team: Ensure your marketing and inventory teams are aligned so that stock levels can support your advertising efforts.

4. Understand Supplier Lead Times

How long does it take for your suppliers to deliver your orders? Lead times can often increase during the busy holiday season. Contact your suppliers well in advance to understand their holiday schedules and potential delays. Place your orders early to build in a buffer for unexpected issues. If it normally takes four weeks to receive a shipment of your custom-branded [athletic wear], assume it might take five or six weeks during Q4.

How Medallion Fulfillment Can Help

Navigating holiday inventory is complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. Partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider like Medallion Fulfillment can transform your inventory management from a source of stress into a competitive advantage.

Our advanced inventory management system provides real-time visibility into your stock levels across all sales channels. You can easily track inventory, monitor sales velocity, and set low-stock alerts to prevent stockouts before they happen. We help you turn data into actionable insights.

By outsourcing your fulfillment to Medallion, you gain access to our expertise and infrastructure. We work with you to understand your forecasts and prepare our operations to manage your holiday surge seamlessly. Our streamlined receiving process ensures your products are checked in and made available for sale quickly, while our efficient pick-and-pack services guarantee that customer orders go out the door on time, every time. This frees you up to focus on what you do best: growing your business.

A Successful Holiday Season Starts Now

Effective inventory forecasting is the backbone of a successful holiday season. It empowers you to meet customer demand, maximize sales, and protect your profit margins. By analyzing historical data, staying on top of trends, and planning for promotions, you can create a data-driven forecast that sets you up for success.

Don’t let poor inventory management stand between you and your most profitable quarter. Start planning today and consider partnering with an expert like Medallion Fulfillment to ensure your operations are as ready for the holidays as your customers are.