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.

Steps to Choosing The Right Fulfillment Partner for Your Business

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In both your personal and professional life, choosing the right partner is a serious decision with far-reaching effects. When you’re ready to pick a fulfillment company, follow these steps to make an informed choice.

1. Does the company meet your needs?

Most fulfillment companies, anxious to secure your business, will assure you that they can meet your needs, even without knowing what they are. Don’t take their word for it. Do some due diligence and ask questions that reveal the company’s capabilities and limitations:

  • Can they provide support across all your sales channels?
  • Is the company active within your industry?
  • Do they make use of the latest high-tech tools, or are they lagging behind the times?

2. Can the company scale along with you?

It’s inconvenient and disruptive (not in a good way!) when you have to find a new fulfillment service because your business has outgrown the capabilities of the current one. Look for a fulfillment partner that can scale with you over the long term, as well as during seasonal fluctuations.

3. Does the company offer a full range of shipping solutions?

Shipping can make or break an eCommerce company. Consumers have become accustomed to timely and cost-effective delivery. If you can’t provide it, they’ll turn to your competition.

4. What is the fulfillment company’s professional reputation?

It can be tempting to partner with a new and inexperienced fulfillment service that will eagerly promise you the moon. Don’t risk your own business by being a learning experience for another company. When a company has extensive experience and quality references, you can trust them to follow through on their commitments.

Your Top Choice for a Fulfillment Company

At Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, your success is our success. Contact us today for more information.

Changing Trends in Apparel eCommerce Will Lead to Greater Need of Warehouse Space

Animated Man Looking Through Binoculars at Future eCommerce Fulfillment Trends.

The rise in online shopping in recent years has affected many consumer markets, including apparel. An increasing number of shoppers are becoming more comfortable with purchasing clothing online instead of in brick-and-mortar stores. The latest trends in apparel eCommerce point to a growing need for online businesses to invest in warehouse space, such as partnering with an apparel fulfillment warehouse.

Increased Online Shopping

One of the biggest trends in eCommerce is that more consumers are shopping online, especially in some parts of the U.S. Consumers in the eastern U.S. are turning to online stores more overall. Online shopping is expected to remain stable. This makes it important for apparel eCommerce owners to make sure they have plenty of space for storing clothing items, so that orders can be handled right away.

Consumer Loyalty

More and more online shoppers stay loyal to certain retailers or brands when shopping for apparel. Many of these turn to fast-fashion stores and specialty stores that they’ve shopped at in the past. Building a loyal customer base can help online apparel stores thrive and stay ahead of the competition. Part of encouraging customers to remain loyal involves ensuring that their orders are fulfilled and shipped as quickly as possible.

Social Media

Roughly a third of adults in the U.S. consider social media an influence on their apparel purchases. Some of these consumers are inspired to buy fashion products after watching or seeing social media influencers wear them or recommend them. Making use of social media can help apparel eCommerce owners benefit from this trend.

If you’re looking for a fulfillment warehouse for your apparel eCommerce store, please contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics. We can provide your business with the space needed to fulfill orders promptly in order to ensure customer loyalty.

Smart Tips for Increasing eCommerce Sales – Many That Are Actionable with Minimal Effort

Female entrepreneur sitting at a desk with orders.

Does the term “marketing plan” conjure up visions of intricate programs requiring large investments of time and money? While it’s true that increasing ecommerce sales involves some effort, the adage, “Work smarter, not harder” also applies to online retailing.

Watch your sales grow when you incorporate these quick, easy and effective tips. Our ecommerce fulfillment services are ready to handle your needs every step of the way.

1. Honesty Is the Best Policy

How important is customer satisfaction? Studies show that companies have an average success rate of 60 to 70 percent when selling to existing customers, compared to 5 to 20 percent with new ones. Combine that with the five times more it can cost to acquire a new customer, and the picture is clear. Keeping existing customers happy is a top priority.

But you can’t assume that someone who bought from you once will buy from you again. If their customer experience falls short of the glowing promises made on your website, they won’t be back. Review your copy and make sure it’s consistent with your brand.

2. Foster a Sense of Trust

Thanks to the rise of social media, people post reviews about everything from restaurants to auto repair shops. Did you know that, according to Inc. Magazine, 84 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations?

Leverage this power by placing genuine testimonials in strategic spots on your website, such as product and pricing pages. Another way to build credibility is by posting trust signals, which are logos indicating membership in professional associations and other reassuring information.

3. Create a Sense of Urgency

Social media has given rise to an astounding amount of acronyms, with one of the more popular ones being FOMO, or “fear of missing out.” If buyers are still on the fence, you can often tip the scales with limited-time offers such as discounts, free shipping or bonus gifts. Have your marketing perform double-duty with pop-up windows displaying opt-in offers, such as a 10 percent discount for joining your email list.

4. Avoid Information Overload

Have you ever been lured into an online rabbit hole, where you had to make so many decisions you finally became intimidated and quit? Having an extensive product offering may seem like an advantage, but it can backfire if it creates paralysis by analysis in your potential customers.

Stop trying to be all things to all people. Give shoppers well-defined categories and a carefully curated selection of options that will appeal to the broadest range possible without veering into overload.

5. Streamline the Checkout Process

Online checkout is another black hole in which customers frequently get lost. Business Insider reports that a staggering $4 trillion worth of purchases were left behind in shopping carts last year. For an ecommerce business, any abandoned sales are too many.

Make a purchase on your own website and see where the procedure ranks on the frustration scale. Note any specific bottlenecks or time-eaters and have them corrected immediately.

6. Optimize Your Site for Mobile Searching

If your website isn’t optimized for mobile searching, what are you waiting for? Mobile usage has already overtaken desktop usage, and the share continues to grow. Can you afford to be left behind?

When your site is optimized for mobile, your products are literally at buyers’ fingertips no matter where they are. Even if the sale isn’t converted during the first session, it’s more likely to close later because you’ve made it easier.

Medallion: Your Premier Choice for Ecommerce Fulfillment Services

Partner with Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics, a fulfillment service that can grow along with you. Contact us to learn how we can handle your needs from both coasts today.

Trends Continuing to Shape eCommerce in 2023

Graphs and Electronics on a Table Depicting eCommerce and Warehousing Trends

Online merchants are exploring or implementing ways to improve customer experiences and ensure safety for online payments. Whether online store owners handle everything themselves or use a fulfillment company, it’s important to be aware of these trends. The following are some of the top trends in eCommerce this year.

Fraud Detection

Many online store owners are looking into new tools that help with fraud detection. This helps lower the risk of phishing attacks and other kinds of fraud. Some store owners are planning on using better fraud analytics, while others are focusing on improving automated detection accuracy and improving the process of chargeback disputes.

Chatbots and Other Digital Tools

Online merchants are turning to chatbots to help improve customer experience, since these bots are able to reply to questions or concerns quickly. Online store owners are also making use of connected devices that offer touchless transactions and a more streamline experience on multiple channels.

New Payment Methods

An increasing number of online store owners are offering other payment methods, such as digital wallets. Other payment methods that online merchants are adding include buy now pay later (BNPL) and localized digital payment methods, such as account-to-account transactions. Offering additional payment methods helps improve the customer experience.

Machine Learning and AI

Some online merchants are using machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) to handle certain applications, such as authorizing payments and improving fraud management.

Fulfillment Companies

As eCommerce increases, more online merchants are using fulfillment companies to process and fulfill orders, ship merchandise to customers, and handle other tasks. This helps online store owners ensure efficiency and customer satisfaction.

If you’re looking for the right fulfillment company to help your online store thrive, contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics. We offer order processing, internet store fulfillment, 3PL services, and much more.