Starting Your Own Online eCommerce Business Part 1

eCommerce Business Concept

As more customers shop online instead of in stores, opening an eCommerce online store can be a lucrative idea. Opening this kind of business might seem simple compared to opening a brick-and-mortar shop. However, it’s important to make sure your online store is fully ready. From coming up with a business concept to partnering with a fulfillment warehouse, keep the following guide in mind for opening an online store.

Choose a Business Concept

What kinds of products are you planning on selling? Some online stores sell a variety of products, while others specialize in certain items only. Think of the types of products you’re interested in selling to the public.

Check Out the Competition

Before diving into eCommerce, it’s important to be familiar with your competition. Do research on other businesses that sell similar products as your store. Look at how much they charge for their items and what kinds of discounts and specials they offer.

Write a Business Plan

Your business plan gives you a road map to refer to as you work on getting your online business up and running. This plan should include an executive summary, market analysis, company description, mission, and product information.

Decide on a Business Structure

The structure of your online store affects taxes and other financial aspects of your business. Explore the pros and cons of different structures, such as limited liability partnerships (LLPs), corporations, and limited liability companies (LLCs).

Take Care of Registration and Licenses

When you have a store name and decide on a structure, it’s time to register your business. You’ll also need to obtain any licenses and permits your company needs for legal purposes.

Looking to team up with a fulfillment warehouse for your online business? Contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics for more information on our services.

Five Essential Benefits of a 3PL Warehouse for Your Small Business

Science technology concept. AI (Artificial Intelligence). Deep learning.

When you are trying to grow your small business, handling all of the tasks involved in your supply chain can be challenging and time-consuming. The use of third-party logistics (3PL), such as a fulfillment warehouse, can take these tasks off your hands, so you can focus on other aspects of your business. Using 3PL warehouse solutions offers the following benefits for small businesses.

Better Customer Satisfaction

Using a 3PL warehouse means your customers can receive their packages on time. This helps your business build a reputation for being reliable. Timely package shipping and deliveries result in customers who are more satisfied with your business.

Reduced Costs

A 3PL warehouse solution can help your small business save on operating costs and other expenses. Using this type of service means you will not have to spend money on renting a warehouse, transporting goods, and handling other logistics tasks on your own.

Expanded Markets

Using a 3PL warehouse can make it easier and more cost-effective for your business to expand into new markets. You will have greater access to other markets, while saving money on the cost of managing inventory in these markets.

Increased Scalability

When you use 3PL solutions, you will have the adjust the use of supply chain resources based on how busy your business currently is. This scalability helps reduce waste when business is slow or quickly meet customer needs when business picks up.

Knowledge and Expertise

Relying on a 3PL warehouse to handle your fulfillment needs means you can depend on their expertise and guidance. They can help you expand into new markets, including overseas markets, while ensuring compliance with international regulations.

If you need a dependable fulfillment warehouse to help your business grow, please contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics to learn more about our services.

The Top 3 Benefits of a 3PL Warehouse Partner

3PL Parners

Running a retail business can be lucrative, but it comes with certain challenges. With more customers purchasing items online, making sure orders are fulfilled as quickly and efficiently as possible can be difficult. Partnering with a fulfillment company that offers third party logistics (3PL) services is a smart solution. Working with a 3PL warehouse partner can provide your company with the following advantages.

Reduced Risks

From supply chain problems to product shortages, businesses can run into many issues that cause delays. This can have a ripple effect that leads to less business overall as customers turn to other companies to purchase the products they want or need. While you can’t prevent some of these problems from occurring, working with a 3PL warehouse partner can help mitigate these risks. Your 3PL partner can explore possible solutions to these issues, while you focus on other areas of your business.

Faster Delivery Times

Customers who make online purchases expect to receive them as soon as possible. Instead of having to wait several days or weeks for the items they buy, they look for businesses who offer fast deliveries, such as next-day or even same-day delivery. Handling this on your own can be incredibly tough to do. However, your 3PL warehouse partner can help ensure that customers are able to receive their purchases in a much shorter timeframe.

Lower Costs

Having a 3PL warehouse partner can lead to lower shipping costs. These businesses are in a better position to negotiate rates with shipping companies, which can help you save money on the cost of shipping your products to customers. With these savings, you’ll have more room in your budget to spend on marketing or other areas.

If you need a reliable fulfillment company to help your business thrive, please contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics.

Essential Warehousing Safety Tips from Osha

Warehouse Safety

Warehouses are busy workplaces that involve a lot of traffic as workers load and unload items, stock inventory, and fulfill orders. Running a fulfillment warehouse means knowing how to keep workers as safe as possible from accidents, including slips, trips, and falls. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers the following warehouse safety tips to reduce the risk of these injuries.

Provide Training and Retraining

Ensure that all workers receive training on safety issues, such as properly using personal protective equipment and other safety equipment. Plan on retraining workers as needed, such as workplace changes take place. Training and retraining are important parts of reducing the risk of accidents and injuries in warehouses.

Use Ladders Safely

Warehouse workers should have three points of contact when going up and down ladders. They should also avoid carrying loads that can throw off their balance on ladders. Ensure that all ladders are regularly inspected, and only use portable ladders on surfaces that are flat and stable. These steps can help reduce the risk of falls and other accidents involving ladders in warehouses.

Maintain Safe Floors

Cords and other clutter on warehouse floors can lead to trips and falls, which can result in serious injuries. Maintain clear floors at all times to help prevent these kinds of injuries and accidents. Use rubber mats or other dry surfaces for warehouse workers to stand and walk on when floors are damp or slippery.

Make Loading Docks Safe and Secure

Have fall protection systems in place on loading dock platforms that have unprotected sides. Any portable dockboards that are in use should have handholds to prevent falls and other accidents.

If you’re exploring options to improve efficiency and boost your business, such as partnering with a fulfillment warehouse, please contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics.

Warehousing or Fulfillment Service – Understanding Your Needs

Warehouse Worker Pulling Boxes Down to Fulfill an Order.

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.