{"id":14100,"date":"2022-04-06T14:55:52","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T21:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaeljbrumm.com\/dcl-v3\/?p=14100"},"modified":"2024-06-10T09:14:54","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T16:14:54","slug":"tips-for-startups-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaeljbrumm.com\/dcl-v3\/blog\/fulfillment\/tips-for-startups-small-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Fulfillment Tips for Startups, Small Ecommerce Businesses, and Digitally Native Brands"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is relatively easy, these days, to start selling products online. There are many off-the-shelf tools that small product companies can use to quickly build an online shop.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What isn\u2019t so easy is packaging products, <\/span>choosing the right shipping carrier<\/span><\/a>, and keeping customers happy with quality, on-time fulfilment.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some big considerations for startups and small brands to keep in mind when planning their ecommerce fulfillment strategy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider Outsourcing Right Away<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many small businesses intend to handle order fulfillment and shipping on their own. They may not realize how much time it takes to pick, pack, and ship orders. While it is often manageable for a while, it\u2019s probably not sustainable.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you think you won\u2019t have the time or resources to fulfill your products accurately and on-time, seek out a fulfillment provider who has experience with startups.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Third-party logistics is the act of outsourcing distribution, warehousing, and fulfillment services to a business. Many ecommerce companies hire third-party logistics providers (called a 3PL) to ensure their products are accurately stored, inventoried, packaged, labeled, and sent to the correct carrier. The most important factor when outsourcing is <\/span>finding the right third-party logistics partner<\/span><\/a> for your brand\u2019s needs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While it may appear cheaper to fulfill products in-house, it the cost of outsourcing usually far outweighs the time and headaches of managing fulfillment yourself.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The biggest benefits for startups and small businesses to outsource fulfillment to a 3PL include:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Grow your customer base. An experienced 3PL will have relationships to help get your brand into <\/span>new sales channels<\/span><\/a>, whether that\u2019s retail, online marketplaces, or international markets.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    1. Best practices are at your fingertips. Working with experts means you get the best quality and industry knowledge. If you\u2019re wondering how to switch carriers, chances are your 3PL will help walk you through that process.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      1. Differentiation in the market. Have you ever ordered a product for a friend and been able to send a custom message with it? That\u2019s a value-added service. From procurement to assembly work, re-flashing software, and using special eco-friendly packing materials, working with a 3PL who offers value-added services will create new ways to differentiate your brand and keep you competitive in the market.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Figure Out What Your Customer Wants<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Fulfillment is the last stop before your goods get to your fans. Your fulfillment practices should be informed by what will resonate the most with your customers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        A beauty brand will likely add much more flair, and less instructions to their packaging than a medical device. A\u00a0nutritional supplement will need far less security in their packaging than\u00a0a high-value camera. Choose the branding, packing materials, and shipping service that meets your customer’s needs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        While you\u2019re trying to grow your customer base, put thought and planning into your fulfillment process. Give your customers a great unboxing experience. If you choose to <\/span>outsource fulfillment to a 3PL<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll have experts helping you put your fulfillment ideas into practice.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        There are also the ebbs and flows of seasonality to consider. Most ecommerce brands have a very busy and hectic holiday season. If you do fulfillment in-house, during peak season you\u2019ll likely spend all of your time fulfilling orders and answering customer support requests\u2014that leaves no time for team building, customer support, marketing, fundraising, and more.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Automate Communication When You Can<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Customer support is a huge part of fulfillment. While digitally native brands may be great at social media and online branding it\u2019s not the only type of customer communication. Small brands often scramble to create customer support documentation like FAQs, product guides, and return support\u2014all of these are an integral part of your overall fulfillment.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        It can be very time consuming to keep up and resolve customer issues quickly. A big part of customer satisfaction is having support tools ready for the customer before they need it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        To create time saving strategies, small brands should automate customer communication whenever they can. Here are some examples:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n