The work of a successful crowdfunding campaign isn’t complete until you have rewards in the hands of your backers—which relies on efficient order fulfillment and shipping. The fulfillment process for crowdfunding ventures is similar to that of traditional ecommerce stores. It involves receiving shipments, storing them, processing orders, and shipping them to customers. Here’s what…
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Planning Your Warehouse Layout: 5 Steps to an Efficient Warehouse Floor Plan + Examples
The efficiency of any warehouse operation is dependent on its layout and design. From manufacturing and assembly to order fulfillment and shipping, a sound warehouse floor plan will help you minimize costs and maximize productivity. Before launching your warehouse design and layout planning process, consider your needs—from space utilization, storage options, and productivity equipment to…
What Is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a retail business model in which an ecommerce merchant sells physical products without keeping inventory in stock. The retailer acts as an online storefront where customers purchase goods, and orders are fulfilled by a third-party manufacturer or wholesaler. For entrepreneurs, dropshipping is a low-cost and low-risk way to sell online because it requires…
How to Start a Dropshipping Business in 6 Steps
To start a dropshipping store, you need an initial investment of $100–$500 for platform fees and marketing, a computer with internet access, and plenty of time for research and setup (along with five to 10 hours a week in ongoing management of your new operation). Unlike standard ecommerce ventures, you don’t need to buy expensive…
How to Offer Free Shipping on Your Products
While ecommerce free shipping used to be a luxury convenience, it has now become an expectation for modern shoppers. There are two types of free shipping offers: free shipping under certain circumstances (conditional free shipping) and across-the-board free shipping (unconditional free shipping). Both offers can be costly—but they don’t have to hurt your bottom line….
In-House Fulfillment vs Fulfillment Center: Ultimate Guide for 2021
Ecommerce order fulfillment includes receiving merchandise, storing inventory, processing orders, packing them for shipment, and sending them off to the customer. It requires a hefty amount of time and resources. Businesses can perform their own order fulfillment in-house (or in a rented facility), or opt to outsource the operation to a fulfillment center run by…
2021 Redhawk Logistics Review: Services, Pricing & Alternatives
is a small-business-friendly 3PL company that provides freight shipping, warehousing, and distribution services across the US, Canada, and Mexico. The company mainly offers freight brokerage through its network of 70+ vetted carriers. Each client receives transportation management software and personalized support. When to Use Redhawk Logistics Redhawk Logistics is a full-service freight broker offering added…
2021 FreightPros Review: Services, Pricing & Alternatives
is a full-service freight broker that provides access to its database of recommended carriers with discounted rates. Its freight solutions include less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipping, truckload shipping, temperature-controlled freight, and expedited and time-critical freight solutions. Its pricing is customized, and it’s recommended for small to midsize businesses. When to Use FreightPros FreightPros’ brokerage services save…
2021 Whitebox Fulfillment Review: Services, Pricing, and Alternatives
is a unique 3PL (third-party logistics) company that provides full-service marketplace management solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The company consists of an order fulfillment operation and a separate marketing agency—the two of which are usually used in tandem by Whitebox clients. The company’s main focus is on Amazon, although it can fulfill multichannel…
FedEx Fulfillment 2021 Review: Services, Pricing, and Alternatives
is a subsidiary of the FedEx Corporation that provides third-party logistics (3PL), including warehousing, order fulfillment, and shipping. The platform appeals to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with its low order minimums, cost-effective services, and ramp-up onboarding period. FedEx’s fulfillment operation taps into the parent company’s well-established network of services to provide comprehensive, end-to-end supply…
2021 Fulfillment by Amazon Review: Pricing, Features, and Alternatives
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a 3PL company that offers multichannel order fulfillment services geared toward Amazon sales. It handles receiving, storage, pick & pack, shipping, customer service, refunds, and returns management for each order. FBA is best for Amazon-based sellers, ecommerce retailers, and brick-and-mortar stores looking to venture into online selling. Its wide network…
ShipMonk 2021 Review: Fulfillment Services, Pricing, and Alternatives
is a third-party logistics company (3PL) for small and medium-sized businesses that provides warehousing, order fulfillment, and shipping solutions. It enables business owners to focus on achieving scalable growth by outsourcing labor-intensive tasks to a specialized provider. ShipMonk’s tech-forward platform aims to reduce fulfillment costs and increase operational accuracy through robotic automation and advanced WMS…