Businesses have to start somewhere, be it in a spare bedroom or a garage, and most businesses reach a point where they need to expand and meet the increased demand of its customers. The two main factors affecting expanding businesses are time and space. Owners soon find themselves with insufficient time to market their products and not enough space to operate from.
So what happens when your small crafts business goes from having a useful of customers to hundreds? That daily trip to the post office to post out your orders becomes almost impossible and counter-productive to your business. An hour late packaging items up to pretty embellished boxes or sifting through returned items could be harnessed elsewhere. Your garage becomes insufficient to house the number of orders and the added stress of constantly keeping them safe from the elements becomes an issue.
It does not matter how pretty or well-made your product is if the delivery or quality of service is shoddy then this can have a detrimental effect on your business. And it's not because you do not care or want to provide the best for your loyal customers- it's simply because you do not have the time or space to meet demand.
That's where ecommerce fulfillment services can be of huge advantage to companies experiencing growth.
E-commerce fulfillment companies can provide you with everything from call center operations, e-warehousing, returns processing, distribution, dispatch, pick and pack to web-based stock management and, above all, peace of mind. All of these services make for a more professional and reliable business which is key in seeing your customers returning regularly.
Fulfillment companies are experts in caring for your products and housing them in the best suitable conditions – no more worried about the leaky garage roof ruining your stock. All of your products are measured / weighed and registered to enable you to carry out remote stock counts. Once an order is placed, they are picked, packed and dispatched.
So, what are the important aspects to consider when deciding on a fulfillment company to partner with?
Personally the main two would have to be Trust and Price.
If you're leaving your products in their hands, you need to trust that your chosen partner will look after your stock as you would and will deliver your products in the condition your customers expect. In terms of price, there is no point in investing in a fulfillment company where the costs erode your margin too heavily. In the same sense, a service that is too cheap may not reflect the quality of your brand or products. The key is to invest in a partner with prices that suit your business model and deliver a quality of service that matches your brand.
For peace of mind and the smooth running of your business, investing in fulfillment services is a small price to pay that could make the difference between success or failure.
And the guinea pigs can have their winter home back again.
