Thinking of outsourcing order fulfillment? Here’s what to know!
12/09/24 • 28 min
In Episode 35 of the Retail Success Series Podcast, we dive into one of the biggest decisions product-based businesses face—how to manage order fulfillment. Should you continue packing orders in-house, or is it time to partner with a third-party logistics provider (3PL)? Host Nicole Keleher shares her personal journey from handling orders herself to outsourcing fulfillment, detailing the pros, cons, and surprising insights along the way. If you’ve spent countless hours packing orders this holiday season, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration to help you rethink your approach for 2025.
Nicole recounts how outsourcing started as a quick-fix solution during a staff shortage but eventually transformed her business operations. She explores the initial fears many business owners face—losing control, sacrificing personalization, and increased costs—and explains how these concerns were resolved through strategic planning and partnership with the right 3PL provider. Nicole also provides insider tips on managing large or fragile inventory, negotiating fair rates, and ensuring seamless customer experiences with a third-party warehouse.
For product-based businesses feeling overwhelmed by fulfillment, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Nicole shares lessons learned from costly mistakes, including navigating delivery cost glitches and inefficient inventory systems. She highlights the importance of asking the right questions when selecting a 3PL and outlines the unexpected benefits, like faster dispatch times, lower shipping rates, and the ability to scale quickly during busy sales seasons. Whether you’re an online-only retailer or managing both e-commerce and a brick-and-mortar store, this episode can help you streamline fulfillment and reclaim your time.
If the thought of another chaotic holiday season leaves you stressed, this episode is your roadmap to smoother operations in 2025. Nicole’s experience shows how outsourcing fulfillment doesn’t just save time—it can also reduce costs, improve logistics, and free you to focus on growth and customer relationships. Tune in for practical tips on finding the right 3PL partner, negotiating fair terms, and maintaining that personal touch that keeps customers coming back.
Instagram: @theretailmarketers
Website: theretailmarketers.com
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@theretailmarketers
In Episode 35 of the Retail Success Series Podcast, we dive into one of the biggest decisions product-based businesses face—how to manage order fulfillment. Should you continue packing orders in-house, or is it time to partner with a third-party logistics provider (3PL)? Host Nicole Keleher shares her personal journey from handling orders herself to outsourcing fulfillment, detailing the pros, cons, and surprising insights along the way. If you’ve spent countless hours packing orders this holiday season, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration to help you rethink your approach for 2025.
Nicole recounts how outsourcing started as a quick-fix solution during a staff shortage but eventually transformed her business operations. She explores the initial fears many business owners face—losing control, sacrificing personalization, and increased costs—and explains how these concerns were resolved through strategic planning and partnership with the right 3PL provider. Nicole also provides insider tips on managing large or fragile inventory, negotiating fair rates, and ensuring seamless customer experiences with a third-party warehouse.
For product-based businesses feeling overwhelmed by fulfillment, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Nicole shares lessons learned from costly mistakes, including navigating delivery cost glitches and inefficient inventory systems. She highlights the importance of asking the right questions when selecting a 3PL and outlines the unexpected benefits, like faster dispatch times, lower shipping rates, and the ability to scale quickly during busy sales seasons. Whether you’re an online-only retailer or managing both e-commerce and a brick-and-mortar store, this episode can help you streamline fulfillment and reclaim your time.
If the thought of another chaotic holiday season leaves you stressed, this episode is your roadmap to smoother operations in 2025. Nicole’s experience shows how outsourcing fulfillment doesn’t just save time—it can also reduce costs, improve logistics, and free you to focus on growth and customer relationships. Tune in for practical tips on finding the right 3PL partner, negotiating fair terms, and maintaining that personal touch that keeps customers coming back.
Instagram: @theretailmarketers
Website: theretailmarketers.com
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@theretailmarketers
Previous Episode
Defining your Business for Success
In today's episode Nicole shares her thoughts on how we can define our retail business to ensure a Customer First thinking. Stop thinking about what you sell and start thinking about the problem you solve.
Instagram: @theretailmarketers
Website: theretailmarketers.com
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@theretailmarketers
Next Episode
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Planning Sessions
Are you ready to make 2025 your most successful year yet? In this episode of the Retail Success Series, host Nicole Keleher shares a powerful strategy for evaluating your business and planning for growth. Drawing inspiration from her seasonal review process, aptly named "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," Nicole reveals how to assess what worked, what didn’t, and what needs a complete overhaul to set your business up for success.
Nicole kicks off the episode by explaining the importance of reflection and honest evaluation. She highlights how breaking down your business operations into categories—products, processes, staff management, and customer interactions—can provide clarity and actionable insights. By focusing first on gathering raw feedback without filtering or problem-solving, you create a foundation for strategic planning that prioritizes growth and efficiency.
Throughout the episode, Nicole shares practical tips for conducting this review with your team, ensuring they feel empowered to provide honest feedback. From identifying small tweaks that enhance performance to recognizing major problem areas requiring deeper fixes, this method simplifies the planning process. She also explains how to use these insights beyond annual reviews, applying the process after major events like holiday sales, promotions, or seasonal launches.
Listeners will walk away with a step-by-step framework for conducting their own "Good, Bad, and Ugly" sessions. Nicole emphasizes the importance of capturing feedback while it’s fresh, ensuring you’re ready to implement changes that improve your bottom line and create a more enjoyable, fulfilling business.
Tune in now to discover how this simple yet powerful process can transform your retail business and set the stage for a successful and rewarding 2025!
Instagram: @theretailmarketers
Website: theretailmarketers.com
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@theretailmarketers
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