Planning for 2015 Holiday Shipping

During the dog days of summer, it seems as if the holidays reside far in the distant future.  The reality is that your preparations for the holiday season should be well under way by now!  Just a few of the steps you should be working through are:

1. Forecasting 2015 holiday sales.
2. Assessing your current inventory against the forecast, translating that into inventory requirements, and beginning to coordinate with your suppliers.
3. Planning your logistics management to keep a close eye on your inbound product.
4. Determining how you’ll store and manage that inventory when it arrives.
5. Defining your sales strategy
6. Monitoring key holiday shipping dates and costs – and their impact on your strategy and bottom line:
• UPS: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/about/news/service_updates/20150806_transit_time.html?WT.mc_id=VAN701482
• FedEx: http://www.fedex.com/us/service-guide/holiday-schedule.html

A commonly understated component in your sales strategy is shipping to your consumers – how fast will the order get to the customer, and will shipping be discounted or free?  Will delivery speed and cost vary based on the customer and or order size?  Will you offer discounted or free shipping when you follow up on abandoned online shopping carts as an incentive to close the sale?  In addition, what are your options to make the delivery, and ensure the customer’s experience is positive and their expectations are met?  No one wants a replay of the 2013 holiday season, with gifts arriving after the big day!

Your fulfillment partner can help you ensure that you meet your shipping deadlines, all the while still balancing the highest degree of customer support and flexibility.  They can be a key partner in crafting your inventory and shipping strategies.  Have that discussion now, and sleep better tonight!

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

Why Your 3PL Should Be Your Strategic Partner

The need to manage and reduce costs is nothing new.  And the centralization of logistics services and automation offered by 3PLs have enabled companies to bundle and outsource complex logistics functions, leading to more efficient operations and in many cases, allowing the companies to capitalize on the 3PLs infrastructure, resources and relationships.   All good so far, right?

The problem arises when those companies begin to view the 3PL as a commodity provider rather than a strategic partner.  “The recent white paper, “Unpacking Risk Shifting: A White Paper Challenging Unreasonable Risk-Shifting in the Transportation Industry,” written by what could be viewed as a collection of logistics “all-stars,” including academics, 3PLs and shippers, and consultants, makes the argument that the relationships have swung too far toward commoditization and away from strategic partnerships.  Companies “…want innovation and investment by 3PLs, with 3PLs reluctant to deliver, citing how ‘razor thin margins and short-term commodity-based contracts create a disincentive for 3PLs to make investments.’”¹   That’s bad for both sides of the transaction:  3PLs may turn away business, or even go out of business.  Companies may not be able to find a 3PL willing to work with them.  Both sides lose.

Contrast that with a more balanced relationship that builds on the success of both the company and the 3PL.  As a strategic partner, your 3PL is in a position to invest in the future, supporting the success of both organizations.  They can be the innovative solution provider that your company relies on, rather than just the folks who get the package from point A to point B.  When the next crisis or amazing opportunity arises, will you have a strategic 3PL partner to help you solve the problem or capitalize on that great new opportunity?  

Talk to Vision today, to learn how we can be your strategic 3PL partner, building a future together.  Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

¹http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/shifting_risk_and_meeting_in_the_middle_could_serve_as_key_to_shipper_3pl_r