Dropshipping is mostly known for it’s hands-off approach to fulfillment. That’s the main appeal to many (justifiably) fulfillment-averse merchants, but its benefits aren’t restricted to just that. A lesser-known and more inventory-centered perk to dropshipping is product testing. It’s all of the fulfillment appeal to dropshipping without the…
We recently talked about how online merchants may want to consider wholesaling. But it isn’t like e-retailers can only choose one or the other – operating in both areas at the same time is a possibility. But just as wholesaling itself has some pros and cons, operating as…
Oftentimes, it seems like selling online is centered exclusively on the retail side of things. B2C images pop up of a merchant taking orders, wrapping them up, shipping them off, and interacting customers on their channels. But there’s a lesser-known side to selling online (and offline, for that…
For many retailers, out-of-stock status is a big peril when selling online. Damage can be significant – not only is a lack of inventory a lack of sales, it can also seriously harm customer relationships. There’s a lower chance you’ll be able to lure a potential first-time customer…
With the record breaking performance of online stores this past holiday season, there’s something inevitable that all merchants will be dealing with – returns. Although some may hate dealing with the crap that is returns management, it’s an opportunity to learn and correct a potential problem with future fulfillment.…
Last week, we covered part of Software Advice’s research on how integrated order management systems can impact ecommerce performance. But that was only the first wheel of their findings; let’s tackle the rest. The Wheels on the Ecommerce Business Go Round and Round There are multiple parts to an…
As Fall slowly approaches, businesses start seeing red and green with the holiday season on the horizon. But won’t people please think of the children? Back-to-school season – from elementary school to college – is in full swing, and it’s certainly not a time for online retailers to take a…
Order management systems are the center of the ecommerce wheel that keep all the integrations, or spokes, connected and turning. And using one can have a considerable impact on an ecommerce merchant’s operations. According to a research study performed by Software Advice, a software consulting company, there are significant…
Just in time fulfillment (oftentimes referred to as JIT fulfillment) is a method of managing your inventory and shipping that involves purchasing product as orders come in, packaging, and sending them off to customers on your own. It’s definitely an uncommon strategy for most merchants, and there are some pros and cons…
An outsourced warehouse is a popular fulfillment strategy for many entrepreneurs, especially those that have a high quantity of products to be stored. Essentially, it involves taking your inventory and shipping operations, and moving them to privately owned warehouse that receives orders and ships them off to customers. Like in-house…