Fulfilment services for start-up businesses
When you embark on a new eCommerce venture, it’s tempting to use a start-up fulfilment service from the get-go. But unless you’re consistently taking 150 – 200 orders per month, it’s unlikely to be cost effective.
That’s because fulfilment services for start-ups tend to charge minimum monthly fees, regardless of the number of orders you take. If you’re spreading this fee across hundreds of orders, it’ll be affordable. But if it’s just a handful, the cost won’t outweigh the benefit.
Here we explain when the time is right to talk to us about outsourcing your fulfilment.
When should you use a fulfilment service for start-ups?
We typically advise start-up owners to come to us when they’re taking 150 – 200 orders each and every month. But there are a few exceptions to this rule.
Crowdfunding and pre-orders
If you’ve launched your new venture through Kickstarter, Indiegogo or another crowdfunding platform, you’re likely to have thousands of pre-orders to despatch quickly. Outsourced fulfilment can help you get over this initial peak, and provide ongoing storage and shipping thereafter.
International expansion
If you’ve already had success in another market and are looking to launch in the UK or US, we can support your global growth. Our worldwide network of fulfilment centres and real-time, cloud-based software make it simple to manage international operations.
Experienced entrepreneurs
Maybe this isn’t your first venture. Maybe you’ve worked for an established brand and are now launching your own thing. If you’re experienced at gaining traction in your chosen market, we can help you reach the point that outsourced fulfilment makes sense much quicker.
Angel investment
If you’ve secured outside investment to get your idea off the ground, you’re likely to have a clear marketing plan to ramp up your order volumes quickly. If you’re confident you’ll hit 150 – 200 in the next few months, let’s talk about outsourcing your fulfilment now.
Is our start-up fulfilment service right for you?
Our service is best suited to retailers that have:
150+ orders every month
We’re as happy processing five orders a day for one client, as 500 for another. But to get the best value out of us, you should take 150 - 200 orders each and every month.
Small to medium-sized products
Our processes are optimised for products that are smaller than footballs and lighter than laptops. We pick, pack and ship these with maximum accuracy and efficiency.
A small, perfectly formed range
We recommend that the number of orders you take per month is five times more than the number of SKUs you hold, helping you control stock and grow manageably.
Less than 3 months’ stock
We support fast-moving product lines, by offering you affordable, short-term pick and pack storage, plus the tools to manage your inventory and maximise sales.
Not taking 150+ orders every month yet?
We’ve put together a six-part guide on how to start an eCommerce business and make it a success:
How have we helped other start-ups grow?
Anne Beauty doubles turnover, cuts time spent processing orders by 75%
By setting up a Shopify store and integrating with James and James, Anne Beauty has saved time processing orders, and re-focused on growth.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend James and James. Their level of service, advice and professionalism has been outstanding – it’s taken away many of the issues and risks of scaling our business.” – Shareen Akhtar, Founder
Armadillo Merino shoots for the stars
With a customer base of soldiers, firefighters and even NASA astronauts, Armadillo Merino needed a global fulfilment partner that could deliver on time, every time.
“We’re building an international brand with a reputation for high-performance garments that solve health and wellbeing issues. We see James and James as an important partner in this global marketing strategy.” – Andy Caughey, Co-founder
Auteur Limited grows sales and product line
With a focus on design-led, sustainable products, Auteur Limited has “grown massively” with support from James and James, and our off-the-shelf WooCommerce integration.
“What’s great about WooCommerce and James and James is that we get notifications if there’s a problem, meaning we can really stay on top of the orders. We’d 100% recommend it.” – Kirstie Pendry, Marketing Associate
MEMI – a growing cosmetics brand – competes with global giants
When building a unique vegan makeup brand, MEMI enlisted James and James to manage stock and deliver quickly, even during influencer-driven sales spikes.
"When people buy online, it’s not just the website experience that’s important, it’s how quickly they get the product. James and James offers a fantastic service and we’ve had great reviews from customers.” – Jack Thompson, Co-founder