christina wocintechchat com UTw3j aoIKM unsplash

Order fulfillment services for start-ups

When you embark on a new eCommerce venture, it’s tempting to use a start-up fulfillment service from the get-go. But unless you’re consistently taking 300 – 1,000 orders per month, it’s unlikely to be cost-effective.

That’s because many fulfillment 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 fulfillment.

When should start-ups look at outsourcing fulfillment?

If you’re outgrowing your premises, expanding fast (or planning to expand) and receiving nearly 1,000 online orders for your products every month, then it’s probably a good time to outsource your fulfillment. James and James can help with any of these scenarios.

promotion

You’re running pre-order promotions

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 to eagerly awaiting customers. We can help you get through this initial peak, and provide ongoing storage and shipping thereafter.

You’re looking to expand internationally

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 fulfillment centers combined with our real-time, cloud-based software make it simple to manage international operations.

worldwide
pound sterling

You’ve secured investment

If you’ve secured outside investment to get your business idea of 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 300 – 1,000 orders per month soon, let’s talk about outsourcing your fulfillment,

You’re an experienced, multi-business entrepreneur

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 quickly help you reach the point where outsourced fulfillment is the right next step.

portfolio

When should start-up businesses look at outsourcing fulfillment?

We typically advise start-up owners to come to us when they’re taking 300 – 1,000 orders each and every month. But there are a few exceptions to this rule.

promotion

You’re running pre-order promotions

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 to eagerly awaiting customers. We can help you get through this initial peak, and provide ongoing storage and shipping thereafter.

worldwide

You’re looking to expand internationally

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 fulfillment centers combined with our real-time, cloud-based software make it simple to manage international operations.

pound sterling

You’ve secured investment

If you’ve secured outside investment to get your business idea of 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 300 – 1,000 orders per month soon, let’s talk about outsourcing your fulfillment now.

portfolio

You’re an experienced, multi-business entrepreneur

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 quickly help you reach the point where outsourced fulfillment is the right next step.

Is our start-up fulfillment service right for you?

Our sweet spot is helping eCommerce businesses that have found product-market fit and are ready to scale.

icon global green

Brands that are ready to scale

We help brands with proven products, established business models and growing sales get to the next level.

icon logistics green

1,000+ orders per month

We ease the growing pains of brands that are already shipping – or are about to ship – 1,000+ orders per month.

icon parcel green

Direct-to-consumer sales

We specialize in D2C eCommerce fulfilment, rather than traditional pallet-based storage and distribution.

icon football green

Small, lightweight products

We’re optimized for fast-moving consumer products that are smaller than a soccer ball and lighter than a laptop.

110919 JamesJames31512
pexels karolina grabowska 4386326

Don’t outsource fulfilment (yet)

While there are many moving parts to order fulfillment – and perhaps an overwhelming amount of work to be done when you’re doing everything yourself – here are a few additional reasons why it might be best to keep your fulfillment in-house (for the time being).

Read more

How much will outsourcing your fulfillment cost?

When you’re ready to outsource, you’ll find James and James doesn’t adopt a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to pricing. We’ll tailor your pricing plan that covers these fundamental considerations.

Read more