Product Fulfillment

In-house vs. Outsourcing:

How do you address the fulfillment of your merchandise? The answer depends upon your own talents, the capabilities of your staff and a myriad of other issues. It's important to remember that you simply can't do everything. It's smart to consider outsourcing those things that are the most difficult for you to manage. Whether or not outsourcing can save you money, it can mean running your business more efficiently, with fewer hassles so you can focus on what you do well.

What can be outsourced effectively?

• Literature fulfillment
• Requests received via telephone, fax, mail or web site
• Custom packaging assembly
• Product fulfillment
• Catalog and/or other merchandise orders
• Books
• Premiums/promotions
• Computer software
• CDs, videos, and more
• Samples/point of purchase distribution
• For retailers, wholesalers, restaurants, video chains, etc.
• Shrink wrapping and custom packaging capabilities
• Kit assembly
• Sales materials
• Trade association packets
• Instruction/training manuals
• Travel and tourism brochures
• Convention group packages

Additional considerations

When you do your analysis of in-house versus outsourced operations and service, take these key issues into consideration:

Consumers today set their standards by the L.L. Beans of the world. Order today, and you'll have it tomorrow.

Are you prepared to monitor your web site every few hours? Add a toll free telephone number with a direct connection to our call center to offer immediate help.

Do you have the capabilities to pack and ship properly? You will need boxes, mailing envelopes, tape, a postal scale, and a postage meter. How about enclosure cards? Other package inserts? And which service should you use - USPS, FED EX, RPS, or UPS? Shipping is a key part of your business.

Do you have an inventory management system in place? As your business grows it will become harder to track inventory and not running it fast enough can sound the death toll. You can't afford to have your capitol tied up in products that aren't selling nor can you be out of products that are flying out the door. We can provide you with daily, weekly, or monthly inventory reports or a combination of services that will help you manage that bottom line.

Is it worth it?

On the surface it may seem too much effort to be worth it. You simply need to take a little time and invest money up-front to make sure your infrastructure in in place to make it plausible to the customer and affordable for you the business owner. Fortunately that expertise is readily available.

• Identify the opportunity
• Plan and research the opportunity
• Evaluate your technical capabilities
• Evaluate your administrative capabilities
• Develop and implement your plan