Logistics Plus Named a Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for 2019

Logistics Plus Named a Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Logistics Plus Named a Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for 2019

Second Consecutive Year Logistics Plus Has Been Named to the List

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3PL logo 2019ERIE, PA (December 18, 2018) – Logistics Plus Inc., a leading worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, is proud to announce it has been named a Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for 2019 and has been included in a listing of leading third-party logistics providers selected by the editors of Multichannel Merchant.

Given the explosion of ecommerce and the increasing number of 3PLs in the marketplace, Multichannel Merchant has created this unique resource to vet 3PL providers as a value-added service for its audience. The online resource is a searchable directory for merchants looking for a qualified 3PL. The company profiles in the MCM Top 3PL listing include vital information to help merchants in their selection process, including key capabilities, average annual client order volume, top merchandise categories handled, facility locations and more.

“3PLs have become an increasingly important resource for ecommerce and direct-to-customer merchants who don’t have the capital to invest in their own distribution networks,” said Mike O’Brien, Senior Content Manager of Multichannel Merchant. “This is especially critical due to the ongoing lack of available commercial space for such facilities. We developed our Top 3PL listing as a valuable resource for merchants. Each company on the list has been selected based on its industry experience, range of capabilities and ability to handle high order flow during peak periods.”

“Ecommerce continues to be an important driver of growth for Logistics Plus and our Logistics Plus Fulfillment Solutions division,” said Jim Berlin, founder and CEO of Logistics Plus. “Today we have world-class pick, pack and ship fulfillment capabilities at multiple warehouses across North America. Being named a top 3PL provider once again by the respected editors at Multichannel Merchant is an honor for us, and a confirmation that we’re doing the right things needed to serve the needs of the merchant community.”

About Multichannel Merchant
Multichannel Merchant reaches key decision makers responsible for ecommerce, management, marketing and operations at companies that sell merchandise through multiple channels — including ecommerce, mobile, social, and catalog. Multichannel Merchant delivers original research, as well as in-depth analysis of trends and best practices, news, tactical/how-to, executive summaries, technology and supplier comparisons, tip sheets and resource information to help companies sell & deliver products wherever and whenever the customer wants them – at home, work, store or other locations.

About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, global logistics, business intelligence, technology, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. Founded in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur, Jim Berlin, 22 years ago, Logistics Plus is a fast-growing and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a strong passion for excellence, its 450+ employees put the “plus” in logistics by doing the big things properly, and the countless little things, that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.

The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Riverside, CA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Visalia, CA; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; New York, NY; Olean, NY; Akron, OH; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Winchester, VA; Madison, WI; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Egypt; France; Germany; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Libya; Mexico; Netherlands; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Sudan; Taiwan; Turkey; UAE; Uganda; and United Kingdom; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.

Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com

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7 Reasons to Use An Order Fulfillment Service

7 Reasons to Use An Order Fulfillment Service

Order Fulfillment ServiceMaintaining order fulfillment as an in-house operation can cause major headaches. As a result, many companies are transitioning to outsourced order fulfillment services in order to expand and grow their business. An outsourced order fulfillment service includes a third-party logistics provider that fulfills orders on behalf of its clients. Typically, these clients include online retailers, e-commerce businesses, and physical store locations that don’t have access to their own warehouses or distribution centers. The order fulfillment service should provide the receiving, processing, and delivery of all orders for its clients. Fulfillment is a huge commitment for any company because it involves a lot of time and resources that could be used elsewhere. As your business starts to grow, a third-party order fulfillment service will grow with you.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons to use an order fulfillment service.

Reasons to Use an Order Fulfillment Service

1.) Reduce Operating Costs: Working with an order fulfillment service provider can reduce infrastructure and logistical costs. Most businesses experience seasonal fluctuations and this is especially true for order fulfillment. During peak seasons, additional workers may be needed and rent and storage prices tend to increase. Many businesses don’t have the ability to hire temporary workers or purchase new warehouses that are necessary for an order fulfillment operation. By using an order fulfillment service, you eliminate the need for new infrastructure, and this ultimately reduces operating costs.

2.) Lower Shipping Costs: Most order fulfillment companies have the ability to offer lower shipping costs because of contracts with regional, national, and international shipping companies. The discounts that an order fulfillment service can offer is something to take advantage of. Also, many order fulfillment services have locations across the country which allows for cheaper shipping due to location and delivery times. Be sure to choose a fulfillment service that complements your sales markets.

3.) Reliable Customer Service: Customer service improvements can greatly impact the efficiency of a business. A call center that maintains customer interaction is a huge benefit of an order fulfillment service. Customer support that is readily available and also deals with return and refund policies can save you the hassle. Order fulfillment companies give the peace of mind knowing that your customers are being taken care in a timely manner.

4.) Expand Your Market: Often, small or new retailers have trouble expanding their business nationally or globally. Global trade tariffs and compliance issues can be complex and daunting. An order fulfillment service should give your business the ability to ship anywhere in the world due to its’ distribution networks and global expertise. By using a fulfillment company’s platform, you can take your business to the next level and increase sales in new locations and markets, even selling on Amazon.

5.) Utilize Technology: Gaining access to a warehouse management system (WMS) that keeps track of inventory is an invaluable tool for order fulfillment. Being able to process, manage, handle, and integrate technology with a sales system is sure to drive growth. This type of technology can be very expensive to implement, making it an appealing feature of using an order fulfillment service.

6.) Scalability: Flexibility is one of the top reasons for using a fulfillment company. It will allow you to choose the location where inventory is stored, while only forcing you to pay for the portion of space you are using. It will also allow room for growth and won’t cost you extra if business picks up and you need to hire another employee. An order fulfillment service gives you the flexibility your business needs to run effectively.

7.) Time: By choosing to work with an order fulfillment service provider, focus can be put on growing the business. Other areas of business such as marketing, promotions, and sales will have more time to focus on specific goals, rather than being weighed down with fulfilling orders.

As customer shopping preferences continue to shift towards e-commerce, having an order fulfillment provider will help you keep up with demand. Outsourced fulfillment and warehousing has the potential to add tremendous value for any business looking to grow. If you believe an order fulfillment service can benefit you, contact Logistics Plus today. Our fulfillment and warehousing experts ensure that from start to finish, every order is executed successfully.

Year-End Message From Logistics Plus Chicago

Year-End Message From Logistics Plus Chicago

LP Chicago TrucksAs this year ends, 2019 is poised to be a banner year for the Logistics Plus Chicago office.  Christian Marz has been holding down the fort for LP in Chicagoland for the past few years; but this past July, the LP Chicago office added a new member to its Business Development team … Rob Boissevain.  Together, Christian and Rob are proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the Midwest.  Rob has closed new deals in Chicago, and new business for our Los Angeles, New Jersey, North Carolina and New York warehouses.

In this past month, LP Chicago has also been implementing services for one of our new, premiere global clients – a Chicago-based leading financial investments company; and our new Elk Grove Village, IL warehouse (recently expanded to include 175,000 sq. ft.) will serve as its U.S. distribution center.

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Christian and Rob are celebrating their new offices and warehouse in Elk Grove Village.  Please feel free to connect with them with any referrals or client needs in Chicago or the Midwest. You can reach them at christian.marz@logisticsplus.com or rob.boissevain@logisticsplus.com.

Christian and Rob

4 Tips to Optimize Your Shipping Network

4 Tips to Optimize Your Shipping Network

shipping networkWhether it’s due to cost, delivery time, or increased business opportunities, rethinking your shipping network may be more important than ever. Unfortunately, there is no “one size fits all” approach to creating an optimal shipping network. For one industry, it may be crucial to have strategically placed warehouses across the country. In another industry, it may be more important to deliver products timely across the country. Having an out of date shipping network may be holding back the growth of your business. Follow these tips to help optimize your shipping network today.

Create a Strategy
To create a successful shipping network, you must plan, build, and optimize a strategy that best fits your needs. Begin by doing an analysis of your business to determine what is most important to your customers. Would they rather receive packages quicker or get the cheapest shipping rates? Regardless, every shipping network strategy should aim to accomplish two goals:
1.) Decrease the time customers wait for their orders.
2.) Lower your cost per order.

Choose Warehousing Locations
When optimizing a shipping network, location is crucial. Certain areas across the U.S. such as Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago have become hotbeds for distribution because of their proximity to large parts of the population. Having multiple distribution centers and available warehousing across the country can be a huge benefit for businesses and can help decrease transit times and costs. Have a clear idea of where your customers are located and base your warehousing and distribution strategy on those locations. Having optimal warehouse locations is an important key to a successful shipping network.

Implement Technology Solutions
During the planning stages, business intelligence tools can help model an optimal distribution strategy. After a network has been implemented, a transportation management system (TMS) can be a valuable and time-saving asset for any shipping network. A TMS can give you the best quotes, transit times, and service options to help deliveries and pickups become more efficient and accurate. Along with a TMS, an effective warehouse management system (WMS) allows real-time reporting for order confirmation, tracking activity, received shipments, and more. As technology continues to expand, more efficient and effective solutions for distribution networks are presented. Continuously updating technology is an easy way to keep up with the ever-changing shipping industry.

Look Towards the Future
As the transportation industry constantly changes, it’s important to stay up to date on current and future industry trends. With a severe driver shortage and the capacity crunch, transportation costs will rise significantly. As transportation costs rise, distribution networks will have to gradually expand closer to key market locations to reduce mileage and costs. There is currently a shortage of about 60,000 drivers this year, and it’s estimated that by 2026, the shortage may triple. Another factor of rising transportation costs is fuel cost volatility. Monitoring current and future freight trends is a great way to optimize your shipping network and stay ahead of competition.

Creating an optimized shipping network doesn’t just mean adding more warehouses, it can also mean removing some. It’s important to remember that all businesses have different needs and there is not just one correct way to optimize a shipping network. By creating a proper distribution strategy and implementing it, you can become more efficient while saving time and money.

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Logistics Plus Ontario, CA Warehouse Celebrates Safe and Sound Week

Logistics Plus Ontario, CA Warehouse Celebrates Safe and Sound Week

Today the Logistics Plus Ontario, CA Warehouse celebrated Safe and Sound Week with lunch, games, new LP safety shirts, and gift card prizes.  Joe Pizano and Tyler Key did a great job organizing games and everyone seemed to have a good time.  Here are some photos.

Safe and Sound Week - Ontario, CA

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What Is Safe and Sound Week?
A nationwide event to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs that include management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards in workplaces. Learn more at www.osha.gov/safeandsoundweek