by Marketing | May 31, 2017 | News
Companies that sell through Amazon must contemplate whether it makes sense to use Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) services or consider third-party warehousing alternatives to FBA. When making this important business decision, it is pivotal that companies understand the benefits of third-party logistics (3PL) while recognizing the potential issues associated with FBA. Here are a few of the problems facing Amazon retailers, and ways that 3PL companies such as Logistics Plus can help:
- Issue: Expensive fulfillment and warehousing options where the prices can change monthly
- Cause: Due to the decreasing space at Amazon fulfillment and warehousing centers, the costs continue to increase and fluctuate by month. Between the months of January-September and October-December, Amazon retailers can expect about a 265% increase in monthly storage prices.
- Logistics Plus Solution: By offering similar services as Amazon, but at a lower price, Logistics Plus offers more flexibility with packaging and warehousing, along with predictable and stable pricing all year long (see examples below).
- Issue: Supply chain visibility and unknown locations of products.
- Cause: Due to the high volume of products and limited capacities of FBA warehouses, products may become lost or damaged, leaving the customer wondering where their product is located or being held. When Amazon struggles to offer this valuable information to their customers, this can often lead to a frustrating experience.
- Logistics Plus Solution: Logistics Plus is able to track and locate products much easier because it is much smaller and more nimble than Amazon; and Logistics Plus warehouse management system (WMS) technology provides customers with complete, real-time status of products entering or leaving one of its warehouses (we support both LIFO and FIFO inventory systems).
- Issue: Product quality may become compromised.
- Cause: Many retailers may be selling the exact same thing on Amazon, but the customer always expects to receive the product from whom they bought it from. This may not always be the case with Amazon. Even if the buyer bought their item from a Florida seller, they may receive an identical product, but from a Pennsylvania seller. Although it doesn’t always cause issues, the chance of receiving a knockoff or fake product greatly increases.
- Logistics Plus Solution: Logistics Plus ensures that the your customers will receive the exact product they ordered, significantly reducing the risk of delivering a fake or incorrect product.
- Issue: Customer service communication and cooperation.
- Cause: Due to the amount of retailers selling on Amazon, the customer service responses can often be delayed. Buyers and sellers tend to have multiple questions to make sure they know exactly what Amazon is doing with their orders. Working through these questions, a retailer can often expect a significant amount of time on hold, often without final resolution.
- Logistics Plus Solution: By employing an efficient and cooperative customer service staff, Logistics Plus will tend to every customer’s needs. Whether it is a quote on your next import or a simple question regarding the status of your inventory, Logistics Plus will provides answers quickly.
If you’re a retailer that sells on Amazon and you’re contemplating third-party warehousing alternatives to FBA, then contact Logistics Plus. As an endorsed member of the Amazon Global Selling Solutions Provider Network, we know Amazon and we know Amazon Sellers well.
by logisticsplus | Feb 7, 2017 | News
A Foreign Trade Zone, or FTZ, can help global shippers maximize savings and minimize operational costs. Speeding up customs clearance and eliminating paperwork seals the deal. An FTZ’s primary advantage is its ability to improve a company’s competitive position. Businesses can avoid import duties if goods that enter the FTZ are stored, sorted, tested, repackaged, and otherwise handled within the FTZ, then exported without ever entering the U.S. marketplace.
Is an FTZ, right for you? If you answer “YES” to any of the following questions, then an FTZ warehouse might be something you should consider for your business.
- Do you manufacture, assemble or process with imports?
- Do you regularly pay more than $485 per week in merchandise processing fees?
- Do you scrap, reject, destroy, waste, or return some of your imports?
- Do you export previously imported materials?
- Do you have to wait long periods of time for your orders to get through customs at the border?
- Do you sell your imported products to companies that reside in Foreign Trade Zones?
- Are you selling to the military?
- Are you currently utilizing a Customs tariff-reduction program?
If you’re interested in learning more about Foreign Trade Zones and whether the Logistics Plus Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas FTZ might be a good fit for you, click the button below to view additional helpful resources, a savings calculator, and to request more information.
by logisticsplus | Jan 11, 2017 | News
WP$E Radio continues to air short Logistics Plus interview audio clips as part of its business programming. WP$E AM 1450/FM 107.1 is a commercially licensed radio station serving Erie County, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by the Penn State Board of Trustees, and it is operated by Penn State Behrend, under the direction of professional broadcast staff. In addition to providing a one-stop source for global and financial news, WP$E also airs ongoing commentaries from regional business leaders.
Here are some recent WP$E interview audio clips with comments from Jim Berlin, founder and CEO, and Scott Frederick, VP of marketing (click the icons below to listen to the audio replays).
Recent Growth and the WeWork SWAT Team
Union Station Growth and the impact on Downtown Erie
DoorLogistics Intermodal Acquisition
Global Solutions available from a Local Company
Shipping and Warehousing for Amazon Sellers
by logisticsplus | Jan 5, 2017 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Opens New Warehousing Operation in Ontario, California
Facility provides over 277 thousand square feet of new warehousing and fulfillment space.
ERIE, Pa. (January 5, 2017) – Logistics Plus Inc., a leading worldwide provider of transportation, logistics, and supply chain solutions, is proud to announce that it has established a new long-term, full-building warehousing and fulfillment operation at 1291 South Vintage Avenue in Ontario, California. The 272,448-square-foot building sits on 11 acres, 1.5 miles from Interstate 15, and features a fully secured yard, excellent freeway access, and 64 loading doors.
In addition to its new Ontario facility, Logistics Plus has an existing Los Angeles warehouse located at 2207 E. Carson Street in Carson, California. The expanded presence in Southern California was driven by the Company’s recent growth of supply chain solutions provided to WeWork®, the world’s leading co-working space provider, and increased demand from Amazon® retailers seeking third-party import, warehousing, and fulfillment services.
“We now have over 1 million square feet of warehousing space across North America,” said Jim Berlin, founder, and CEO for Logistics Plus. “Because we are managing the logistics for numerous, monthly WeWork office installations around the world, and with our status as an approved third-party for the Amazon Solutions Provider Network, we really needed another sizable, accessible, and reliable operation on the West Coast. The new Ontario facility provides us what we need to support current business and future growth.”
Email pricing@logisticsplus.com for pricing information.
About Logistics Plus Inc.
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, global logistics, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. Founded in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur, Jim Berlin, 20 years ago, Logistics Plus is a fast-growing and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a strong passion for excellence, its 400+ 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; Alma, AR; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Riverside, CA; San Francisco, CA; Visalia, CA; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Charlotte, NC; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Madison, WI; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; South Sudan; Turkey; UAE; and Uganda; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
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Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com
Click the image below to download the Logistics Plus logo:
by logisticsplus | Nov 3, 2016 | News
Warehousing and fulfillment is an increasingly critical aspect of business. By managing the flow of goods through the supply chain, you can effectively control costs, limit exposure to over-stocked inventory, manage cash flows and also streamline transportation. For small startup companies looking to establish a presence in a strategic market or large companies looking to seize opportunity in new areas, or any others in between, third-party logistics (3PL) providers give options that allow businesses to scale efficiently.
Does it make sense for your business to outsource? Here are 5 key reasons to outsource warehousing and fulfillment to a 3PL provider.
- Flexibility. Utilizing a 3PL warehousing and fulfillment provider allows you the flexibility to set up and scale your distribution model as business demands shift. You can more easily grow into new markets that allow you to service your new customers. By decentralizing distribution, you can offset transportation cost increases due to rising fuel prices or other economic factors. You also have more flexibility with on-hand inventory levels. By not having to justify the cost of filling an entire building, you are able to maintain more appropriate levels of stock and replenish on an as-needed basis. You can also better account for inventory fluctuations due to demand or seasonality.
- Consolidation. A 3PL will provide inventory and transportation consolidation benefits. By housing your inventory under the roof of a 3PL warehouse provider, you allow for multiple shipments to be shipped in a more economical manner than might be possible otherwise. In addition, 3PL providers often have deep discounts with many transportation providers to further help reduce costs.
- Expertise. Proven processes and industry knowledge are key strategic benefits to utilizing a 3PL provider. A process-driven warehousing provider can be a key strategic partner to a business. The difference between warehousing and distributing your products with correct versus incorrect processes can be the determining factor in whether or not you ultimately serve your customer. It can also determine whether or not you might be able to win the customer in the first place. An experienced 3PL partner is able to pass on value-adding benefits that help reduce your costs, drive up your efficiency and allow you to focus on your core business.
- WMS and TMS Solutions. Leveraging a 3PL that has strong technology solutions means you can level the playing field without investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in systems and IT infrastructure. Powerful WMS (warehouse management system) and TMS (transportation management system) capabilities can add huge value to your company. These systems allow for real-time access to detailed inventory information and allow you to forecast upcoming trends. They provide you with instant rate shopping, rate analysis and shipping functionality through a web-based interface. You are even able to leverage these system capabilities across to your customer base directly, giving your company a huge competitive advantage in the market.
- Reduced Fixed Costs. Upfront capital expenditures to acquire warehousing space and infrastructure are huge. A building, racking, staff, fork trucks and lifts, WMS/TMS, conveyors, etc., are just some of the initial investments that easily drive costs into the millions and can cripple cash flows. Spreading out to additional locations grows this exponentially. A 3PL can scale its operations to address your fluctuations in demand, and will allow you the ability to easily forecast the landed cost of each of your products. It also allows you to more effectively spread this cost to the actual sale of the product by significantly reducing the upfront capital costs.
A fully integrated 3PL warehousing and fulfillment strategy allows you to utilize an expert to manage this important aspect of your supply chain. A 3PL provider should be able to provide a road map to how you can most effectively build and maintain your inventory. The provider should be rooted in providing flexible solutions that fit your strategy, technology to allow you all levels of information, process development to drive efficiency and cost reduction, and have the fiscal sense to help you maximize your transportation dollar. Ultimately, having a 3PL provider as a strategic business partner can be the best decision a company can make. Logistics Plus is ready to be your partner.
