As per Allied Market Research, the global 3PL market is exploding and estimated to cross 1.79 trillion valuations by 2027. It is expected to grow at a 7.1% CAGR. The ecommerce business is an exciting world but comes with its share of pains. Logistics is one of the primary areas of concern, especially when you are in the scaling phase. With more and more businesses moving online, the greater focus has been on streamlining the digital processes, but fulfillment has been left behind by many in their tryst to remodel themselves. When organizations struggle to fulfill orders in-house because of…
Multichannel Inventory Management – A Guide
In the past, everyone operated offline via their brick and mortar stores. Then came the wave of the internet, which led to the creation of online-only brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus. These companies had no physical presence and either resorted to their website or ecommerce partners like Amazon for sales. But everyone soon realized that there was a need to go multichannel. It would enable them to reach a wider audience and sell more. So, we then saw a slew of brands that expanded, some from online to offline and online, and others from offline to online and offline. Given…
Ecommerce Market Research: How To Go About It?
When there were only brick and mortar stores, businesses would know where the next potential customers are coming from. With ecommerce stores, the possibilities are limitless, and the handful of entrances have now been replaced by ‘n’ number of them. So, where and how do you start your marketing research endeavor becomes more vital when it comes to ecommerce. Today, there are multiple ways to undertake ecommerce market research. Not to forget the increasing number of tools that promise to make your task easier and more fruitful. But it is imperative to remember that one size doesn’t fit all in…
Factors that affect ocean freight rates
Over 90% of the trade across the world is carried via the sea. Other transport options like air freight have their advantages in terms of a quicker delivery but have certain limitations as well. As a rule, shipments that weigh over 100kg are sent via sea freight. Additionally, the ocean route is a more budget-friendly option transporting in bulk quantities. Ocean freight has, therefore, become the most common and cost-effective way for international suppliers and manufacturers to ship their products across the world. Let us understand more about ocean freight and the factors that affect its prices. What is ocean…
Holiday Packaging: The Smart Brands’ Secret Sales Weapon
The holiday season is about to hit high gear. For many brands, this means a major increase in sales that can make or break their fiscal year. And for forward-thinking brands, Q4 is also a great time to proactively build sales for the next year with a few simple packaging and fulfillment strategies. How, you ask? Let’s jump in. Easy brand-building: label your packages! Smart brands should consider packaging as great real estate to promote themselves. Include your logo prominently on all packaging: box, wrap, bags, etc. It’s essentially free marketing for people who have already shown willingness to purchase…
Quotes to Remind You the Importance of Self-care
Work, work, and more work. Many of us forget that it’s important to take some time for ourselves. Self-care September is a great reminder that our mental and physical health is not something to be neglected, even in a retail industry heading quickly toward the all-important Q4. These past couple of years, many businesses, small and large, have faced unprecedented obstacles due to the pandemic. On the eCommerce front, the industry has experienced a massive increase in consumer adoption, leading businesses from manufacturing to retail to logistics to step up to meet the demands. This unexpected turn of events, for…
Ocean Freight Crisis: Supply Chain Experiences Unforeseen Ripple Effects of Covid-19
Since the start of the pandemic, eCommerce has rapidly been adopted by shoppers across the globe. With such a high volume of sales now occurring online, the demand for products from overseas has increased, putting a massive strain on the ocean freight industry. This has led to delays and a major increase in costs for containers, with some parts of the country’s coastlines paying almost 500% more per container than they were a year ago. As of August 2021, ocean freight lines, especially those in Oakland, CA, and Long Beach, CA, have come to a near halt. Until recently, the…
Dorm Room Space-Savers & Essentials
Fall semester is right around the corner and dorm rooms are notoriously tiny. But don’t worry, we got you covered. Check out these space-saving products to maximize the space you have. Space Savers This LED desk lamp has a small footprint making it perfect for small desk spaces. With its adjustable arms, this lamp makes it easy to maximize the space you have. This lamp also proved 3 color temperatures along with 7 brightness levels. It also comes with a USB charging port to make sure your devices are always charged and ready to go. The Homestead Lada Laptop Tray…
Breaking into U.S. eCommerce in 2021: How Should You Handle Fulfillment?
If you’re an international vendor looking to sell in the U.S., one of the hurdles you’ll have to solve is getting your products into the hands of your U.S. customers. Building your own fulfillment solution, with warehouse and personnel investments, can be costly, and if you have multiple stores on different platforms, it can become difficult to keep track of all your orders. In this post, we’ll break down three factors of great logistics: shipping & fulfillment; warehousing; and channel integration. Let’s get started. Shipping & Fulfillment You’ve decided on which retailer(s) you want to partner with. What are your…
5 Ways to Make Your Products Stand Out (feat. David Denenberg)
AndMakers Chief Revenue Officer Lily Chan recently spoke with David Denenberg, eCommerce exec and former Merchandising VP of Bed Bath and Beyond, on how you can effectively earn great visibility for your products. Check out this video interview or read on for major takeaways from Lily and David’s interview. Buy Keywords Do some research and see what keywords the top-selling products in your category are advertising on, then look at add modifiers relevant to your product. This goes for any platform with the keyword-based option (Google Shopping, Amazon, etc.). There’s no need to make more work for yourself when someone…
The Company I Always Wanted To Build
This was a stepping-stone to a career that, to this point, has included positions of all kinds, many in the retail industry. Each company has taught me an incredible amount about the power of partnerships, team dynamics, leadership, commerce, supply chain inefficiencies, and how to cultivate teamwork organically. As a 3rd-generation entrepreneur, I’ve also benefited from many behind-the-scenes moments from my parents’ journey. And for better or for worse, whether because of incredible mentors or business successes or company values that didn’t align with my own, I’ve also learned a ton at every stop about the company I would build…
4 Statistics That Should Convince You to Start an eCommerce Business Today
If you’ve ever thought of starting an eCommerce business, now’s the time to get real. The global and U.S. online opportunities are getting bigger every day as the COVID-19 pandemic forces people to spend less time in brick-and-mortar stores and more comfortable shopping online. If we’re preaching to the choir and you’re just looking to get started, download our “Get in the Home & Garden eCommerce Game” guide to get on your way. If you need a little more food for thought, chew on the following numbers. $586,920,000,000 According to eMarketer, U.S. customers spent nearly $587B online in 2019 –…
Ecommerce inventory management: What does it include?
Are you running an online business? If yes, inventory management is a must for any ecommerce business to thrive. It is integral to expansion and must be considered to succeed in this competitive arena. The article discusses critical points of ecommerce inventory management and what it entails. What is inventory management? Inventory management refers to the sourcing, storage and sale of stock. It involves knowing how much stock your business has, how much to sell and where and how long to keep the stock. Why is inventory management important for ecommerce? The importance of an effective, cohesive inventory management system…
B2B Ecommerce Trends To Follow In 2022
As we head into 2022 and with the pandemic continuing to show new variants, the world of online sales continues to thrive and become more competitive. It is important for your business to focus on the everchanging B2B e-commerce environment to stay ahead of your competitors. What is B2B ecommerce? Business to business or B2B ecommerce is the sales of services or goods between two businesses via online channels. B2B transactions can be simple, for example, order of office supplies, or complex, involving quotations, product descriptions and configurations, overseas shipments, warehousing, etc. Types of B2B ecommerce There are several types…