A well-kept warehouse is the cornerstone of a company’s efficiency. Key features of a well-organized warehouse include a clutter free floor, clearly labeled products, proper lighting and a climate-controlled environment. In addition to facilitating the order fulfillment process and enhancing efficiency, good warehousekeeping benefits employees by offering a safer, more pleasant work environment. Promoting Safety with a Well-Organized Warehouse Warehouse employees spend a significant part of their day retrieving products from shelves and transporting goods from one area of the warehouse to a ..read more

“Man maintains his poise, balance and sense of security only as he is moving forward,” famed surgeon Maxwell Maltz once quipped. This is especially true in business. Without constantly maintained warehouse security, any other tech upgrade or customer service enhancement is basically useless. How long do you think you can maintain a great market share if a hacker sells your blueprints to all of your competitors after stealing them from an exploit in your network? With this in mind, here are some of the things to look for to determine if your warehouse is as safe as it should be. INVEST IN HIGH ..read more

It seems that on a day-to-day basis, subscription box services are becoming more popular on social media. As this industry has grown, so have the various options that are available to meet interests ranging from cooking supplies, pet supplies, video game and popular culture memorabilia and much more. More likely than not there is a box service to meet your needs. What makes the subscription box service successful? According to Zuora, there are multiple areas to keep in mind. They indicate that signing up for the subscription should be user-friendly and accessible across multiple platforms. In ..read more

In the new frontier of omni-channel sales, fulfillment centers find as many opportunities as they do challenging obstacles. Direct sales, an industry that garnered an impressive 34.4 billion dollars in sales in 2014 according to the Direct Selling Association, is a growing demand that straddles that fence. Direct sales takes the brick-and-mortar requirement of a storefront off the table without removing it entirely, and hyper-focuses on customization and sales venue flexibility. In direct sales, orders may arrive: Through online sales portals Through manual invoices Through hybrid invoices ..read more

One of the many advantages of operating order fulfillment companies in Canada and the U.S. is the ability to see firsthand some of the top products that are selling online. This information serves as a valuable barometer for retailers and consumers. Below is a top 10 list of trending products to sell online: YOU ARE PAYING FOR TRADITIONALLY DESIGNED MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT (MHE). 1. Snack Subscription Boxes. These boxes provide a convenient way for consumers to sample the latest in healthful and satisfying foods. 2. Smart Pills. In an increasingly competitive global marketplace, people ..read more

Although Bill Gates is quoted as saying, “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning,” he most definitely did not build the Microsoft empire off of bad logistics. As a matter of fact, Microsoft has one of the best logistics structures in the world, with much of its fulfillment and distribution actually piggybacking on the resources of hardware developers. Most companies do not think this far ahead, and they suffer the consequences. Here are five ways that your fulfillment and distribution is likely draining your wallet today. YOU ARE PAYING FOR TRADITIONALLY DESIGNED MAT ..read more

Ten years ago, the subscription box business was non-existent. But in the last decade, the industry has grown from nothing into one of the most popular types of online purchases worldwide. Companies like Birchbox, Barkbox, and Dollar Shave Club have led the charge; according to Fortune Magazine, Birchbox blossomed from its 2010 startup into a business that, as of 2014, had 800,000 subscribers and was valued at $485 million. And the industry as a whole continues to expand. If you’re starting out as a subscription box entrepreneur, this is an exciting time. But your business is still nascent, t ..read more

As the Internet has grown over the last few years, it has catalyzed impressive changes in the way commerce is conducted — regardless of sector. Additionally, the Internet has spawned incredible amounts of new business ventures. These new companies offer an incredible array of services and goods, both old and new in type. But especially important is the new era of online sales in the ecommerce sector. Ecommerce companies offer the full spectrum of services and goods, just without brick and mortar stores. However, in addition to ecommerce companies themselves, a whole industry has grown up alon ..read more

Maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly aggressive e-commerce industry is necessary for survival and sustained growth for your business. Through innovation and customer appreciation measures, your company can retain existing customers and expand your client base as new customers hear about your measures to reward loyal customers. Below are five things that you can do to bolster e-commerce customer retention. 1. Provide an accurate shipping quote immediately. Customers prefer to know all costs up front rather than placing an order for a product and being surprised with unexpected sh ..read more

According to Forrester Research, a full 10 percent of Canadian retail will be conducted via the online space by the year 2019. Statistics Canada reported that total retail sales in Canada in 2014 stood at $505 billion, and they are likely higher today if trends are any indication. If you are looking to bring your products or services to Canada, you must prioritize the distribution and fulfillment of your business to this growing market. Logistics is a full-time job in itself, and you will need help. Here is why shipping logistics is so necessary and how to get the help you need to succeed. TH ..read more