Have a Cosmetics business?
Why should you outsource your ecommerce fulfilment?

How do you choose a 3PL supplier?

When choosing a 3PL supplier, there are a few things you need to consider, such as:

• Their location. You want to make sure that your 3PL supplier is located in a region that is close to your target market. This will help to reduce shipping times and costs. But remember the UK is a small place, logistically speaking. Parcels, pallets and post can be sent across the country for next-day delivery in most cases, so unless you need your stock in a specific location you may even save money storing and processing your orders away from the M25.
• Their services. Make sure that the 3PL supplier offers the services that you need. Some 3PL suppliers only offer warehousing and fulfilment services, while others also offer marketing and customer service support. Ultimately, your orders need to be processed in a timely, efficient fashion. They need to be packed in the way you and your company would like them to be and returns managed quickly and with the customer in mind to keep your reviews as five-star as possible.
• Their pricing. 3PL suppliers charge different rates, so it's important to compare prices before deciding.
  With so many cost centres, 3PL fulfilment providers can make the simple process of storage, picking/packing and dispatching your orders very complex. Don't be fooled by headline low pick and storage rates. These make great marketing tools but other charges will be hidden elsewhere.

What to expect from a 3PL supplier?

When you outsource ecommerce fulfilment to a 3PL supplier like CBF Fulfilment, you can expect them to provide the following services:

• Warehousing: The 3PL supplier will securely store your products in their warehouse.
• Picking and packing: The 3PL supplier will pick and pack your products for shipping.
• Shipping: The 3PL supplier will ship your products to your customers.
• Returns: The 3PL supplier will handle returns from your customers.
• Online tools: To integrate into all sales channels and give you access to inventory levels, order processing statuses and tracking data.

How to ensure a smooth transition?

When outsourcing ecommerce fulfilment to a 3PL supplier, it's important to ensure a smooth transition. Here are a few tips:

• Start planning early. Give yourself plenty of time to find a 3PL supplier and make the transition.
• Communicate with your customers. Let your customers know that you are outsourcing ecommerce fulfilment and that they can expect to see some changes in the way their orders are fulfilled.
• Work with your 3PL supplier. Make sure to work closely with your 3PL supplier to ensure a smooth transition.
• Think about your seasonality, product marketing life cycle, batch expiry dates and manufacturing cycles for your cosmetics. Work with us to transition with your product cycles in mind.

Benefits of outsourcing ecommerce fulfilment for your cosmetics business

There are many benefits to outsourcing ecommerce fulfilment, such as:

• Increased efficiency. Outsourcing ecommerce fulfilment can help you to improve your efficiency by freeing up time and resources to focus on other aspects of your business.
• Reduced costs. Outsourcing ecommerce fulfilment can help you to reduce your costs by eliminating the need to invest in your own warehouse and fulfilment equipment.
• Improved customer service. Outsourcing ecommerce fulfilment can help you to improve your customer service by providing a more consistent and reliable experience.
• Increased scalability. Outsourcing ecommerce fulfilment can help you to increase your scalability by allowing you to easily increase or decrease your fulfilment capacity as needed.