Number One Reason Why Trade Shows Matter in the Logistics World

Scott Hothem • July 24, 2013

In the modern e-commerce world where smart phones and tablets enable the end consumer to order anything from anywhere, at anytime, fulfillment and logistics companies are all forced to adapt to the ever-increasing demand of the consumer. The “instant gratification” revolution taking place today is affecting every sector of the supply chain. This revolution is certainly not biased, as it places escalating pressure on manufacturers, retailers, distribution centers, and logistics companies alike. 


As technology improves and streamlined processes are continuously put in place, the consumer’s expectations will only become greater. Today, consumers are not only expecting next-day delivery as a preferred option, but are quickly demanding delivery on the same day. With this knowledge in hand, how can retailers, manufacturers, and logistics companies adapt to become more relevant and effective in this fast-paced world of change?


With the complex dimensions involved in supply chain relationships, taking a singular or siloed approach may seem to be the best method to embrace the changing landscape. However, not everything can or should be done alone. In the logistics world, our success is dependent upon the development of different relationships with outside partners. At Barrett Distribution Centers, our current relationships with our retailers and manufacturers come first. Our mission is to create a high level of service and satisfaction with our partners, and our success is contingent upon the health of these relationships.


What is the best way to establish relationships? Nearly any and every resource created on the topic of building relationships will discuss the importance of establishing a connection in person Despite the explosive growth of social networking, there is still nothing that can replace the power of networking in person. 


In less than two weeks, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will take place in Salt Lake City. Last year, members of the Barrett Distribution Management staff attended the event and found it to be an all-around invaluable resource in discovering the latest trends in the outdoor retail world. Whether it’s discovering brand new industry developments or participating in product demonstrations, attendees can unearth everything fresh in the outdoor retail world for a few days in Salt Lake City. 


The Outdoor Retailer Summer Event is also a great place to speak one on one with various manufacturers and retailers in the outdoor industry. With many industry experts and thought leaders concentrated in once place, the venue provides a valuable forum for relevant conversations in person. With the growth in technology, it is possible to have many of these discussions online or over the phone. However, we do still believe that nothing builds trust in a relationship like meeting personally with a partner.


For Barrett Distribution Centers, our expertise in the outdoor and apparel industries makes this a special event for us. With our ability to establish separate order processing and management locations for retail and web orders and improve forecasting capabilities; the Outdoor Retailer Sports Show is the ideal venue for us to showcase our 3PL services. Just as important, we are able to discover the latest strategy and offerings by current and prospective partners in attendance. By meeting in person at the event, we can develop a deeper understanding of the goals and initiatives of other companies and partners. Events like this one are certainly hard to measure in value. However, building trustworthy and solid relationships are a critical factor in the logistics world, and there is no better way to solidify these potential or current relationships than through a handshake and a smile.


A trusted relationship between retailers, manufacturers, fulfillment centers, and logistic companies is vital to the success of the entire supply chain process. There will always be issues and challenges that arise in any business relationship. In the supply-chain world, disruptions can occur unexpectedly. The best weapon of defense for these disruptions is the relationship your company has built with your service partners. Relationships inside of the supply chain built on trust and confidence are the ones that will make it through any possible adaptation or unplanned change in business. And, it is the events like the Outdoor Summer Retailer Program that give birth to these relationships.


With an open-air demo day, dozens of seminars and events, the largest gathering of outdoor retailers and manufacturers, Outdoor Retail Summer Market 2013 promises to be another event to have marked on your calendar. Barrett Distribution Centers will be in attendance and can’t wait to see you in beautiful Salt Lake City. We’ll be at booth #PV722 , so please drop by to introduce yourself. If you are interested in connecting with one of our team members in attendance.

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Recent Blog Posts

Game On: How Mini Games Are Transforming Warehouse Operations

By Katherine Wroth • February 20, 2025
At Barrett Distribution, continuous improvement is at the core of everything we do. Our commitment to operational excellence and employee engagement drives us to find innovative ways to enhance efficiency, quality, and teamwork. One of our key strategies for fostering this culture is our Quarterly Mini Games—focused initiatives encouraging teams across our facilities to collaborate, set measurable goals, and implement process enhancements that drive business impact and client satisfaction. Celebrating Success: Q4 Mini Games The Q4 Mini Game presentations highlighted Barrett’s dedication to improving quality and efficiency. These initiatives targeted reducing incident creation, improving LP accuracy, and strengthening collaboration. Teams reported significant incident reductions, cost savings, and increased client satisfaction. Employee engagement and open communication were key drivers of success, reinforcing the power of teamwork and innovation. Mini Game themes at Barrett:  - Quality is Just Around the Corner - Race to Receive - Kicking it into High Gear Quality Assurance and Incident Tracking Daniel Ryder, Assistant Operations Manager, led the team’s quality assurance efforts by tracking pallet quality, monitoring shipping errors, and categorizing incidents for research. Their goals included: Reducing incident creation Improving LP accuracy Implementing a new pick auditing process Increasing leadership presence on the dock These efforts resulted in a 31% reduction in weekly incidents and a 9.3% reduction in cases impacted. The improvements had a significant financial impact, proving the effectiveness of their auditing process and revised cycle count program. Inbound Process Improvements and Cost Savings For the Race to Receive Mini Game. Joe Reynolds, Assistant Ops Manager, discussed the implementation of a new one-step receiving process in the inbound department for a popular apparel brand. By implementing a new one-step receiving process, the team: Increased dock-to-stock efficiency from 75% to 90% Reduced inbound headcount from three employees to one Achieved $100,000+ in annual cost savings Cleared 40 inbound containers with 100% accuracy in January and February These results showcase the team’s operational excellence and commitment to continuous improvement. Mini Game Success in Inbound Processes Walter Gonzalez, Operations Manager, and Nick Morello, Warehouse Lead, demonstrated the impact of an initiative focused on inbound and put-away processes for a leading apparel brand. The team: Increased put-away units per hour from 205 to 252 Achieved 53.2 UPH against a 44.8 baseline Expedited in-transit selling for customers Realized $19,081 in Q4 labor savings, with projected annual savings of $38,000 Walter emphasized that these achievements were driven by associate engagement and ownership, with team members actively tracking daily results. Collaboration and Communication: The Keys to Success Open communication and employee input were essential to these improvements. The team stressed the importance of: Encouraging small ideas that lead to significant efficiency gains Maintaining a proactive approach during challenges like volume decreases and late shipments Fostering a positive work environment to sustain morale and productivity Voting and Celebration After three strong Mini Game presentations, teams participated in the voting, naming one of our New Jersey facilities (NJ3) as the Q4 winner. Driving Continuous Improvement for Better Partnerships At Barrett, continuous improvement is a mindset that fuels our success and strengthens our partnerships. Through initiatives like our Quarterly Mini Games, we empower our teams to optimize processes, reduce costs, and enhance quality while fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. These efforts benefit our internal operations and directly impact our clients by improving efficiency, accuracy and overall service excellence. Contact Barrett today to see how our expertise can help optimize your supply chain and drive long-term success.

How Fulfillment Fuels Marketing: The Overlooked Key to E-Commerce Growth

By Katherine Wroth • February 19, 2025
 When you think of e-commerce fulfillment, you probably picture warehouses buzzing with activity, sophisticated inventory systems and fast shipping. However, one significant aspect that doesn’t always get the spotlight is the relationship between fulfillment and marketing. Though these departments may seem separate, they are closely linked and can significantly influence one another. This blog delves into why this connection matters and how e-commerce businesses can use it. The Overlap Between Marketing and Fulfillment At first glance, marketing and fulfillment serve distinct roles; marketing focuses on attracting customers and building a brand, while fulfillment ensures that products are delivered efficiently. However, these functions work together in more ways than one, and when aligned strategically, they can enhance the customer experience and improve business performance. Turning Fulfillment into a Marketing Advantage New Epsilon research indicates that 80% of consumers are likelier to purchase when brands offer personalized experiences. One of the most direct ways fulfillments support marketing is by turning the delivery experience into an extension of the brand. This concept, often called marketing fulfillment, allows businesses to use their shipping and packaging process to reinforce brand identity and WOW customers. For example, personalized packaging , handwritten thank-you notes, and small surprise gifts can all create a memorable unboxing experience. These small touches enhance customer satisfaction and encourage repeat purchases and word-of-mouth recommendations. A unique unboxing experience can set a brand apart and turn a routine delivery into a moment customers want to share, especially on social media, where user-generated content can serve as powerful organic marketing. The Role of Branded Packaging Packaging is more than just a protective layer for products; it’s a branding opportunity. Thoughtfully designed packaging can communicate a company’s personality, values and commitment to quality. Whether eco-friendly materials, eye-catching designs, or a compelling message printed inside the box, branded packaging extends marketing reach beyond the digital space. Customers who receive a premium package that aligns with the brand’s image are more likely to develop a strong connection with the business. Additionally, packaging can serve as a form of passive advertising. A well-designed box attracts attention during delivery and may even spark curiosity among potential new customers who see it. Driving Additional Sales Through Fulfillment Fulfillment isn’t just about getting products into customers’ hands—it’s also an opportunity to drive further sales. Businesses can strategically include promotional inserts, discount codes, or product recommendations inside packages, encouraging customers to make additional purchases. Another way to capitalize on fulfillment for marketing purposes is through post-purchase emails. Sending personalized recommendations or exclusive offers shortly after delivery can keep customers engaged and increase the chances of repeat business. Customer Experience and Brand Reputation One of the most important connections between fulfillment and marketing is how it impacts customer satisfaction. Fast, reliable shipping has become a baseline expectation, and any delays or mistakes in fulfillment can lead to frustration and negative reviews. On the other hand, when orders arrive on time, in perfect condition, and with a thoughtful presentation, customers are more likely to leave positive reviews and recommend the brand to others. A positive fulfillment process can turn one-time buyers into loyal customers and brand advocates. Leveraging a 3PL for Fulfillment and Marketing Success Many e-commerce brands partner with third-party logistics (3PL) providers to streamline their fulfillment operations. However, not all 3PLs offer the same level of service, and choosing the right partner can greatly impact marketing efforts. Access to Marketing Partnerships Some 3PLs offer opportunities for co-marketing beyond basic warehousing and shipping. At Barrett, we spotlight our partners and look for ways to provide additional marketing support, social media advertising, or collaborations—all of which can help brands expand their reach and engage with their audience more effectively. By partnering with a 3PL that integrates marketing opportunities, e-commerce brands can extend their reach, enhance customer engagement and maximize the full potential of their logistics partnership. Data-Driven Marketing Strategies A tech-savvy 3PL can provide valuable data insights that help businesses refine their marketing strategies. By analyzing order trends, customer preferences, and delivery performance, brands can make informed decisions about everything from inventory management to promotional campaigns. For example, understanding peak purchasing periods can help businesses time their marketing campaigns for maximum impact, while insights into regional demand can inform targeted advertising strategies. Enhancing the Customer Journey A 3PL that prioritizes the customer experience can directly support marketing goals by ensuring smooth post-purchase interactions. Features like real-time order tracking, hassle-free returns, and flexible delivery options contribute to overall customer satisfaction, strengthening brand loyalty. When customers have a seamless experience from the moment they place an order to the moment they receive it, they are more likely to return and recommend the brand to others. Marketing and Fulfillment: A Powerful Duo When fulfillment and marketing work in sync, they transform from business functions into powerful catalysts for customer satisfaction and revenue expansion. The opportunities to integrate fulfillment with marketing are endless, from crafting memorable unboxing experiences to leveraging data for strategic campaigns. Partnering with a 3PL that understands and supports this connection can further enhance these efforts, helping e-commerce brands scale while maintaining a strong, customer-focused approach. By recognizing fulfillment as a key marketing asset, businesses can build deeper customer relationships, increase brand loyalty and drive long-term growth. Take Your Fulfillment and Your Brand to the Next Level Ready to transform your fulfillment into a marketing powerhouse? Contact us today to learn how Barrett can help and receive a complimentary supply chain consultation.

Outgrowing Your Fulfillment? How to Scale Without Slowing Down

By Katherine Wroth • February 18, 2025
What happens when your business takes off overnight? E-commerce brands don’t fail because they can’t sell. They fail because they can’t fulfill. If you’re an e-Comm. brand, you probably started your business with a system that met your needs at the time. However, success can quickly become challenging without a flexible fulfillment strategy, leading to higher costs, bottlenecks and frustrated customers. In this post, we’ll discuss how scalable fulfillment impacts your business and how to find the right 3PL partner to keep operations running smoothly. What Is Scalable E-commerce Fulfillment? Scalable fulfillment refers to a logistics provider’s ability to adjust operations to accommodate fluctuating order volumes. This includes adapting labor resources, leveraging automation, optimizing warehouse management and fine-tuning order processing. If any part of this system fails to scale effectively, inefficiencies arise—delays, errors and unhappy customers. While early-stage businesses often prioritize affordability and convenience when selecting a fulfillment solution, building scalability into your strategy early on is key to long-term success. Why Scalability Matters in Fulfillment 1. Self-Fulfillment Can Only Take You So Far Most e-commerce businesses start by fulfilling orders themselves. This makes sense—it’s cost-effective and gives merchants complete control over packaging and shipping. In the early days, you only needed was storage space, shipping materials and a label printer. But as sales grow, the limitations of self-fulfillment become clear. More orders mean more inventory, packaging and labor. Maintaining order tracking, SKU management and shipping deadlines becomes a full-time job. Without the right infrastructure, delays mount, errors increase and customers look elsewhere. 2. Maintaining Quality as You Scale You can inspect every package with a low order volume, ensuring accuracy and crafting a great unboxing experience. But as demand grows, maintaining that same attention to detail becomes difficult. Many 3PLs struggle to replicate the same personalized experience, which can impact customer loyalty. Scaling fulfillment ensures that your customers continue to receive the quality they expect—even as order volumes grow. 3. Managing Seasonal Peaks and Slowdowns Many e-commerce businesses experience fluctuating demand. Whether it’s holiday shopping surges or slow post-season periods, fulfillment operations must be agile enough to scale up or down.  Without a flexible system, brands may overinvest in infrastructure they don’t always need or face fulfillment slowdowns when they need to ramp up. A scalable fulfillment partner helps you adjust resources, preventing costly inefficiencies. What to Look for in a Scalable Fulfillment Partner If your business is growing, choosing the right 3PL partner is critical. Here’s what to prioritize: 1. A Nationwide Fulfillment Network A single fulfillment center can quickly become overwhelmed. Instead, look for a partner with multiple strategically located warehouses . This allows you to: ✅ Speed up delivery times by distributing inventory closer to customers ✅ Prevent bottlenecks by shifting fulfillment to different locations ✅ Ensure seamless fulfillment even during unexpected surges 2. Automated Fulfillment Solutions Automation reduces reliance on seasonal labor, improves accuracy and speeds up order processing. With ongoing labor shortages, 3PLs integrating automation—such as robotic picking, AI-driven inventory management and automated sorting—offer a significant advantage. 3. Technology That Grows with You Your fulfillment partner’s tech stack should handle your business’s growth—not just for today but for years to come. Ask potential providers: ✔ Can their systems manage a rapid increase in order volume? ✔ Do they integrate with your e-commerce platform and order management system? ✔ Do they offer real-time inventory tracking and predictive analytics? 4. Scalable Value-Added Services Branded packaging , kitting and special inserts can enhance the customer experience—but can your fulfillment provider handle these extras as you scale? Ensure they can maintain the same level of personalization and quality even as order volumes rise. 5. Reliable Customer Support Fast fulfillment is only part of the equation. A scalable provider should also help you maintain strong customer service, offering: 🔹 Real-time order tracking to reduce customer inquiries 🔹 Streamlined returns processing 🔹 Dedicated support teams to handle peak-season demand The Bottom Line: Future-Proof Your Fulfillment Strategy Scaling your fulfillment operations isn’t just about keeping up with growth—it’s about setting your business up for long-term success. The right fulfillment partner will help you stay agile, efficient and prepared for whatever comes next. If you’re looking for a fulfillment provider who can support your business through every growth stage, Barrett is here to help. Let’s discuss how we can build a scalable, seamless fulfillment strategy for your brand. Contact us today for a complimentary supply chain consultation to meet with one of our Barrett experts.
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