Building a Winning Fulfillment Strategy for Your E-Commerce Business in 2025

Katherine Wroth • January 8, 2025
  • Are fulfillment errors holding back your e-commerce growth?
  • Are your warehouses positioned to cut down on shipping times and costs?
  • Is your fulfillment strategy scalable enough for business growth and seasonal demand?
  • Are you creating a fulfillment experience that drives repeat purchases and customer loyalty?


If these questions make you question your current approach, it’s time to rethink your fulfillment strategy. This blog will guide you through the key elements of a successful fulfillment strategy and how to overcome common obstacles to ensure sustainable growth.


📈 Order Volume: Scaling for Growth


Order volume is one of the most critical factors to consider when designing your fulfillment strategy. For businesses with smaller volumes, manual processes or in-house fulfillment might suffice. However, as your business grows, increased order volumes can quickly overwhelm your existing systems.


Scaling for higher order volumes often requires additional resources such as automation and skilled labor. Automation tools like warehouse robots or conveyor systems can improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.


At Barrett, we invest in technology, so you don’t have to. Our facilities are equipped with drones and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), providing the scalability and flexibility needed to meet increasing demands. Customers can experience faster shipping times and a more seamless shopping experience.


⏩ Speed and Accuracy: The Cornerstones of Customer Loyalty


Fast delivery is no longer optional. It is the new standard that customers today expect and demand. However, speed without accuracy can lead to mistakes that erode trust and loyalty. Fulfillment strategies prioritizing speed and accuracy are essential for reducing errors, minimizing returns and fostering long-term customer relationships.


To achieve this balance, consider adopting advanced order management systems that streamline the picking and packing. At Barrett, we use License Plate (LP) accuracy, barcode scanning and real-time inventory tracking to ensure orders are fulfilled accurately and efficiently.



📍 Warehouse Location: Optimizing for Efficiency


The proximity of your warehouses to your customers can significantly impact shipping times and costs. Strategically located warehouses reduce transit times and help meet customers' expectations for fast delivery.


A network of distribution centers in key regions allows you to ship products from locations closer to your customers, lowering shipping costs and improving delivery speeds. Partnering with a 3PL like Barrett, with established facilities nationwide, can help you expand your geographic reach without needing heavy capital investment in real estate.



✅ Scalability: Planning for the Future


Your fulfillment strategy should be designed to grow with your business. A flexible and scalable approach ensures that you can adapt to seasonal fluctuations, new product launches and increased order volumes as your business evolves.


For example, outsourcing fulfillment to a 3PL provider can provide the infrastructure and expertise needed to scale up quickly during busy seasons like the holidays without overextending your internal resources. A scalable solution lets you focus on core business activities like marketing and product development.


Insider tip:  Some 3PL providers take on new clients without considering whether they can handle the volume over time. At Barrett, we’re committed to long-term partnerships, growing with you every step of the way.


📦 Customer Experience: The Final Touch


Fulfillment is not just about getting products to customers—it’s about creating a memorable experience. Details like easy returns, eco-friendly packaging and personalized touches can leave a lasting impression and build customer loyalty.


Personalized fulfillment can include branded packaging, handwritten thank-you notes or special offers can enhance the unboxing experience and encourage repeat purchases. Similarly, a smooth and hassle-free return process shows customers that their satisfaction is a priority, further strengthening their trust in your brand.


Ready to Build Your Fulfillment Strategy?


With over 80 years of expertise, Barrett Distribution delivers personalized, scalable 3PL solutions tailored to your unique needs. From advanced technology to strategically located warehouses, we equip your business with the tools and expertise to streamline operations and fuel growth.


Let’s build your winning fulfillment strategy today. Contact us today to connect with a Barrett 3PL expert for a complimentary supply chain consultation.

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By Katherine Wroth April 1, 2025
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Expanding Sales Channels Without Adding Chaos As brands expand into retail, marketplaces and new DTC platforms, the backend operations can quickly become overwhelming. Overselling, underselling and inconsistent customer experiences can wear down trust and revenue. Barrett helps you grow across channels with confidence. Our systems support multichannel inventory management, centralized order routing and scalable fulfillment that adapts to the specific needs of each sales channel. 3. Choosing a 3PL That Grows With You Too often, brands outpace their 3PL provider. As demand grows and needs evolve, having the wrong partner can limit scalability and compromise customer experience. Barrett supports both DTC and B2B fulfillment with a unified solution. Whether you’re shipping to a consumer’s doorstep or replenishing inventory for a major retail partner, our nationwide network and customized approach ensure we scale with you. 4. 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Barrett’s flexible infrastructure allows you to ramp up, scale down and shift priorities quickly. We work closely with you to ensure your supply chain can flex with changing conditions without disrupting your customer experience. 7. Managing Capital and Inventory Smarter Growth capital is harder to access and many brands are rethinking how they manage working capital and inventory risk. Overstocking, long lead times and slow-moving inventory can limit your ability to invest where it matters. Barrett’s demand-driven fulfillment approach reduces unnecessary holding costs and frees up working capital. We help brands align inventory with demand so resources are available to drive growth rather than sitting on the shelf. 8. Delivering a Consumer Experience That Builds Loyalty At the end of the day, consumers expect fast, accurate and seamless experiences. A missed delivery or poor post-purchase experience can cost more than just a refund—it can cost loyalty. Barrett is built around delivering that high-touch experience. With best-in-class DTC fulfillment, responsive communication, real-time visibility and post-purchase support, we help our brand partners exceed consumer expectations every time. What You Can Do Now E-commerce and omnichannel brands can take action today by aligning the right strategies, technology and partners. That means: Implementing fulfillment strategies that support bundled orders, subscriptions or personalization Expanding into new sales channels without operational risk Optimizing inventory placement across fulfillment nodes Choosing a 3PL partner like Barrett with proven retail and DTC experience Leveraging data and forecasting tools to reduce risk and improve planning Why Brands Choose Barrett Barrett Distribution Centers powers high-growth consumer brands across apparel, health and beauty, home goods, specialty retail and more. With 20+ strategically located fulfillment centers across the U.S., we deliver fast, reliable service and scalable solutions tailored to your business. We are proud to support innovative brands through every stage of growth—from startup to enterprise. Are you looking for your forever 3PL? Contact us now to learn more about how Barrett can support your next phase of growth.
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By Katherine Wroth March 26, 2025
Franklin, MA, March 26, 2025— Barrett Distribution Centers , a trusted leader in third-party logistics for e-commerce and omnichannel fulfillment, announces the launch of its E-commerce Accelerator, a program designed to help high-growth, early-stage brands scale their logistics operations efficiently. A Permanent Home for Growing Brands Unlike traditional 3PL solutions, the E-commerce Accelerator offers a low-risk, one-year contract model, allowing brands to integrate seamlessly into Barrett’s nationwide logistics network. Focusing on flexibility, efficiency, and long-term partnership, the program eliminates the costly and disruptive process of switching 3PL providers as businesses grow. “Growth is in Barrett’s DNA. As a 15-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list, we know what it takes to scale,” said Adam Robertson , Vice President of Customer Experience at Barrett Distribution. “We have helped brands evolve from early-stage e-commerce to full omnichannel operations. The E-commerce Accelerator is our way of providing a permanent 3PL home for startups by offering the infrastructure and expertise to grow without limits.” Key Benefits of the E-commerce Accelerator Participants in the program gain access to Barrett’s logistics expertise, including:  Seamless Fulfillment – Nationwide fulfillment solutions designed to scale. Easy Integration – Streamlined onboarding and system connectivity to quickly get brands up and running. Inventory Management – Real-time inventory tracking for operational efficiency. Reverse Logistics – Hassle-free returns management to enhance customer satisfaction. Personalization & Customization – Tailored solutions to meet brand-specific needs. Coast-to-Coast Infrastructure – A robust network of strategically located facilities. A Commitment to Entrepreneurial Success Barrett’s core value of ownership—empowering employees to think and act like business owners—extends to the E-commerce Accelerator, fostering strong relationships with entrepreneurial brands. The program aligns with Barrett’s deep-rooted belief in supporting high-growth companies that share its commitment to innovation and scalability. "We thrive on working with brands that are hungry to grow," said Harrison Smith , Director of 3PL Pricing at Barrett Distribution. "Partnering with ambitious entrepreneurs makes our work incredibly rewarding. Their passion drives our commitment to providing the best logistics solutions possible. The E-commerce Accelerator is not just about fulfillment—it is about building long-term partnerships that support brands at every stage of their journey." About Barrett Distribution Centers Since 1941, Barrett has provided customized third-party logistics (3PL), direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce fulfillment, omnichannel distribution, managed transportation solutions and retail compliance for clients across all industries, with a focus on apparel & footwear, health & beauty, consumer packaged goods (CPG) and education. Barrett continues to be a leading 3rd party logistics provider in North America, known for superior execution, customer engagement, and direct access to senior leadership decision-makers. As a member of Inc.'s fastest-growing companies list 15 times, Barrett is big enough to do the job and still small enough to deeply care about your business. eCommerce brands interested in a new 3PL partnership may contact Barrett directly here . Contact Information Katherine Wroth Marketing Manager katherine.wroth@barrettdistribution.com Official Release Here
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