Author: larissa

Entrust Your Print Management Services to FFI


At Fulco Fulfillment Inc. (FFI), we have a wide variety of clients, each with unique products and services. Many of our customers have a need for associated print management in conjunction with the fulfillment services we offer.

These services include:

Marketing Collateral

From a thank you note to a health product package flat, we can handle the printing and storage of printed marketing materials that support your business needs. Additionally, we also manage print-on-demand (POD) programs that tie together your fulfillment campaigns.

Direct Mail Print Management

Postcards, self-mailers, and envelope mailings are still a prominent method for reaching your clients. Direct mail has made a comeback, and demand is returning to pre-pandemic volumes. FFI has many years of experience with both smaller digital print runs and larger offset runs.

Direct mail continues to be a successful method of marketing to reach your customer. Trying to maximize the content you get in front of your client? Include a custom insert, or try trending interactive techniques. Marketers know that it is essential to give customers an engaging brand experience. Try getting the attention of the recipient by encouraging an immediate response to your offer with interactive technology. For example, “Scan the QR code to donate now!”

Why the big rise in postcards?

Postcards have become a more popular method of direct mail. The smaller size makes it a faster, easier read. Also, eliminating the need for an envelope lowers printing and postage costs.

Branded Packaging

While we store many boxes in various shapes and sizes, many of our customers are looking for unique packaging printed with their brand or product images. We help you find the most cost-effective solution especially in today’s challenging raw materials market with supply chain issues. By sticking with a standard size your packaging will be less expensive.

Some popular standard structures include:

  • Regular slotted boxes
  • Roll end tuck boxes
  • Tuck top boxes
  • Corrugated packaging
  • Shipping pouch

FFI Can Handle All of Your Print Management Needs

Whether you’re looking for a custom branded shipping pouch, a special shaped cardboard box, or a unique sample carton, we have the solution for you.

In today’s ever-changing world, FFI has decades of experience bringing results for our customers. We are here to help your success as well – let’s print together. Contact FFI to learn how we can handle all of your specific print management needs.


The Art of Flawless Order Fulfillment


Creating a smooth fulfillment process is ideal when striving for a foundation that leads to a positive business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) relationship.  The term “fulfillment” encapsulates the whole procedure of processing, picking and shipping an order to a client or customer. There are a variety of methods to handle this whether it is by the company actually creating the product or alternatively having the process handled by a third-party logistics/3PL provider. No matter what the business itself classifies as there is an art to flawless order fulfillment.

But how do you begin? Start with a positive ecommerce fulfillment plan. This is imperative to the achievement of success in a competitive marketplace.  Next, create a foundation of customer confidence. Obviously not every company is the same and possesses their own goals and needs so there is no universal fulfillment strategy that can be used for every situation. Because of this, there are a variety of factors that must be considered when deciding on what the best selection is for your company.

When Thinking about Fulfillment, Consider Your Sales Volume and Business Size

Every business should keep in mind the amount of products being offered in addition to the order size when it comes to determining which order fulfillment solution will be the best for your business.

Things to keep in mind:

  1. How many products are being sold?
  2. Are the products being sold through business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C) or a mixture of the two?
  3. How many orders are being fulfilled month to month?
  4. What is the prediction of growth for your products and orders over both the next quarter and year?
  5. What are your product storage requirements?

For example, if you have a low volume of orders then it would not be the best decision to outsource your fulfillment process. Instead, you could opt to fill the orders on your own.

However, if you are predicting that your business is anticipating an uptick in order volume you need a plan to keep up with this increase in orders.  With increased orders it may become difficult to maintain a self-fulfillment structure and eventually it will become near impossible to fulfill products flawlessly and in quick succession.  This is the moment to switch and have a 3PL provider, like Fulco Fulfillment by your side.

Order Fulfillment Technology and Sales Channels

Things to keep in mind

  1. What type of ecommerce platform are you using?
  2. Is a marketplace, website, shopping portal or alternative type of online store/shopping being used? Perhaps instead you are using a combination of these or including a physical storefront?

Your fulfillment strategy should be capable of providing the necessary support for your different sales channels. This especially comes into play when using technology. This technology can assist your business with becoming both more cost-effective and efficient in addition to enhancing the customer experience and satisfaction of your customers. The implemented technology being used as a part of the order processing plan should complete the goal of making things easier rather than making things more difficult.

Once the technology has become integrated, it should have the capability of streamlining the process.  An API integration is a reliable way to be sure that as soon as order has been placed it will seamlessly be available to your 3PL provider to then be picked, packed, and shipped as soon as possible.

It is also important to consider that your fulfillment process is using the correct type of inventory management software. An inventory management system should be able to report on all available inventory levels across all locations. Safeguards can also be put into place that will alert you if you are running out of stock.

Keep in mind also that warehouse management software or a WMS can assist controlling the daily warehouse operation which includes shipping, sorting, storage and inventory management.  Your order fulfillment software of choice can assist with the difficult and time-consuming duties of inventory and warehouse management, order picking and processing, shipping and tracking and returns processing (reverse logistics).

Flawless Order Fulfillment Leads to Satisfied Customers

Discovering the art of flawless order fulfillment can happen inside your organization or outsourcing to 3PL provider.  At the top of that list should be building a positive ecommerce fulfillment plan and creating a foundation of customer confidence.  This will ensure the satisfaction of your customers.

Having a 3PL should give you the capability of supporting the growth of your business and assist with the navigation of the complexities that are oftentimes associated with supply chain and logistics. Most importantly, flawless order fulfilment will give your customers peace of mind by getting products into their hands as efficiently and accurately as possible. If you need help with order fulfilment, contact Fulco Fulfillment.


An Update From Us on COVID-19


Warehousing and Distribution Services for Emergency Supplies

This page is dedicated to providing timely information and updates on Fulco Fulfillment Inc’s operations.

July 8, 2021

An update from us on COVID-19 in 2021

Since March 2020, COVID-19 has had a large impact on the operations of our customers – and like every business, we have continued to take steps to protect our employees so we can continue to provide our essential warehouse and fulfillment services. Pandemic response planning and implementation have played crucial roles allowing us to continue to meet the needs of our customers throughout this very difficult time.

Following NJ State Department of Health and CDC guidelines, we have been well positioned to expand our operations as needed through the first two waves of COVID-19. A majority of our workers have now been fully-vaccinated as well – allowing us to reduce mask and social distancing requirements in accordance with the latest NJ state guidelines. We also understand the risks are not completely behind us and continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis.

We have noticed the following business trends over the last year:

  1. A greater volume of e-commerce orders as a result of the continued trend to online shopping over traditional retail
  2. Increased attention to effective shipping techniques to reduce freight costs, especially as fuel costs increase, effective shipping across the board becomes crucial.
  3. Warehouse space is at a premium as inventory has swelled in many areas – we have the space needed to handle all of your inventory.

Please let us know if you have any questions we can assist you with!

 

June 26, 2020

Fulfillment Services Deemed Essential during COVID-19: taking care to match the surge in e-commerce orders

COVID-19 has caused a scenario like no other disaster in modern retail operations. Even the largest natural disasters have specific areas of impact. This coronavirus is proving it has no boundaries.

As the global pandemic has driven consumers into their homes, there has been a dramatic increase in online shopping. At Fulco Fulfillment, we’ve been a part of the shift. Our warehouse, which has been deemed essential, has remained open in order to pick, pack and ship product on behalf of our clients.

Even before the U.S. detected the first known case of COVID-19, e-commerce was an important part of the various fulfillment services offered by Fulco Fulfillment. However, prior to the disease’s arrival, the cost of marketing and maintaining an online sales presence frustrated some retailers who were hesitant to invest. That all changed when stay-at-home orders drove consumers into their homes. Consumer demand for online shopping was able to change the mindsets of even the most timid retailers.

As an example, our warehouse team has seen increased volume, especially when it comes to nutritional products and vitamins. From the very beginning, demand for medical scrubs was high as well. And we have all hands on deck for our customer in the uniform supply business, who is offering pre-packaged protective equipment to its customers. Another customer, who serves the law enforcement community, has also seen a big rise in demand.

Meeting the demands of clients no matter the situation on the ground, or online, takes a lot of planning and partnering with clients to assess their needs. Planning for a second wave of COVID-19 was well underway not long after the first wave hit our shores. At Fulco Fulfillment, we are constantly fine-tuning our services to pick, pack and ship so we can scale as consumer demand increases. Should there be a second wave, we are prepared and well positioned to handle it.

Protecting the health of our Fulfillment Services’ Essential Workers

In New Jersey, warehouse workers have been classified by the state as essential workers. While so many Americans are required to work from home, the Fulco team is continuing to work hard to meet the demands of our customers’ order flows. That’s why we’re taking all the necessary precautions to make sure our employees remain safe in the workplace. We conduct daily temperature checks, supply masks and other personal protective equipment, and we make sure that proper social distancing is maintained throughout our warehouse and offices. All of these measures are important to ensure that our e-commerce clients can meet consumer demand now and in the future.

Flexible and scalable on-demand warehousing

On average, Fulco Fulfillment is able to onboard a new client in under two weeks, resulting in very little downtime in their order flow. For online retailers, scalability and on-demand start up time are critical. But so is flexibility. This is evident in how we are able to invoice by pallet or square footage of pick space. Our clients are billed only for the space they are using. When demand is unpredictable or volume levels volatile, having a scalable storage option ensures optimum flexibility of their storage needs, and cost savings when less space is needed. The desire for on-demand warehousing is a growing interest with many clients. Fulco Fulfillment’s pay as you go fee structures make sense for e-commerce clients whether we are shipping one item or a 25-pallet order.

Online purchases have caused carrier delays. FFI keeps track of shipping delays for you.

The huge, sudden growth in online ordering has created an overflow of packages that carriers are having a hard time keeping up with. For example, FedEx and UPS have both announced a suspension of their service guarantees. In order to keep you fully informed, Fulco Fulfillment is constantly monitoring our carriers and shipping partners so we can make suggestions to customers to ensure timely delivery. By maintaining clear communications during these difficult times we want to be sure we’re doing all we can to keep our clients informed, so they can inform their customers.

Your e-commerce business can thrive with a streamlined fulfillment partner.

Fulco Fulfillment, Inc., works with e-commerce businesses of every size, with a wide variety of product profiles and pick and pack demands. And we’re used to handling difficult circumstances and exceeding expectations, helping our clients to fulfill their client promises and delivery demands. To speak with a FFI representative and to learn more, call 973.361.1700.

 

April 3, 2020

Thanks again for your continued support of FFI, as we adapt to changes in our industry we want to continue to provide you with key information.

  • We are committed to proactively keep you informed. As an essential service provider to many businesses, Fulco Fulfillment Inc (FFI) will remain open, supporting customers’ supply chains. We are monitoring orders daily to keep up with work flow while working with a limited staff to practice social distancing.
  • Attn: Delivery Drivers. Although we are open, we request that you call our direct line (973) 361-1700 and someone will assist you to arrange your pickup or delivery. You can also contact Warren Hawthorne via email at whawthorne@ffiweb.com. Starting Monday April 6th our doors will be locked to the public, so please call ahead to find out which loading dock you will be directed to. We’ve instituted a no-signature policy as well.
  • Receiving Policy. Overseas receipts will be moved to a designated part of the warehouse and quarantined for 72 hours prior to an employee handling it or receiving the inventory.
  • You can be rest assured. All decisions continue to be made in light of social distancing and public health at the direction of the governor. We are taking precautions to help reduce the virus spread and keep our staff healthy…

Be Well,

Jennifer Marcello and Tony Rossi
Fulco Fulfillment Inc.
Update on FFI’s Coronavirus Preparedness
973-361-1700

 

March 23, 2020

While we monitor the situation closely, we want to inform you of what we are doing to protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers and recipients of the packages we ship. We are committed to being here for you when it matters most and have implemented precautionary actions to ensure we are operating with the highest level of regard for health and safety.

During these difficult times FFI is open for warehousing and providing distribution services for emergency supplies.

Thank you for your continued confidence.

Update on FFI’s Coronavirus Preparedness

As the situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) progresses and changes so does our ability to perform services. At Fulco Fulfillment Inc. we are enacting the next phase of our contingency plan to ensure we are taking the appropriate safety precautions with our internal work force. NJ closed non-essential retail businesses, exceptions include logistics and shipping operations. Therefore we remain open. Effective early next week, we will be reducing our in house staff by at least 75% and running our business on staggered shifts with a limited crew. Additionally we will be flexing our labor on a day by day basis. Staff hours will be based on incoming orders and workload. This will allow us to manage the work flow while staying diligent to the developing situation. Our receiving will be completed without signatures and a receiving email will still be sent out making our clients aware of an incoming delivery. Outgoing orders and the emailing of tracking numbers will continue as normal.

As we continuously strive to provide you the best service possible, the above mentioned actions may perhaps result in a slight delay on your outgoing shipments. Policies with our shipping partners (FedEx, UPS and USPS) whom we depend on seem to be changing daily. We will continue to do our best to fulfill your orders at this time. Our Client Service Managers are set up to work from their homes and will manage all incoming/outgoing orders. They will keep you informed with any questions or concerns.

At this time, FedEx, with the support from the World Health Organization (WHO) has shared information regarding the safety of receiving a box/carton into your home, for more information on the topic from WHO (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses). We continue to operate with our shipping partner under standard procedures and do not expect an interruption in service. Fulco Fulfillment Inc. continues to monitor this situation and adjust accordingly. For additional information, the CDC has set up a website (Coronavirus Disease 2019, available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html to provide information as it becomes available.

More updates to follow as things progress. Thank you for your anticipated understanding
and please stay safe and healthy.


Why Businesses Are Moving to Polybagging for Mailing and Fulfillment


A polybag is a clear plastic (i.e. polyethylene) bag that is used to safely pack a variety of materials together. Polybags are popular for packaging small supplementary publications such as newspapers or magazines. They’re also good when including additional pieces in the bag such as coupon offers and brochures along with the publications.

We are seeing an increase in polybagging being used in the direct mail industry as a marketing tool. A direct mail piece can be more effective when packaged with a clear envelope. Would it pique your interest if something transparent arrived at your doorstep?

Polybagging has been recognized as a powerful marketing tool and has been used frequently in European countries for years. We are now catching up in the U.S. and North America. Polybagging can be utilized for these materials and products:

  • catalogs
  • brochures
  • magazines
  • periodicals
  • booklets
  • pamphlets
  • industrial products
  • consumer goods
  • retail products
  • medical products
  • healthcare products
  • Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) products

What are some benefits of using polybagging?

Polybags can achieve higher open rates.

The most common reason to use a polybag for your product is to achieve a higher open rate. A polybagged piece gets opened more frequently and quickly in comparison to traditional direct mail pieces. Being able to see the contents that are inside can not only be intriguing, but it makes the piece more impactful and leaves a lasting impression on the recipient. This reason alone should be enough to make you convert over to polybagging instead of sticking with traditional envelopes.

Polybags are cost efficient.

In addition to getting higher open rates with polybags, you might be able to save money when compared to using traditional envelopes. That’s because polybags add less weight to your packages, helping to lower the cost of postage. With polybagging, you can also save time and money particularly when it comes to larger pieces that would ordinarily require a bigger envelope. Not only can you save on postage, but you won’t have to pay for the printing and the design that depicts your branding on each envelope.

Polybags are versatile.

Once you begin polybagging you’ll quickly notice how versatile it is for housing your mail pieces. With a polybag your packages can conform to the size of the package rather than having to conform to the size of the envelope. The polybags can take the shape of any size mail piece, this can range anywhere from a thin and small type of package to a much larger and thicker package. A polybag can also provide durability to your product as well as keep it protected from things such as water damage and tearing. Polybags aren’t bound by size limitations either. Unlike envelopes they can be wrapped around mailers of any size.

How can Fulco Fulfillment Inc. can help you meet your sales goals with polybags?

Your mailings will stand out from the crowd.

Polybags are versatile and simply more unique and fascinating than envelopes when it comes to moving product. Addresses can be added to the bag in the form of a label, or be printed on the enclosed materials so that it’s visible through the clear film. Consumers love to see what’s inside a clear envelope rather than having to open a paper one. A polybag gives them a “sneak peek” inside and gives you a perfect platform to share your product benefits upfront.

Fulco Fulfillment Inc. offers you several options to print polybags for extra marketing flair. From zip-top bags that can be printed up to 8 colors, as well as CMYK or PMS colors printed on 2 mil. crystal clear plastic.

Polybags protect your marketing materials from damage.

If your business includes product catalogs, fliers or printed coupons in your customer mailings, polybags are a go-to solution to add to your literature fulfillment services. Your customers will instantly see what you want them to see the moment they pick up their mailings, minus dirt, water damage and tears from mishandling.

Polybags keep your mailing pieces neatly together.

In the event you want to include smaller pieces to help make your mailings more meaningful, polybags are an ideal way to go. Perhaps you want to include a small item like an Allen key to help the customer assemble a buildable set that you are sending out. If your customer doesn’t see a small piece like this in an envelope, they could become frustrated and register their dissatisfaction online and elsewhere. With polybags, you can organize these small pieces easily and without any risk of losing them in the mailing process as opposed to them becoming lost in an envelope.

Is polybagging the right choice for your business?

Fulco Fulfillment Inc. located in Dover, New Jersey, is happy to help you easily transfer from traditional envelopes to polybagging. Combined, our polybagging and fulfillment solutions can help you lower the cost of your mailings and keep them better protected. Fulco Fulfillment Inc. is easily accessible to New York City, Philadelphia and many more of the United States largest cities. To learn more, give us a call 973.361.1700. We look forward to working with you.


Warehouse Fulfillment Technology Saves Clients Time & Money


Fulco Fulfillment’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) follows best practices to streamline every aspect of our warehouse management fulfillment processes.

While each client has its own needs, managing their differences doesn’t have to be an arduous process. Whatever the primary focus of your business, whether it is B2B, B2C or e-commerce, the flexible solutions offered by Fulco Fulfillment are guaranteed to meet your needs and scalable to grow along with you.

Warehouse efficiency is critical to operational success. Fulco Fulfillment WMS helps keep our warehouse organized, clean and accurate, so workers can be more productive and we can keep customers happy.

How WMS helps us focus on our warehouse fulfillment solutions

A Warehouse Fulfillment System Keeps Things Organized

In order to keep our warehouse running at tip-top efficiency, we utilize barcode technology in addition to a wide array of picking options and shipping station integrations that run in real time. When your company outsources warehouse services the last thing you need is unorganized mess that will set you up for failure. With our proprietary WMS system we can locate any inventory within the warehouse with just the push of a button. Before a receipt is submitted to the WMS, the system is told where the units we receive are to be located.

Thereafter, by engaging WMS we can select search or open, or use warehouse location services to drill down to specifics including where in the buildings, which aisle, which rack, which shelf and more.

Fulco Fulfillment also offers temperature monitored areas in the warehouse that range from approximately 60° F to 79° F, and we can provide reporting for tracking.

A Warehouse Fulfillment System Keeps Things Clean

One of the most important aspects of maintaining a warehouse is keeping it clean on a daily basis. This begins at the receiving dock which is kept clean and well organized. Orders that arrive are immediately expedited to their place in the warehouse so that the next order that comes in can be accepted without any clutter getting in the way.

Products more in-demand and moved around more often are kept closer to shipping, this allows for more efficient movement of goods throughout the warehouse. Stock in high demand is easier to handle on a regular basis if it is closer and more accessible. Transporting it across less space also means saving time and money.

A Warehouse Fulfillment System Keeps Things Accurate

Clients have the ability to set their own understock levels so they know when to replenish stock. Depending on the circumstances of every business, an e-mail reminder can be delivered the moment inventory dips below this level and a secondary e-mail notification can be delivered when the inventory becomes completely empty, reaching zero.

Fulco Fulfillment places tremendous importance on the accuracy of material received, because when receiving is out of order so is the rest of the warehouse. Proper inventory accuracy, faster order fulfillment, and an increase in overall receiving productivity are goals we constantly strive for.

When WMS receives the details of the inventory, clients have the ability to access multiple inquiry options and generate reports. Every product that is received through Fulco Fulfillment’s warehouse is recorded in the WMS, allowing the end user to navigate the information pertaining to all products with complete ease.

When receiving our clients’ specifications Fulco Fulfillment will make inquiries to determine the following information:

  • Products specifications: Do they include versions, lots or expiration dates?
  • Pallets: Can they be stacked, will they be floor loads, shrink-wrapped, what are the size requirements and are there labeling requirements?
  • Quality: What is the customer’s tolerance level of acceptable defects?
  • Carton sizes and types, including corrugated, branding, size limits and other considerations.

When it comes to receiving, our fulfillment director ensures the receipt of materials is done correctly, beginning with verifying all receipts by skid, carton and piece count against packing slips supplied. This is a critical part of the process because receiving mistakes often lead to negative impacts on future productivity and accuracy. Packing lists or shipping documents are signed off for accuracy. Any and all discrepancies are immediately reported to the client via e-mail. If necessary, images are taken and sent to the customer.

We use our receiving procedure to verify all quantities received and the data entered by our operators. Verifying goods received can depend on the cargo and customer expectations regarding:

  • Quantity
  • Description
  • Product code
  • Condition of goods
  • Weight of goods
  • Temperature, if applicable.
  • Receipt identification number
  • Customer name
  • Shipper name (vendor)
  • Purchase order

Once everything is confirmed, the material is put in its proper place in the warehouse, also known as “locating.” This allows a computerized manifest to be accessible on-line to our clients 24/7. If physical count of receipt quantities performed by Fulco Fulfillment does not match the packing list quantities, the client is notified immediately. The client can now contact the vendor to determine how to proceed and advise Fulco Fulfillment accordingly. This concludes with confirming that the putting away of the product is completed.

The Efficiency of Using Warehouse Space

Fulco Fulfillment’s warehouse is occupied with the inventory of a wide array of clients, each with their own variety of different sizes and shapes. We store it all. Utilizing vertical and horizontal space has always posed a challenge, but Fulco Fulfillment has the experience to circumvent any problems time and time again. By adding half-pallet locations, bins can be utilized in flow shelves whenever applicable. Our expertise helps us spot and engage underutilized space by reducing aisle width when it becomes available, consolidating the location of inventory, and reviewing the depth of the needs of storage.

To learn more about our warehousing services see https://fulcofulfillment.com/our-services/warehousing/ or give us a call at 973-361-1700. We look forward to assisting you making your business the best it can be.


Uniform Apparel Company Turns to Fulco Fulfillment to Reinvent Their Inventory Management


Fulco Fulfillment, Inc. (FFI) partnered with a rapidly expanding uniform apparel company that was quickly outgrowing their fulfillment and storage areas. They were looking for a 3PL partner that could handle their increasing sales and changing environment and needed a warehousing solution to assist with their supply meeting demand.

Faced with the dilemma that their previous fulfillment provider abruptly shut their doors and went out of business, they found FFI while looking for a suitable 3PL partner to handle their warehousing and fulfillment needs. Owners Jennifer Marcello and Tony Rossi visited the uniform apparel company’s current warehouse to review the current situation. They immediately noted the challenges ahead of them, that would be required to effectively organize the inventory. A lot of work needed to be done before being able to pick and pack orders. To properly manage an accurate inventory for our new client, we would need to work together.

Searching for a Smart Warehousing Solution

To begin, the uniform apparel company’s physical inventory was transferred to FFI’s facility which was then sorted, separated, re-labeled, counted, and placed in picking stations for order fulfillment. As time went by and demand for the apparel grew, so did the varieties and styles on their website.

Seeing the Need for Inventory Management

With all of the new varieties and styles of uniforms on their website and an increase in orders, the company saw that they were outgrowing their basic inventory management system which involved receiving a daily file upload for orders to be completed and shipped out. Working with the client, FFI implemented an API integration with their ecommerce system for real time inventory management.

Building Efficiencies to Accommodate Growth

FFI quickly saw the need to scale our client’s warehouse picking areas to accommodate their growth. With the use of a time study, FFI measured the length of time it took employees to pick orders of various sizes and complexities. Keeping the importance of prioritizing the quickest moving items in the front, over the next five weeks FFI reorganized the majority of warehouse inventory by moving our customer’s entire SKU (stock-keeping unit) list into a dedicated area. In addition, we reviewed the receiving process step by step looking to revamp the way that items came into the warehouse to further help streamline the process.

The Result: A Revamped Warehouse and Inventory Management System

After consolidating inventories into a singular location, FFI saw measured improvements of 14%-18% efficiency increase in our client’s pick rates. Our suggestions to the client on revamping the receiving of their inventory also saw a radical time improvement.

The inventory management ecommerce API integration works seamlessly and provides an interface for client access to live inventory numbers whenever they need them. The integration transmits orders via an automatic order import to FFI’s order management system (OMS) and seamlessly returns tracking information and does an inventory sync. We helped our client automate time-consuming and redundant tasks by replacing error prone manual processes.

With FFI’s help, the client benefitted from a streamlined order fulfillment and management system that helped get orders out faster and built a future-proof system that can scale as the company increases its sales and product offerings.

Need Help Streamlining Your Inventory Management? Contact Fulco Fulfillment Today!

At Fulco Fulfillment Inc., we are always looking for ways to work smarter and more efficiently when it comes to services like warehouse and inventory management. Call Fulco Fulfillment at 973-361-1700 to schedule your free consultation and get things moving with your company’s warehouse and inventory management.


Fulco Fulfillment, Inc. (FFI) to Attend 2020 Ecommerce Operations Summit, April 14-16, 2020


We are excited to announce that Fulco Fulfillment, Inc (FFI) will be attending the 2020 Ecommerce Operations Summit this April. We can’t wait to network with others in the industry, learn more about the latest fulfillment solutions available, and take home knowledge we can apply to our current processes.

If you’ll be in attendance, we’d love to catch up! Please email me directly jmarcello@ffiweb.com.

Fulco Fulfillment Ecommerce Operations Summit


Seamless Order Fulfillment Services and Ecommerce Fulfillment Services


Consumers want the products they order online delivered to their doors quickly and with the least bit of hassle. Are your order fulfillment services tasked to meet customers’ expectations for speed and no- or low-cost shipping?

If you’re a seller, it is difficult to meet those demands if you don’t have the processes and infrastructure in place to fulfill those orders quickly. Furthermore, once your customers get to their shopping cart, the sale can still be in jeopardy if the checkout experience is clumsy and time consuming. Consider:

  • Shoppers will abandon their shopping cart if shipping, taxes or other fees are too high.
  • Speed of delivery is an important factor in getting shoppers to click “Submit.”
  • A poor delivery and return experience will chase a customer away for good.
  • Shoppers are an impatient breed and will be more likely to cancel their order if there are slow delivery speeds or unexpected delays.

Are Order Fulfillment Services Right for Your Company?

If you’re trying to fulfill orders in-house and you’re running into problems because either volume is too high (which is a good thing), or your fulfillment team is stretched too thin and finding the right employees is difficult, it might be time for you to consider outsourcing your fulfillment services.

Why is Outsourcing Order Fulfillment Services a Good Idea?

Order fulfillment services for ecommerce sales consists of physically labor intensive processes that need to be handled efficiently to assure that your profit margin is not eaten up by wasted hours or temporary staff increases.

Order fulfillment services include storing inventory, picking and packing the products, and then shipping online orders to customers. A small ecommerce company with manageable orders taken might be able to handle this in house. However, as demand grows, calling upon a third-party logistics provider (3PL) such as Fulco Fulfillment Inc. is a more cost-effective option which can free you to concentrate on the other parts of running your business that can lead to continued growth.

The ecommerce order fulfillment process applies to both business-to-business (B2B) orders (where large quantities of product are shipped to big box retailers) as well as business-to-consumer (B2C) orders that are shipped directly to a shopper’s home.

When it comes to B2C orders, the consumer may place an order on the website of the merchant or through an online marketplace. Once the customer finishes their purchase, the fulfillment process kicks in and getting the order ready for shipment becomes the priority.

What is Your Order Fulfillment Services Strategy?

Every ecommerce business needs an order fulfillment services strategy to handle present orders and prepare for future growth so that infrastructure is in place to meet demand as the business grows.

These are some of the key considerations you’ll want to address:

Consider your location to optimize fulfillment.

Just because your business mostly runs online doesn’t mean that your physical location can make a huge difference in streamlining your ecommerce processes.

Besides the size of your storage, the location where you fulfill your orders is an important aspect that contributes to delivery costs and speed, and ultimately, customer satisfaction.

Optimizing your fulfillment operation based on where your customers reside will help you reach all the people you need to reach in the most cost-efficient manner.

For example, shipping orders to customers in the U.S. from overseas can take large amounts of time unless the customers are willing to pay significantly more for faster delivery. Focusing the shipping zone or how far a package travels will more often than not reduce the cost of shipping and the amount of time it takes to ship a package.

A fulfillment center such as Fulco Fulfillment Inc. is close to New York City and points all along the East Coast. This makes for affordable shipping to customers in areas where populations are concentrated. Taking it farther afield, it’s also possible to optimize fulfillment by distributing the inventory to multiple locations that are in the closest proximity to your customers. The more fulfillment resources that are near common shipping destinations the more ground shipping can be leveraged. This is significantly cheaper than any expedited air and much faster than shipping from a further distance.

Order fulfillment technology that integrates platforms is critical.

Software that integrates with an ecommerce platform and online marketplace, such as the technology available at Fulco Fulfillment Inc., can help your business manage orders across any sales channels without the need to manually upload or duplicate data entries. The Fulco Fulfillment, Inc. IT team works directly with EDI and API service providers to ensure seamless delivery of products to large retailers. As soon as an order is placed online, the fulfillment staff will quickly be alerted on their devices to pick, pack, and ship any items needed to the customer.

Fulco Fulfillment Inc. will send back any tracking information to the platform or marketplace that will then be shared with the customer, as well as track inventory quantities across fulfillment locations so you always know where you stand.

Leveraging platform integrations is critical to connecting upstream activities such as purchasing and manufacturing with downstream activities like sales and product demand so your business can make a more accurate purchasing and production decision when the time comes.

Looking to Incorporate Order Fulfillment Services into Your Ecommerce Business?

Call Fulco Fulfillment at 973-361-1700 to schedule your free consultation. We look forward to working with you in the future in expanding your business.


Fulco Fulfillment Inc. (FFI) Hires Marcello as Quality Assurance Supervisor


PRESS RELEASE

Dover, NJ – November 18, 2019 – Fulco Fulfillment Inc. is pleased to announce and welcome Anthony Marcello as Quality Assurance Supervisor.

Anthony brings with him 16+ years of experience managing national key accounts for Coca Cola. In addition, Anthony has a proven record of facilitating long term business relationships with his customers. His strong attention to detail and overall thoroughness is a skill set that serves him well in his current position. Anthony’s strong winning attitude and personality are assets that will complement and enhance FFIs full range of services.

In his role prior to joining FFI, Anthony managed Coca Cola’s relationship with Dunkin’ Donuts enjoying time as the Northeast Senior Sales Executive on the National Account Team. Most recently he maintained a portfolio of business generating gross annual gross sales in excess of 8 million dollars with responsibility for National Foodservice customers such as Wahlburgers, Bow Tie Cinemas, Ground Round, The Duchess Restaurants, National Amusements and Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino.

Tony Rossi, President of Fulco Fulfillment Inc, said “We’ve very excited to have Anthony on board. I am confident he will improve our internal processes and current SOPs. His depth of experience, knowledge and management capabilities will complement our growing success at FFI.”

More information about Anthony Marcello is available at the company’s About Us page.

Fulco Fulfillment Inc (FFI) in Dover, NJ has handled our clients’ warehousing and fulfillment needs since 2001. We have prided ourselves with dependable service and an experienced staff.

FFI is a well-established Third-Party Logistics (3PL) company that offers a full range of services including warehousing and distribution operations and extensive value-added services, such as re-packaging, labeling, and light assembly. We service a wide range of industries including consumer products, electronic products, nutraceuticals, health care products, and more. We own our warehouse facilities as well. Our IT Department works directly with EDI and API service providers to ensure seamless delivery of products to large retailers.


What is Dimensional Weight Pricing (DIM)?


In simple terms, DIM weight pricing is a way of calculating the fee associated with shipping a parcel based on that parcel’s size. The purpose of dimensional weight pricing is to take into account the cubic volume of the package in relation to the parcel’s actual weight. Businesses freight charges are no longer just calculated by how much their packages weigh, the new algorithm also calculates freight charges by how much space the package takes up on the truck or plane.

Carrier space is prime real estate and is priced as such.

With online shopping growing by leaps and bounds each year, carriers put tremendous value on the amount of space available in a truck, trailer or delivery van. Carriers want to discourage shippers from sending out oversized containers that are mainly packing materials, so shippers need to begin packing their products more efficiently so carriers are able to load more packages into the available space on each vehicle of transport. Packages that fail to meet these guidelines will cost more to ship.

DIM pricing, how is it calculated?

Dimensional weight pricing is calculated by dividing the volume of your package by the DIM factor, which is a mathematical constant that is considered as the base weight of one cubic foot of space and is correlated with a specific number given by each carrier.

THE DIMENSION WEIGHT CALCULATION = (Length x Height x Width)/DIM Factor

Using this calculation, freight carriers like FedEx, USPS or UPS calculate shipping charges based on whichever of the following numbers is greater: 1) the actual weight of the package or 2) its calculated dimensional weight. Whichever number is higher becomes your billable weight.

For example, if you are shipping a plush toy such as a stuffed teddy bear in a 12”x12”x12” box, the actual weight of the stuffed teddy bear, box and filler might add up to a total weight of 5 pounds. However, when you multiply the package dimensions and divide by the UPS or FedEx DIM factor of 166, the package’s dimensional weight comes out to 10 pounds which, because it’s the higher number, is how you’ll be billed.

Actual Weight = 5 pounds < 10 pounds DIM Weight

Check your carriers’ DIM factors, or call Fulco Fulfillment.

The current DIM divisor of DHL is 139, while UPS and FedEx are both 166. For international shipping, the DIM factor of both UPS and FedEx is 139. So imagine you were shipping that same plush teddy bear overseas using UPS or FedEx. Your DIM factor would be lower but your billable weight would be higher.

Actual Weight = 5 pounds < 12 pounds DIM weight

Essentially, the higher the DIM factor, the lower the dimensional weight and vice versa.

How Fulco Fulfillment Inc. can help you beat DIM pricing.

At Fulco Fulfillment Inc. we always believe there is a better way. We have over 35 years of experience helping our fulfillment customers save money on their shipping and freight costs. When it comes to DIM pricing, the results are no different: We will save you money. Here’s how:

  • Right-sized packaging to reduce DIM weight charges: Wasted space is wasted money. We pack as tightly as possible without allowing empty space that can drive up DIM weight charges. We use packing material that protects but won’t expand or leave a bulge, which if improperly calculated will increase your carrier costs. Our goal is to make sure the dimensional weight is less than the actual weight of the package.
  • Cut down on shipping high-volume, low-weight goods: This kind of packaging can take a real bite out of your margins, because the dimensional weights of high-volume, low-weight goods are much more than their actual weights. Fulco Fulfillment Inc. can suggest your best options to circumvent DIM pricing.
  • Pass the cost on to your customers: You never want to increase costs for your customers, but sometimes it’s the only way that makes sense for your business. A clear explanation of the DIM pricing mechanism to your customers can help alleviate any hard feelings. Most customers who are loyal to your products will not fuss over a small increase in shipping costs.

DIM weight pricing expertise and all of your fulfillment and distribution needs under one roof.

To stay competitive in your industry you need to watch every dollar and how it’s spent. When it comes to saving money in carrier costs, Fulco Fulfillment Inc. can help you weigh the opportunities and drive lower costs because every aspect of your fulfillment and distribution can be handled from under one roof.

To learn more give us a call at 973-361-1700 or use the contact form here and we’ll be in touch.