June 6, 2024 / By westwaywarehouse
If you are not familiar with the industry, finding a fulfilment partner can be a bit of a minefield! With so many to choose from, it’s important to do your research and find one that will work for your business. You need to assess business needs such as location, product types, scale; and decide what your requirements are from a fulfilment partner before launching into a working relationship with a new fulfilment partner.
Partnering with the right logistics company can take your business to the next level. Building a relationship with a fulfilment partner that has expertise in your industry can provide invaluable knowledge to enhance your customer offering and overall brand reputation.
What is a fulfilment company?
In short, a fulfilment company is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider that manages the storage, picking, packing and posting of goods on behalf of another business. The variety of services offered depends on the fulfilment company; at Westway we offer everything from inventory management and order processing to returns and analytics. The more we do, the more time you have to focus on growing your business.
What to consider when choosing your fulfilment partner
Location
Location is a huge factor when choosing a fulfilment partner. With the rise in popularity of next or same day delivery, businesses need to know that their orders will be fulfilled in a timely manner.
We offer UK, EU and worldwide distribution. We are located just 40 minutes from Liverpool and Manchester airport with direct access to the UK motorway network. We are also just 30 miles from the QVC warehouse in Liverpool which means we are consistently able to meet our QVC clients’ needs.
We are located 15 minutes from Chester train station which is a two hour direct journey to London Euston. This makes it super easy for clients to come and see us and their stock whenever they like.
Scale
The size of your business will significantly impact who you should choose as a fulfilment partner. Smaller businesses tend to value flexibility and cost-effectiveness more than larger businesses. As Westway we have the ability to work on both a large and small scale. We can scale with you as your business grows and develops.
We understand the constant pressure to adapt to changing market trends so are flexible and agile in our approach. We regularly work with businesses that require us to scale up for seasonal campaigns.
Products
The type of products you offer will impact on who you should opt for as a fulfilment partner. Westway are specialists in health and beauty fulfilment and work with brands such as NailsINC, Philip Kingsley and NEOM Organics.
We have worked with beauty brands for more than 20 years and understand the particular fulfilment process.
Sustainable practices
Consumer awareness around sustainability is growing and businesses are under increasing pressure to meet environmental goals. At Westway we are continually working to cut down on wasteful packaging wherever possible and to recycle as much as we can. We offer advice to all our clients on packaging to ensure they are using products that work for their customers AND the planet.
We make our own packaging out of thick brown paper to ensure your products arrive in pristine condition with minimal environmental impact.
Sustainable practices
Consumer awareness around sustainability is growing and businesses are under increasing pressure to meet environmental goals. At Westway we are continually working to cut down on wasteful packaging wherever possible and to recycle as much as we can. We offer advice to all our clients on packaging to ensure they are using products that work for their customers AND the planet.
We make our own packaging out of thick brown paper to ensure your products arrive in pristine condition with minimal environmental impact.
Reporting and communication
We believe communication is the key to success. Our ethos of transparency & open communication is what the working relationships we have with our clients are built upon. When you choose to partner with Westway, you’ll be assigned a dedicated account manager who will work closely with your business to build long a lasting partnership for mutual success.
We provide detailed reporting and regular updates so you can plan ahead. We make sure our clients are always kept up to date on the things that matter like customer feedback, inventory levels and order status.
We are dedicated to delivering a high quality service tailored to your individual business needs. Contact us to find out how choosing Westway as your fulfilment partner can elevate your e-commerce business.