Earthblog

To bring better service to their customers and expand their market reach, Atlanta-based fulfillment company, SBC Fulfillment will enter into a joint venture agreement starting July 1, 2010. The decision to partner with Utah-based fulfillment company, Integracore came after SBC Fulfillment President, Brian Schoenbaechler wanted to have a stronger east coast presence with the option of expanding into the west coast region.

"After 14 years in business this was the next logical step to position ourselves for growth while continuing to provide topnotch service to our customers," says Schoenbaechler.

Integracore and SBC Fulfillment will share 60,000 square feet of warehouse space located in Austell, Georgia. The move will allow both companies to expand their operations and if all goes according to plan, their space could jump to over 600,000 square feet over the next 2-3 years, according to Integracore CEO, Ted Broman. Integracore''s Utah warehouses currently exceed 620,000 square feet, which is exactly the growth that both Broman and Schoenbaechler would like to mirror in Georgia.

Besides changing it’s name to Integracore Atlanta, LLC, SBC Fulfillment is slated to launch their new website on July 6, 2010. SBC''s clients can expect to get the same level of customer service and attention. "Our clients are our number one priority. Nothing will change for them, in fact, this will allow more opportunity for their growth as well," says Schoenbaechler.

Be sure to check back next week for updates and a link to their new site.

Tags: fulfillment | business | georgia | outsourcing | warehousing

Hits: 1332

The 21st Annual “State of Logistics Report ® ” released this week by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) , showed an economic slip in the U.S. logistics industry. The annual report, presented by Penske Logistics, cited that lower inventory levels, a drop in modes of transportation and interest rates (which hit historic lows) contributed to the decline which dropped to 7.7 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Profit in 2009. A sharp decline considering the 2008 rate was at 9.3 percent.

By mid-year in 2009, warehouses, which were full of inventory earlier in the year, dropped 2 percent due to inventory relocation or movement. These empty spaces combined with a fall in inventory-carrying costs and plummeting interest rates were to blame.

Additionally, the report revealed that out of all the modes of transportation, trucking (which accounts for a large percentage of transportation) dropped 9 percent in the amount of tonnage transported. Other modes of transportation such as rail and ocean carriers were also hit hard. In spite of lowering their rates, some ocean carriers continued to report historic losses. However, by the close of 2009, the air cargo industry showed a stronger finish. Elements such as a large amount of space and a lack of freight to move, has caused shippers to continue to drop their rates.

But not all the report’s findings are doom and gloom. According to Penske Logistics President, Vince Hartnett, the trucking and supply chain industries are showing signs of turning around in the right direction. If this positive ripple effect continues, trucking and logistics firms will need to add capacity resulting in additional jobs for drivers.

The “State of Logistics Report ®” released their first report and findings back in 1988 and continues to provide valuable information related to the U.S. supply chain process. Each year the report factors in key measurements such as transportation, freight volumes, inventory-carrying costs and revenues.

Tags: logistics | industry | report | warehousing | supply chain | air freight

Hits: 2031

Tags: fulfillment | kitting | packaging | warehousing | Gulf of Mexico | oil spill

Hits: 1652

by Angela Cavallari Walker

In an effort to keep up with the Top 500 web-only businesses, consumer brand manufacturers are turning to online selling to stay in the more lucrative e-commerce game.

Amazon.com leads the list of the Top 500 web-only merchants with 52.2% of all web sales. The online retail giant increased their sales from $12.1 billion in 2007 to $14 billion in 2008. If you take Amazon.com out of the equation, manufacturers stand to gain the most as one of the fastest-growing groups in Internet Retailer’s Top 500 Guide.

In the past, most manufacturers have been hesitant to create an online store that would sell directly to consumers. One cited reason was that is might upset or weaken their relationships with distributors and traditional retailers. According to industry analysts, larger chain stores such as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, and Best Buy are able to better negotiate inventory and pricing with manufacturers through purchasing power. Retailers such as J.C. Penny have focused on producing their own private label brands. This presents a larger threat to consumer brand manufacturers that can be leveraged by selling directly to consumers online. Apple Inc. (number 5 on the list) grew their web sales to $39.4 million in 2008, an increase of over 55%. Brand manufacturers such as: American Apparel, Vera Bradley and Jones also increased their revenues through online transactions.

This trend also creates opportunities and advantages for online merchants seeking a simpler and more streamlined approach to fulfillment. “We are continuing to develop tools and technology that is targeted to the online retail industry,” says SBC Fulfillment President, Brian Schoenbaechler. The Georgia order fulfillment company, launched two connectors last year that allow companies using AbleCommerce and Magento e-commerce software to directly tie into their warehousing, packaging, shipping and fulfillment services. “ The future of the retail industry is dependent on e-commerce, and we want to be a part of this ongoing growth.”

Tags: fulfillment technology | warehousing | packaging | ecommerce

Hits: 934

by Angela Cavallari Walker

Approximately 20% of businesses are currently outsourcing their fulfillment and only 4% of companies are considering using an outside source, says a survey on Operations & Fulfillment conducted by Multichannel Merchant’s Outlook 2010. Additionally, the same percentage of respondents outsource their call center services while 14% of respondents are strongly considering using a call center service.

However, industry experts expect this percentage to rise. One cited reason is the realization that operations can be better controlled by outsourcing to a reputable company. Most importantly, this gives companies the opportunity to focus on merchandising and marketing-the core to sustaining and increasing sales.

While it may have made financial sense a decade ago to handle fulfillment internally, business owners now have to manage the current rising costs of fulfillment. In most cases, direct merchants are able to reduce overall internal fulfillment costs by outsourcing.

Buying Power

The biggest fulfillment expense lies in shipping product to the end customer. Fulfillment outsourcing can reduce a company's internal fulfillment cost through shipping volumes which directly effects freight expenditures.  One key advantage to outsourcing is technology. Order fulfillment companies such as, SBC Fulfillment, spend the investment of researching and purchasing software that supports payment method systems. Recently, SBC added a QuickBooks Connector that directly ties into their online (WMS) Warehouse Management System, SmartTurn.

However, outsourcing does carry some risk. Pick a company that doesn’t understand your industry and products and you could be in hot water. If you do decide to outsource, here are some factors to consider.

-Current Costs You will want to include all your current expenditures to make a sound decision. Be sure to also calculate the current cost of technology, warehousing overhead, hiring and time. Your total annual costs will allow you to better calculate your savings.

-One size does not fit all Each merchant is as unique as their product. When choosing a vendor, be sure that they can or have had experience working with the same or similar merchandise as yours.

-Investigate inventory capabilities One of your largest considerations should be what type of tools your potential vendor uses. Fulfillment services can vary based on their experience with their clients past and current inventory. Improper management of your inventory can not only cause you to lose customers but will severely damage your business’s reputation.

-Pay a visit Before signing on the bottom line, you will want to take a tour of your potential vendor’s site. This may involve sitting in on phone calls (if you are considering call center outsourcing) or taking a tour of their warehouse. Pay particular attention to the rhythm of their operations and determine if that meets yours as well. This would also be a great opportunity to meet your assigned client manager should you decide to go with them.

-Take their services for a test drive Most reputable vendors will allow you to try out their services during a trial period. This can help you evaluate their communication systems, reporting capabilities and day-to-day operations.

-Negotiate your needs When it comes to contract length you will want to go with a term that makes the most sense for your potential vendor and your company. Contracts ranging between two and three years is a good start. Be sure to also cover any potential price increases that might arise in the future.

-Stay involved Keep your vendor informed of any company changes that would directly affect the execution of their services.

To learn more about fulfillment and call center outsourcing visit www.sbcfulfillment.com.

Tags: operations | warehousing | georgia | call center | fulfillment | outsourcing

Hits: 1362

Georgia order fulfillment company, SBC Fulfillment launched a new QuickBooks Connector this week. The new technological option follows the release of SBC's Magento and AbleCommerce connectors which rolled out late last year. SBC's new QuickBooks Connector will allow any business using QuickBooks Online and 2002-20008 versions to directly integrate and outsource all their fulfillment functionality and capabilities.

It is estimated that more than 600,000 small and medium sized businesses will purchase and use QuickBooks software within the first year of starting their company. To keep this option affordable, SBC will offer this option as a pay-as-you-go for your warehouse inventory control. Most importantly, the new Connector will allow QuickBooks users easy access to integrate their inventory, create purchase orders and sales orders, and sync all their QuickBooks records. One of the most powerful features and advantages available through this Connector is SBC Fulfillment's web-based inventory management system, SmartTurn. This warehouse management system, will give QuickBooks customers the ability to view their inventory from anywhere 24/7.

SBC Fulfillment's QuickBooks Connector features include:

-Risk-Free Subscription Pricing

-QuickBooks Inventory Integration

-Creation of receipts and shipments in SBC Fulfillment’s WMS based on QuickBooks inventory orders

-Ability to maintain a single system of record

-Inventory Reconciliation values between SBC Fulfillment’s WMS and QuickBooks

-Smart QuickBooks Inventory Management

-Real-time and Accurate Data Management with SBC Fulfillment's Warehouse Management System

Additionally, SBC has extended their integration-ready outsourcing solution to other popular accounting systems including: Peachtree, Intacct, Sage MAS 90/200/500, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics-GP, Oracle E-Business Suite and SAP ERP.

Tags: technology | QuickBooks | warehousing | fulfillment | outsourcing

Hits: 1156

by Angela Cavallari Walker

According to a survey conducted by The Logistics & Supply Chain Forum, a large percentage of companies are not currently working with a 3PL or third party logistics company.

Of those surveyed, 23% felt that other fulfillment options were a better fit for their companies. One cited reason for this response was the belief that business owners could better control the level of service, cost and quality. Almost half of the other respondents had not even taken the time to review or weigh the option of using a third-party logistics provider.

Fulfillment outsourcing offers many opportunities for companies to control the shipping and fulfillment process without the hidden headaches associated with managing a warehouse, staff and equipment. Most fulfillment outsourcing now includes access to technological offerings such as a Warehouse Management System (WMS.) These systems are integral to the success of managing the storage and movement of inventory in a warehouse and depending on the level or tier can cost anywhere from $35,000 up to $2,500,000.

For fulfillment outsourcing companies such as, SBC Fulfillment, it was important to offer all the access to this technology as well as the control that business owners seek. "Technology continues to be a big driver in our service offerings," says SBC President Brian Schoenbaechler. SBC refers to their Warehouse Management System, SmartTurn as the "glass warehouse" effect, where companies still have the control to view what is going on with their inventory anytime from anywhere.

More reputable fulfillment services companies, such as SBC Fulfillment offer a dedicated client account manager and a customer service support team. By outsourcing their fulfillment, business owners are better able to hold fulfillment companies accountable to a higher level of service.

Perhaps the most surprising feedback from this survey is the amount of opportunity still on the table for both the fulfillment and 3PL industries.

Tags: warehousing | outsourcing | fulfillment | 3PL | WMS

Hits: 1161

by Angela Cavallari Walker

SBC Fulfillment would like to welcome it's newest client, Cox Culinary Emporium. In this article, we will focus on those beautiful place settings through the eyes of a fulfillment company.  How does that elegant stemware find its way into the hands of party goers and guests? Here is the backstory to those special occasion settings.

A Seamless Process

Christmas is right around the corner, and fulfillment companies such as SBC are also gearing up. Take for instance that cocktail plate your coconut shrimp and dip are delicately resting on. What about that robust red wine that you are sipping in that beautifully-etched goblet? The process of getting those items into the hands of catering and party planners is accomplished through many solutions, including: kitting and assembly , packing, warehousing, order management, and customer service support . The first step involves the kitting and assembly process. Cox wanted the ability to focus on their core business without the distraction of having to organize and physically manage their inventory.

Their diverse items are ordered directly from the manufacturer and shipped to SBC where they are kitted and assembled . The kitting process refers to the act of picking parts or products from stock that require packaging. Items such as Cox's BPA-free LANITA WARE champagne flutes are picked by part number.  SBC's staff carefully packages each product and stores them in their 60,000 square feet of warehouse space. Cox is able to view product inventory such as their Clear Universal Utensil (an environmentally-friendly and elegant spork) at any time, from any computer with internet access.

Focusing on your business needs

Because Cox wanted to continue to market and grow their line of products, utilizing SBC's seasoned and knowledgeable customer service team was a must. By outsourcing this support, Cox can also avoid the expense of hiring and training a full customer support staff.

About the Client

Cox Culinary Emporium is an Atlanta-based company that serves up a line of LANITA WARE -a proprietary, dishwasher safe and BPA-free collection of plates, utensils and drink ware. Their extensive line of serving ware is casual enough for a barbeque but classy enough for a cocktail party.

To learn more about SBC Fulfillment and what they can do for your business click here

Tags: warehousing | packaging | holiday | Thanksgiving | outsourcing | fulfillment

Hits: 655

by Angela Cavallari Walker

Today's small business owners are turning to fulfillment outsourcing as a way to reduce their shipping costs, manage and control their inventory and streamline their processes. According to Brian Schoenbaechler, President of SBC Fulfillment, this not only gives merchants more control of shipping and packaging costs but allows owners to focus on increasing their bottom line. “Business owners want to spend more time on what they do best, which is running their business,” says Schoenbaechler.  Here are a few questions and answers to help navigate the best time and solution when seeking a fulfillment partner.

What is fulfillment outsourcing?
Simply stated, fulfillment outsourcing is the practice of using an outside vendor to store inventory and ship product to customers as orders are received. Other terms related to outsourcing fulfillment include: 3PL (third Party Logistics), outsourced warehousing and distribution centers. Over the years, fulfillment outsourcing has become a preferred method of managing back-office operations. Companies such as, SBC Fulfillment focus on handling this arduous task which can be costly and time-consuming.

Why not rent or build your own warehouse space?
According to Schoenbaechler, the estimated cost of renting and maintaining just 20,000 square feet of warehouse space can run as high as 100,000 annually. “This doesn't include other variables such as the liability of hiring employees to manage this space,” says Schoenbaechler.  Fulfillment companies are able to charge merchants a fixed cost for only the space that they use to store their inventory. Additionally, fulfillment companies typically offer larger warehouse space enabling merchants to expand and grow their business.

What role can a fulfillment network play in the world of Ecommerce?
Whether you are using USPS, FedEx, or UPS to deliver your goods your shipping was already being outsourced. Today, fulfillment companies are turning to technology to ease outsourcing for Ecommerce and traditional merchants. This “glass warehouse” concept gives businesses the ability to view their inventory, track and ship their orders all online from anywhere.  SBC has taken this technology a step further by offering a product called, Magento Connect - an application that allows current or new Magento customers to plug into SBC's warehouse management system.

When should a business consider outsourcing fulfillment?
Every business is different but all share the common goal of increasing productivity and profit. Here are some points to ponder when thinking of a good time to outsource.

Growth periods- As business sales increase so do does the need to be prepared to handle the volume without any hiccups.

Reducing costs- Outsourcing is a good way to view your current expenditures and cut your current costs.

Global growth- International growth can be risky. By outsourcing you assume less of that risk and are able to test the market without investing additional time and cost.

What should businesses look for when seeking a fulfillment company?
A good place to start would be through a referral. This could be a fellow business owner that you trust or through the Better Business Bureau .  Either way, you want to find a fulfillment partner that you can trust.  Here are a few other questions you should ask before making a decision.

Do you offer a trial period?  Before handing over your entire inventory see if the fulfillment company can provide a trial period for a smaller amount of inventory.

What software platform do they offer?  You will want to make sure that you are able to plug into their warehouse management system without the cost of purchasing software.

What is the location of their warehouse? Is the warehouse location/locations centrally located to where you will be shipping?

What are the terms and pricing of their contracts? Be sure to look for hidden costs and long-term contracts.

To learn more about fulfillment outsourcing or to obtain a quote click here

Tags: outsourcing | fulfillment | warehousing | ecommerce | georgia | magento

Hits: 1145

Tags: fulfillment | distribution | atlanta | warehousing | import | export | outsourcing

Hits: 776

by Angela Cavallari Walker

You may have heard of longtime SBC Fulfillment client Hal Leonard-literally! For the past 60 years they have been putting sheet music and instructional books into the hands of eager students young and old alike.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this company got it''s start in the late 1930s when brothers Harold "Hal" Edstrom, Everett Edstrom, and close friend Roger Busdicker formed a successful dance band. The Edstroms'' father was not thrilled about the prospect of his sons becoming traveling musicians, so Hal and Everett decided to merge their names and became known as the Hal Leonard band. The name not only stuck for the band, but for band leader Everett as well.

Eventually the Hal Leonard Band broke up, and then in 1947 after a successful run at directing high school bands Hal and Roger formed the Hal Leonard print and publishing company. It was their talent for orchestrating mainstream musical hits into school band arrangements that got the attention of other band directors throughout the United States.

Today, Hal Leonard''s printed books and music materials are sold in 65 countries and 7,500 stores and distributors throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1998 SBC Fulfillment has been the state depository and a distributor in Georgia for Hal Leonard.

Throughout the summer months, SBC Fulfillment warehouses, inventories, and ships these textbooks to classrooms in Georgia before the start of the school year. And for students that is music to their ears.

Tags: warehousing | georgia | Education | fulfillment

Hits: 1475

Annual logistics report shows Georgia as top shipping port in nation

Georgia''s shipping industry is a bright spot in a dark economy, says the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) in its annual report released this month.

The Port of Savannah was one of only three international ports to see gains and experienced the largest increase of TEUs of all top ten ports. The logistics industry uses twenty foot equivalent units or TEU''s-a term of measurement used in intermodal transport. Savannah''s port traffic increased its TEU volume by an impressive 3.65%.

According to Georgia Port Authority (GPA) over the next 10 years, Savannah''s container terminal will be adding more efficient equipment designed to move cargo at much higher speeds.  Additionally, the Savannah channel depth will rise from 42 to 48 feet to make room for larger ships carrying heavier loads of international cargo.

The CSCMP report found a decrease of over 11% in air freight volumes for Georgia, and 9.4% nationally. A major reason for this decrease can be blamed on a financially flopping economy and inflated fuel costs in 2008. International cargo was impacted slightly less than domestic freight. However, in May of 2009, Atlanta''s Hartsfield-Jackson received the coveted World Air Cargo Award for "Airport of the Year" - bragging rights for Georgia''s logistics industry.

Other promising factors for continued growth in Georgia include $932 million in highway stimulus funds, and the pressure to create more efficient ways of moving goods throughout the world.

Tags: supply chain | import | export | operations | warehousing | georgia

Hits: 1194

SBC Fulfillment would love to be your Georgia Depository!

Southern Book Company differentiates itself from the other Textbook Depositories in the State of Georgia based on our Exceptional Level of Service. We pride ourselves not on being the biggest depository, but on being “The Easiest to do business with…”

Educational publishers interested in bidding textbooks, software, and other media in Georgia often find our many years of experience working with the Georgia Department of Education to be very helpful. By coaching publishers through the adoption process, we have achieved an excellent reputation in the Textbook Publishing Industry as a friend of Publishers and Education Administrators. Georgia’s bid specifications and regulations sometimes appear quite stringent and demanding. SBC Fulfillment helps publishers take the worry and headaches out of the textbook evaluation process.

Georgia law specifies that all publishers wishing to do business with the Georgia Department of Education must warehouse their textbooks and materials within the state or ship to Georgia schools free of charge. SBC Fulfillment acts as the exclusive textbook depository in Georgia for University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Alfred Publishers, Hal Leonard Corporation, Santillana USA, REI America Inc., Warner Bros. Publications, and William H. Sadlier.

SBC Fulfillment is the only “full service” depository in Georgia to retrieve non-adopted textbook samples at the district level. We are the only depository guaranteeing delivery of Georgia Textbook Evaluation Samples for our contracted publishers. No project is too big or too small for our Georgia distribution centers.

Here is the link to the list of depositories in the State of Georgia.

Tags: georgia | fulfillment | Education | warehousing

Hits: 858

After traveling over 1,500 miles and carrying a total of 709 boxes, the 2009 Georgia State Site Deliveries have finally come to an end. This year SBC Fulfillment assisted 17 different publishers by delivering and setting up their materials at each of the 13 sites scattered around the state. The deliveries began on Monday June 22^nd and ended the following Friday. The week proved a great success and was executed smoothly (other than the occasional under-sized table).

SBC Fulfillment received materials from publishers all across the nation. After receiving the materials, SBC sorted them by site and by publisher. Once all materials were received, they were staged by site for delivery. SBC had two teams to go out on the deliveries, each carrying one-two sites to the predetermined locations. The routes were coordinated in a manner that minimized the time and distance traveled. The drivers used GPS and other mapping technologies to take them from site to site.

At each site, the materials were taken out of their boxes and setup for display. “Each publisher’s materials were setup as if they were our own” says Andy Whitaker, Project Manager for the Georgia State Site Deliveries. It took an average of approximately two hours per site to deliver and setup all materials. Before the week of the deliveries, SBC did a mock-setup of the materials for each publisher to eliminate any surprises and to ensure that the materials were setup in a uniform manner at each site. Of course, some creativity had to be used at certain sites due to space constraints.

SBC Fulfillment continues to be a low-cost, high-quality service provider to all publishers. If you were not on board for the GA State Site Deliveries this year, be sure to sign up next year!

SBC Fulfillment also offers other services such as assembling of sample boxes, sample distributions, book retrievals, product storage, and sample box retrofitting.

Tags: fulfillment | operations | warehousing | georgia

Hits: 619

Tags: operations | fulfillment | outsourcing | warehousing

Hits: 734

I read this grat article today on "How to select a 3PL." It is written by David Blanchard.

Link

Here is a summary

Before selecting a third-party logistics provider (3PL), Marc Tanowitz, principal with Pace Harmon, an outsourcing advisory services firm, suggests that manufacturers consider these five fundamentals:

Know Your Demand

Master (and Own) the Forecast

Set Clear and Fair Expectations

Measure Business Impact

Tags: outsourcing | fulfillment | operations | warehousing | supply chain

Hits: 671

I ran into this great article called "The Dos and Don''ts of Third-Party Logistics."written By David Blanchard.

Link

Here is a summary

Tags: warehousing | outsourcing | fulfillment | operations

Hits: 465

Tags: outsourcing | import | fulfillment | operations | warehousing | sustainability

Hits: 525

Over the years we have performed various projects for many of you. First of all I would like to thank you for your business! Please let us know if we can help you with any future warehousing, distribution, packaging, and/or fulfillment needs.

Also, if you have a moment, would you be so kind as to post your comments to our Google profile.  We have found that we are getting new customers from Google searches, so we are working on increasing our relevancy with Google .  A review will go a long way in improving our ability to be searched on Google .  However, it does require a Google account; if you do not have one then we appreciate your feedback none the less. I have provided a link below.

SBC Fulfillment Review Link

Thank you for your business,

Brian

Tags: outsourcing | fulfillment | packaging | warehousing | ecommerce | georgia

Hits: 664

As I write this I cannot help but think of the James Taylor song “Carolina in my mind .” This song has a certain sadness to it. I must say, building a business more fun than taking a business apart. SBC Fulfillment has not been immune to this year’s recession. In the past, we thought the textbook business to be recession proof; however this year is proving that theory wrong. As a result of these tough economic times, we closed down our North Carolina warehouse effective June 1, 2009. Chad Ross has done a wonderful job the past 12 years running the North Carolina Operation. He has been a tremendously loyal and hard working employee. Many of you have sent me letters over the years singing praises over his performance. Chad and I really appreciate the work you have given us into the North Carolina facility. Chad Ross and his team would like to say thank you to everyone in the textbook publishing industry with whom he has worked over the years. Chad is moving into the next phase of his professional career. I believe Chad plans to start his own business, providing services similar to those he performed for SBC over the years. Since SBC Fulfillment will not be supporting the North Carolina Caravan this year, I would encourage you to contact him at the following email if you are interested in his services. Chad can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thank you for your support over the years. SBC Fulfillment will continue operations from our Atlanta Georgia facility. If we can assist you with your warehousing, distribution, packagings, and/or fulfillment needs, please do not hesitate to give me a call at 678-370-0772.

Sincerely,

Brian Schoenbaechler

President

SBC Fulfillment

Tags: north carolina | fulfillment | operations | packaging | warehousing | outsourcing

Hits: 431