by Angela Cavallari Walker

According to a statement released by AmericasMart Atlanta, the U.S. economy presents a positive outlook in the new year for the retail industry. The giant marketplace will host eight shows throughout 2010 featuring local and international vendors.

The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market Show held earlier this month set new benchmarks and record buying. One reason for this upward trend is the expansion of new product categories and product introductions. Increasingly, retailers, manufacturers, and importers looking to gain exposure of their newly introduced products are turning to these shows to debut their wares.

Exhibitors continue to be a mixed bag of specialty shops, first-timers, multi-store retailers and longtime AmericasMart vendors. One newcomer, Cumberland Designs was able to successfully promote two new products. The online retailer carries a line of collegiate logo products including: pumpkins, wax and LED candles.

Cumberland partnered with SBC Fulfillment last year to design and create their website using Magento-a leading eCommerce software. Additionally, SBC handles Cumberland's fulfillment services including: warehousing, kitting, packaging and shipping.

AmericasMart hopes that this momentum will continue to bring back confidence for consumers and retailers in and beyond 2010.

Tags: fulfillment | magento | retail | georgia | ecommerce | economy

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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

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by Angela Cavallari Walker

In a new study titled: “E-Commerce Trends for 1010” conducted by FFP Global, found that online businesses and retailers are more likely to use regional fulfillment companies.  According to the latest study, the largest cited reason for this trend is the lower shipping costs and the faster turnaround in delivering these products to consumers.

Regional fulfillment companies such as Atlanta-based,  SBC Fulfillment are able to offer low-cost shipping charges while increasing their clients'''' operations.  SBC''s SmartTurn Warehouse Management System is an invaluable tool that allows fulfillment customers to order, ship and track those orders all online from anywhere. “In talking with our customers, we found that technology played a big role in providing the most comprehensive fulfillment process”, says SBC President Brian Schoenbaechler.  SBC''s 60,000 square feet of warehouse space is strategically located near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the heart of Atlanta''s busiest industrial park.

FFP projects that our current economic situation will continue to pressure online retailers into meeting the demands of deal-seeking consumers and faster shipping windows.

The study also found that fuel costs were a big driver for retailers to seek regional fulfillment providers.  For e-commerce companies this solves two problems: reducing fuel surcharges and increasing delivery times.  Another fulfillment trend that will continue includes the ability to drop-ship directly from manufactures to retailers'' customers.

In order to effectively drop-ship, retailers need a comprehensive order management and customer contact system that can seamlessly communicate with suppliers.  "We work closely with our merchants to ensure the most accuracy," says Schoenbaechler.

Customer service and mobile commerce will continue to play a role as regional fulfillment companies strive to meet these challenges.

To learn more about SBC Fulfillment click here

Tags: export | fulfillment | e-commerce | shipping | georgia | trends | outsourcing | import

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Tags: magento | application | fulfillment | outsourcing | georgia | packaging | supply chain

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by Angela Cavallari Walker

Local outdoors store The Gear Revival sets their sights on increasing its online sales through fulfillment company’s e-commerce offerings.

North by southeast

The Gear Revival specializes in selling new and refurbished outdoor equipment to enthusiasts at its retail Atlanta location and ships online orders all over the United States.

TGR virtually got its start in April of 2005 when founders Mitch Davis and David Kramer were looking for ways to recoup money from leftover outdoor product samples. At the time, Davis and Kramer were traveling salesmen hawking various outerwear to stores as far away as Seattle, Washington. “At the end of the selling season we were stuck with all these sample overcoats with no way to get our money back”, says Davis.

The idea came to them to unload their wares at a discounted rate on the popular reseller site, Ebay. They soon found themselves unable to keep up with the demand and in June 2006 their virtual store became a reality when The Gear Revival opened its brick-and-mortar doors in downtown Atlanta.

Back to their roots

For owner Mitch Davis an online presence is key when dealing with seasonal outdoor gear. “Part of it is the south has limited cold weather”, says Davis. Atlantans tend to be transplants from around the country and globe. Most will choose colder environments, be it their hometown or a vacation destination.

According to Davis, approximately 30% of their inventory is made up of gently-used and refurbished products varying from kayaks to backpacks. These second hand items add up to big savings for outdoor enthusiasts. To reach those out-of-state customers you need to have a strong e-commerce site. Davis, who has been unhappy with his current e-commerce software, was looking for better reporting and an easier way to process online credit card orders and tie in a shipping solution.

Expandable Solutions

SBC Fulfillment’s partnership with e-commerce software company Magento made it possible to provide the best possible solution to expand The Gear Revival’s online selling presence. SBC will be able to increase the security and ease of online credit card orders through Magento’s PayPal Merchant Pro product.

Additionally, SBC Fulfillment will streamline the effectiveness and accuracy of their online orders by setting up shipping through both UPS and the USPS. “We want to provide our clients with the best e-commerce shopping cart system in the industry,” says SBC Fulfillment CEO Brian Schoenbachler.

To learn more about SBC Fulfillment and their partnership with Magento click here

Tags: ecommerce | georgia | fulfillment | magento

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Outsourcing your fulfillment needs just got easier with a new e-commerce website application called Magento Connect. Atlanta-based shipping and fulfillment company, SBC Fulfillment announced today that it would roll out this new application in September, which will allow current and potential customers who utilize Magento''s e-commerce sites to outsource their shipping and fulfillment services with one keystroke.

SBC Fulfillment and Magento collaborated to create a bridge for those that already use Magento''s e-commerce product, but are seeking ways to reduce their shipping and inventory costs through outsourcing. The application ties into SBC''S comprehensive Warehouse Management System, and allows clients to inventory, ship, track and manage their orders.

Typically, businesses would have shouldered the expenses associated with building their own data integration piece, and purchasing/managing the WMS or warehouse management system.

According to SBC President and CEO, Brian Schoenbachler, this application is very similar to computer and software company Apple''s app store, but with no additional cost to companies that outsource their fulfillment services to SBC. "The purpose of the connector is to make us the most Magento-friendly fulfillment house on the internet", says Schoenbachler.

SBC e-commerce and fulfillment client, Nature''s Cradle Foods is the first business to go live with this exciting new technology and Brian couldn''t be more thrilled with the results. "This application will make it easier than ever for customers to integrate their fulfillment services."

For companies that need an e-commerce site built, SBC Fulfillment could create one using Magento''s state-of-the-art e-commerce platform. Magento''s features include: marketing and promotions tools, reporting, search engine optimization (URLs and Google site map), site management, catalog management/browsing, mobile commerce (iphone optimization), and checkout and payment management.

To learn more about Magento and this new application Click Here

Tags: magento | fulfillment | outsourcing | ecommerce | georgia

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Are Supply Chains Becoming More Regional?

Tags: operations | supply chain | fulfillment | georgia

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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

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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

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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

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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

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The 2009 Georgia Textbook Submissions evaluation period is coming to an end. The dates set for retrievals from the Evaluation Sites are for the week of July 20^th – July 24^th. SBC Fulfillment will be offering retrieval services to all publishers. SBC would retrieve all materials remaining at each of the sites and coordinate the returns to each publisher.

SBC Fulfillment offers these services at the rate of $9 per box per site, with a minimum fee of $50 per site. If you wish to be added to the list, please contact Andy Whitaker at 678.370.0776 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

for an estimate.

Tags: Education | outsourcing | georgia | operations | fulfillment

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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

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The Milken Institute released the report: North America’s High-Tech Economy: The Geography of Knowledge-based Industries , which ranked the top fifty metros with the largest concentrations of high-tech industries.

Tags: georgia | outsourcing

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Regular conventioneers know the schwag bag – that ubiquitous accessory for carrying a laptop and whatever free stuff there is to pick up on the trade show floor.  So what’s the best way to distribute them by the thousands?  At the recent BIO 2009 show in Atlanta, one sponsor found out the easy way.  Metro Logo , an all-inclusive marketing and promotions company, used SBC Fulfillment to fill the hands of 25,000 thousand convention-goers with laptop bags in record time.

SBC Fulfillment was able to import the collateral pieces directly from China allowing Metro Logo the time and convenience of printing the materials in Georgia. The bags were stored in SBC’s 60,000 square feet of warehouse space just minutes from downtown Atlanta and were ready to roll.

The key component to providing top -notch fulfillment services starts with SBC’s solid web-based WMS, or warehouse management system. Seamless management, access to the same data, and a safe automation process are just some of the pluses to using this product. SBC customers are able to enter orders through the web browser, select shipping, and even track the status of their orders or their clients’ orders . For a free demo or to learn more about SBC’s automated shipping services go here.

Tags: outsourcing | packaging | georgia

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When it comes to the challenge of meeting customer''s needs one size does not fit all. Companies such as SBC Fulfillment offer creative solutions customized to meet their customer ’ s ever-changing needs.

Starting a business can be an overwhelming process, but add the stress of importing, storing, shipping, and managing those orders and you may be tempted to throw in the towel the first day. The process is not only complicated but can be time-consuming. SBC Fulfillment recognized this and built their services to meet the challenges of today ’ s businesses. When Atlanta-based company Info Retail Inc. needed a storage and order management solution, they turned to SBC to meet the demand for their business.

The challenge

Info Retail Inc. specializes in providing marketing solutions to the retail industry. One component to this solution is the ability to build and deliver creative displays for their retail customers. The inventory can vary dramatically literally in shape and size so finding a secure facility where these products could be stored was key. In addition to a limitless amount of storage available, Info Retail needed to be able to order, manage, and ship these displays to their clients throughout the United States without the investment of leasing additional space or purchasing and maintaining costly software to accomplish this.

The solution-

SBC Fulfillment was able to provide the ample amount of secure storage in their more than 60,000 square feet of warehouse space located in Atlanta. Each display was assembled and drop-shipped directly to SBC ’ s warehouse, where it was immediately inventoried and readied for shipment. SBC ’ s web-based Warehouse Management System was an integral piece to managing and tracking Info Retail’ s orders. This online product seamlessly ties into Info Retail’ s internal processes allowing them easy and secure access to enter, ship, and track their orders all in real time. SBC refers to this process as their “ glass warehouse ” technology wherein the order is processed and shipped within a 24-hour window.

One-Stop Shopping-

SBC ’ s A ’ La carte services offer one-stop-shopping for all your fulfillment needs. Services include:

* Warehouse/Fulfillment/Packing- SBC can store, package, and ship your inventory anywhere.

* Information Technology- SBC can help build your e-commerce site allowing your customers to order through YOUR website.

* Customer Service- SBC is able to provide the best customer service support for your business AND support for your customers as well.

* Web-Based Order Management System- SBC offers the simplest tool to order, ship, manage and track your products.

To learn more about SBC Fulfillment and these business solutions visit http://www.sbcfulfillment.com

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

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The Peach State can expect the logistics business to keep on trucking, according to a new study. Independent research firm GrowthEconomics Inc. ranked Atlanta fifth among the largest logistics employers in the U.S., and outlined reasons for continued upward trending in Georgia this year. The state’s tremendous stretches of roadway, high-volume seaports and the world’s busiest airport are big factors for growth.

The 92-page report takes a look at Georgia’s 21,200 miles of highway that supports over one million trucks each week. Savannah''s container terminal shipped over 2,616 million tons of TEUs last year making it the third largest terminal in the nation. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport handles approximately 53,700 metric tons of cargo and more than 60,000 metric tons of mail on airliners and cargo aircraft operated by 19 different companies.

Atlanta-based logistics firm SBC Fulfillment, which provides warehousing, packaging, logistics, and fulfillment services to businesses, is poised to take advantage of new opportunities in Georgia. President and CEO of SBC, Brian Schoenbachler says, “I think that people are just now starting to think of Georgia as a larger center of logistics.” Schoenbacheler hopes that Savannah’s major international shipping port continues to play a key role in the support and expansion of Georgia’s logistics market and industry.

The videos of the presentations from the 2009 Georgia Annual Logistics Summit held on April 16^th are now available for viewing online.  The direct link to the videos is:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid21135945001

Each presenter is recorded separately so you may view any or all of the presentations in the order that you choose.  To access copies of the presentation slides as well

As the full logistics report go to: http://logistics.georgiainnovation.org/documents/list and select the folder “2009 Georgia Logistics Summit.”

Tags: supply chain | georgia | air freight | export | import

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