Book fulfilment: how a 3PL can help booksellers turn a new leaf
If you're a bookseller, you'll know that the fulfilment process is key to success. Find out how a 3PL can help.
In the age of big tech, it can sometimes seem as though the book trade is on its way out. But in the UK at least, the stats tell a different story.
In 2023, the Publishers Association released its "Year in Publishing" summary. This showed that industry sales were up four percent from 2021, reaching a grand total of £6.9 billion.
And in case you're thinking that those figures apply mainly to eBooks, think again: 669 million physical books were sold in that time.
Dan Conway, Chief Executive of the Publishers Association, puts this down in part to "trends such as #BookTok and the rise of 'bookfluencers'" – but we think eCommerce also plays an important role.
It's never been easier to get the book you're after, no matter how rare or obscure. This is partly because of big-name booksellers and the tenacity of independent brick-and-mortar stores. But it's also because of the huge array of SMEs that keep people connected to the printed word.
Nevertheless, there's one big challenge facing small- and medium-sized booksellers: the looming shadow of Amazon, always at the ready to expand its inventory and undercut your prices.
If you're in this position, you might feel that the cards are stacked against you. But we believe there's one step you can take that can make all the difference – and that's partnering with a 3PL.
Before we look at how a 3PL could help: what exactly
is one?
What is a 3PL?
3PL stands for "third-party logistics". It's a company that takes care of fulfilment for you in exchange for a fee. Typically, a 3PL will have a dedicated warehouse where your goods are stored, picked, packed and dispatched.
As with all outsourcing, the point is to take an operational burden from your shoulders. If you're running a small business, you're more than likely tired from doing the multitask shuffle. A 3PL removes routine tasks from your agenda so you can focus on product development, branding and more.
That's the headline: a 3PL will fulfil fulfilment for you. But when it comes to the book trade, there are other rewards to be reaped. Here are four to take into consideration.
1. Safeguard your deliveries
There are two sides to this: packaging and shipping.
These days, people have high expectations of eCommerce firms. For one, they're unlikely to be forgiving if their book arrives damaged.
The only reason for that to happen is if your hands are tied and you're trying to juggle a to-do list the length of the Mississippi River. Human error is natural: but by outsourcing packaging to a 3PL, you massively reduce the chances of it happening.
Similarly, you might not have the bandwidth to figure out the best shipping. By "best" we mean speedy for the customer and cost-effective for you. A good 3PL will have a powerful warehouse management system (WMS) that will automate the process of finding the best courier for each delivery.
The result? Satisfied customers who will come back for seconds, leave good reviews and even recommend you to their friends. At a time when shipping rates are rising year on year and Amazon has set the bar for expectations mountainously high, it's a no-brainer.
2. Improved storage
Very few people who start a business want it to stay the same size forever. Scaling up is part of the adventure – but it can be tricky to do so without creating disruption.
Let's say you're a startup with your books in the garage. Moving from that to a warehouse is going to be a logistical nightmare. But for a reputable 3PL, it's just another day in the office.
By handing over the reins, you get dedicated shelving in a warehouse that's environmentally controlled to make sure the customer gets their books in good nick.
This means that when your business levels up, you don't have to get out the hammer and nails and start putting up new shelves. You simply tell the 3PL what your requirements are and they'll get to it in a jiffy. Similarly, if you reach a point where you need to scale back, you can do so with ease.
Unless you absolutely had to, you probably wouldn't spend time sorting out the wiring in your premises. So why spend time on inventory storage? Let a dedicated third party do it for you and get to work on all the other things that keep getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list.
3. Customise packaging
Packaging isn't just a bit of wrap-around cardboard. It's a further opportunity for you to paint your brand in a positive light, right there on your customer's doorstep.
That could mean all manner of things. You could put your logo, slogan or other design on the packaging. You could slip flyers, brochures or bookmarks in the parcel. You could offer product bundles. You could have bespoke labels that reflect your brand's personality.
But as your businesses grow, it becomes harder and harder to keep on top of all these tasks. Bright ideas tend to drift off into the ether. It's another reason why a 3PL can help make all the difference. Simply tell your 3PL your requirements and watch those visions become realities.
4. Optimise the fulfilment process
At the end of the day, this is the big one. Keeping on top of inventory levels, order references, delivery tracking and returns isn't only difficult – it's also pretty boring.
A 3PL like Stowsafe Fulfilment can handle the lot, freeing up your time and energy and ensuring that your customers are satisfied with the fulfilment side of things.
This is partly possible thanks to our WMS, which automatically updates both you and the customer each time an order is placed or fulfilled. On top of that, this data can be automatically turned into actionable insights that can help you plan your business strategy.
So if you're starting to grow and simultaneously starting to flag a little, consider working with a 3PL. It can optimise your operations in a way that's hard to achieve on your own.
Are you looking for a trusted
3PL? Don't hesitate to
get in touch with Stowsafe Fulfilment for a free, no-obligation consultation.
