As anyone who's fallen for a journalistic April Fool will tell you, you shouldn't believe everything you read.

There are lots of misconceptions about third-party logistics (3PL) providers floating around the world wide web. More than we can count, in fact.

Let's bust five of these myths for good.

Myth 1: "If I hand over to a 3PL I'll lose control over my business"

It might seem logical to assume that you'd lose control over your business inventory by handing it over to a 3PL – but that couldn't be further from the truth. 

The customisation options at Stowsafe allow you complete control over your operations. By enlisting a 3PL like Stowsafe to deliver end-to-end fulfilment, you can concentrate on freeing up time to grow your business, perfect your brand and win customers.

At our end, we promise a flexible service that caters to the nature of your business. With Stowsafe we ensure that:

• You have the freedom to scale up or down in keeping with busy trading periods and slower seasons.
• You are assigned a dedicated account manager, whose job it is to answer any questions you have and to undertake changes to your fulfilment service.
• You have control over the packing and labelling of your product.
• You remain up to date with your stock levels. With our dashboard, you can keep abreast of your inventory levels and order statuses.

The reality is that logistics can be time-consuming and stressful (for SMEs in particular). Relinquishing the responsibility of fulfilling orders shouldn't be confused with relinquishing control of your business.

BUSTED!

Myth 2: "3PLs are too expensive"

With most 3PLs, you can expect initial startup fees that are adjusted to the size and scale of your business. However, the idea that 3PLs are a luxury expense for bigger businesses is a total myth.

In fact, 3PLs can offer much more competitive shipping rates than you would find going it alone. This is because they handle very high volumes and work with a large network of couriers. Such price advantages just can't be achieved on your own as a small business.

Stowsafe guarantees the best price for you and your business, with pallet storage from as little as £3.50 a week. Slashing your shipping costs with Stowsafe can lead to huge savings down the line, especially as your business grows.

And of course, we haven't even mentioned the money you'll save on storage and staffing costs.

BUSTED!

Myth 3: "A 3PL won't understand my business"

If you're imagining that a 3PL won't understand the culture of your business and the nature of your product, think again. The economy is a diverse marketplace – and any 3PL worth its salt knows that not every business is the same. 

Here at Stowsafe, we pride ourselves on forming lasting relationships with our customers and tailoring a logistics strategy to suit their business. Whenever you need us, we're there to talk, because we want you to be free to make decisions. 

Modern 3PLs don't just indiscriminately package T-shirts in the same way as precious jewellery. We handle and package to the client's wishes. If you want to customise your shipments to provide special unboxing experiences, we can do that too. 

Stowsafe offers fulfilment to a wide range of business verticals, including (but not limited to):

• Fashion and clothing
• Beauty and cosmetics
• Pet products
• Stationery and gifts
• Subscription boxes
• Vitamin and diet supplements
• Luxury goods
• Games and toys
• Sports and health equipment

If your product category isn't listed here, just give us a call and we'll talk through the ways we can help you.

BUSTED!

Myth 4: "3PLs don't suit startups"

Being a small business takes a lot of effort. Depending on your setup, you might be head of manufacturing, marketing, accounts and logistics. That's four different jobs, last time we checked – not to mention being your own boss. Make that five. 

Losing steam can lead to losing impetus and ultimately losing business. We understand the challenge for startups when entering the market. That's part of the reason we price our service so competitively – to help small businesses get their foot in the door. 

The most challenging part of any business is fulfilling demand and maintaining supply. With a 3PL, you can concentrate on the supply side, improving your sales and marketing strategy, while we take care of your orders. 

Are you using an eCommerce store? Stowsafe's warehouse management system integrates with all major platforms, making your eCommerce experience that much easier.

And once you've got the ball moving and you're ready to expand, no problem. There'll be ample space in our 24,500-square-foot fulfilment warehouse. Give us a try, and start growing your business. 

BUSTED!

Myth 5: "A 3PL will reduce the quality of my customer service"

As with any service, there's the odd bad apple in the bunch. But, in our opinion, a fulfilment service is not doing its job properly if it's reflecting badly on your business.

Needless to say, 3PLs should enhance and improve your customer service. It's what Stowsafe's known for – and we're proud of it. 

One of the challenges in today's business economy is meeting the soaring demands of the consumer. Never before have consumers had access to products in such volume and at such speed. It's a shift caused largely by Amazon and its outstanding delivery options – and businesses that want to stay competitive must offer fast shipping.

Bottom line: consumers are more likely to click "buy" if they see shorter shipping times. That's why Stowsafe offers same-day delivery on all orders placed before 2.30PM. We know about punctuality – and we know that consistency is key. 

Working with a network of trusted couriers, we make sure your orders reach customers as soon as possible. We also let you customise your courier per order or use our smart delivery system to select the most cost-effective option automatically, each time an order is placed. 

BUSTED!

Now that we've dispelled the myths, why not give us a call and find out more about our 3PL fulfilment services? Our experts are always on hand to help.