Kitting logistics is a fulfillment process where individual items are pre-assembled into kits. This approach offers several advantages, making fulfillment faster and more efficient. Many eCommerce entrepreneurs are unaware of the benefits that kitting can provide, but with eHub’s assistance, you can unlock its potential for your business.
More Than Just Bones in a Box
Assembling kits for shipment in eCommerce fulfillment can be surprisingly similar to the work of a paleontologist carefully unearthing and reconstructing fossil fragments. Once fossilized bones are unearthed, they are wrapped in a layer of protective burlap plaster and packaged into a heavy-duty wooden crate.
Wrapping the fossils in plaster allows them to be organized and packed efficiently, primarily because of the awkward size of the fossils, as well as the sometimes extreme weight!
Similar to how a paleontologist uncovers, packages, and eventually connects scattered bones to reveal the complete skeleton of a prehistoric creature, kitting involves carefully packaging individual products to create a comprehensive kit for customers. The care that goes into this process is done with the intent of protecting the product but also making it easier to ship various pieces of the product together. This also holds true for awkwardly shaped and heavy items.
Just as the paleontologist’s painstaking process of preparing and reconstructing fossils requires attention to detail, properly shipping multiple products or pieces in one package also demands a deep understanding of the products involved. By strategizing the selection and arrangement of products, businesses can ensure that they complement each other and provide value to customers.
When Does Kitting Happen in the Order Fulfillment Process?
This process occurs before order fulfillment starts. You select the products for your kit and establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for your process. This SOP ensures that your kits are packed in a specific order, providing a delightful unboxing experience for your customers.
Additionally, the process should always consider the best way to pack multiple items together, ensuring they arrive in perfect condition. Once you’ve developed your kitting SOP with an experienced 3PL team, the fulfillment process begins. The kits receive new SKUs and are assigned a dedicated warehouse location. Typically, skilled warehouse “kitters” assemble the kits at a separate station, away from pick and pack fulfillment operations. By eliminating the pressure of filling standard orders as quickly as possible, the kitters can focus instead on efficiently assembling kits with rigorous quality control standards.
Advantages of Warehouse Kitting
By leveraging this warehouse strategy, you can reap numerous benefits that will help your eCommerce store thrive:
Create an Efficient Assembly Process: With a refined SOP in place, creating kits becomes more efficient, primarily if you sell the same group of products repeatedly. Instead of picking items from multiple locations, kitting allows for a streamlined assembly process.
Reduce Fulfillment Errors: Traditional picking processes involve rushing from one end of the warehouse to another, increasing the likelihood of errors. However, with pre-kitted items, the picker only needs to make one stop, significantly reducing fulfillment errors and safeguarding your business reputation.
Add Speed to Order Fulfillment: Simplifying the picking process by providing a single SKU for the assembled products accelerates order fulfillment. The packer’s work is minimized, with their primary task being the addition of a shipping label.
Save on Packaging Costs: Collaborating with our 3PL team to develop a kitting process that optimizes packaging. This includes fitting more items into smaller boxes and reducing packaging costs while ensuring product protection during shipping.
Use Flexible SKUs to Maximize Stock: Kitting enables inventory management flexibility. In cases where demand fluctuates, the original product SKUs can be retained, allowing kits to be disassembled and returned to their individual SKUs. This flexibility helps you quickly adapt to changing customer preferences and demands.
Which eCommerce Companies Benefit from Warehouse Kitting?
Warehouse kitting is advantageous for various eCommerce businesses. Here are some examples of companies that can leverage kitting fulfillment:
Subscription Box Companies: If you offer subscription boxes, kitting is essential to ensure a seamless and enjoyable unboxing experience for your customers. It allows you to make packaging an integral part of your product.
Online Retailers of Heavy or Bulky Items: By combining lightweight accessories with more oversized products, kitting can help reduce shipping costs associated with oversized items. Customers receive a single package, enhancing convenience and saving money on packaging and shipping.
Holiday or Seasonal Gift Box Sellers: Kitted gift assortments alleviate the stress of gift shopping, especially during holidays. By offering beautifully packaged gift sets, you provide a convenient solution for your customers and increase your revenue. Customers will appreciate the thoughtfulness of a well-curated gift kit.
Businesses That Offer Volume Discounts: Kitting is an excellent strategy for businesses that provide volume discounts or bundle similar products together. Bundling offers customers a price break for ordering in larger quantities, leading to increased sales.
Any Online Retailer for Items Commonly Ordered Together: Kitting can benefit any eCommerce business, regardless of the industry. If you frequently notice customers purchasing certain items together, creating kits can simplify the ordering process for them and increase customer satisfaction.
Streamline Your Fulfillment Process with eHub
At eHub, we understand the importance of kitting logistics in eCommerce fulfillment. Our expertise and capabilities allow us to match businesses with the perfect 3PL solution tailored to their specific needs. By implementing kitting strategies, the right 3PL can optimize your order fulfillment, reduce errors, improve efficiency, and ultimately enhance customer satisfaction.
With our assistance, you can create a seamless assembly process, save on packaging costs, and maximize your inventory. Whether you’re a subscription box company, an online retailer of heavy items, or any eCommerce business needing efficient fulfillment, eHub is here to help.
Contact us today to discover how 3PL kitting logistics services available within our network can benefit your business and take your eCommerce operations to the next level. Streamline your shipping, exceed customer expectations, and grow your online store with eHub as your trusted partner.
If you’re involved in the shipping industry, you’ve likely heard the term “manifest” before. But what exactly is manifest, and why does it matter? In this article, we’ll dive into what a manifest is, why it’s essential, and how working with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider can help streamline your shipping process.
What is a Manifest?
At its core, a manifest is a detailed list of all the items transported on a particular shipment. It typically includes information such as the product name, quantity, weight, and dimensions. The purpose of a manifest is to provide a clear and comprehensive overview of everything being shipped, which can be especially important for larger shipments with multiple items.
Why is a Manifest Important?
There are several reasons why a manifest is essential in the shipping industry. First and foremost, it helps to ensure that everything that is supposed to be shipped actually gets shipped. By having a clear and detailed list of all the items that are supposed to be included in a shipment, it’s much less likely that something will be accidentally left behind or forgotten.
In addition to ensuring that everything is included in a shipment, a manifest can also help to speed up the shipping process. When a shipment arrives at its destination, the recipient can quickly reference the manifest to confirm that everything has been received as expected. This can help to reduce the amount of time spent manually checking each individual item, which can be especially valuable for larger shipments.
Finally, a manifest can be helpful if there is a problem with a shipment. If something is missing or damaged, the manifest can be used to identify precisely what was supposed to be included in the shipment, which can help streamline the process of resolving the issue.
How Can a 3PL Help with Manifests?
Managing manifests can be a time-consuming process, especially for businesses that are shipping large quantities of products. That’s where a third-party logistics (3PL) provider can come in handy. Here are a few ways that a 3PL can help with manifest management:
Creating Accurate Manifests: One of the primary benefits of working with a 3PL is that they can help to create accurate and detailed manifests for each shipment. By leveraging their expertise and experience, a 3PL can ensure that every item that should be included in a shipment is listed on the manifest and that all of the necessary information (such as weight and dimensions) is included.
Streamlining the Shipping Process: In addition to creating accurate manifests, a 3PL can also help to streamline the shipping process as a whole. By handling tasks such as carrier selection and shipment scheduling, a 3PL can free up time and resources for businesses to focus on other aspects of their operations.
Resolving Issues with Shipments: Finally, if there is an issue with a shipment (such as something being lost or damaged), a 3PL can help quickly and efficiently resolve the problem. By using the manifest as a reference, they can identify exactly what was supposed to be included in the shipment and work to replace or repair anything that was lost or damaged quickly.
eHub and Manifest Management
If you’re looking for a reliable and experienced 3PL provider to help with your manifest management, look no further than eHub. Our platform connects business owners with a vetted network of 3PL partners who can provide end-to-end logistics solutions, including accurate manifest management.
In addition to manifest management, our 3PL partners can help with tasks such as carrier selection, transportation management, and more. With eHub, you can easily compare quotes from multiple providers to find the best option for your specific needs.
How Can a 3PL Help with the Manifest Process?
A 3PL can play a crucial role in the manifest process, especially for shippers who are new to the industry or who lack the resources to manage shipping on their own. 3PLs have the experience and expertise needed to create accurate manifests, ensuring that all necessary information is included and that all regulations are followed.
In addition to creating manifests, 3PLs can help with other aspects of the shipping process, such as coordinating with carriers, managing transportation costs, and ensuring compliance with regulations. By working with a 3PL, shippers can focus on other essential aspects of their business while leaving the shipping logistics to the experts.
eHub: Connecting Business Owners with Reliable 3PL Partners
At eHub, we understand that finding a reliable and trustworthy 3PL partner can be a daunting task for business owners. That’s why we’ve created a platform that connects business owners with our vetted network of 3PL partners, making it easy to find the right partner for your shipping needs.
Our network of 3PL partners includes companies that specialize in a wide range of shipping services, from freight forwarding to warehousing and distribution. We carefully screen all of our partners to ensure they meet our high standards for quality, reliability, and customer service.
In addition to providing access to our network of 3PL partners, eHub also offers a variety of tools and resources to help business owners manage their shipping needs. Our user-friendly platform allows you to track shipments, manage invoices, and get real-time shipment updates.
Conclusion
In summary, a shipping manifest is a crucial document that serves as a detailed record of all the items being shipped, as well as important information such as the sender and recipient’s contact details and the carrier’s details. Creating an accurate and complete manifest is essential for complying with regulations, ensuring timely delivery, and providing proof of delivery.
Working with a 3PL can help ensure that your manifests are created accurately and efficiently while providing various other valuable services, such as cost management, compliance management, and logistics expertise. eHub’s platform makes it easy to find and connect with reliable 3PL partners, providing business owners with the peace of mind that comes with knowing their shipping needs are in good hands.
Small parcel shippers have a plethora of options when it comes to choosing carriers to ship their packages. While it may be tempting to stick with one carrier – an approach the carriers prefer as long as they are the single chosen provider! – using multiple carriers can offer a range of benefits that can positively impact a business’s bottom line.
One of the most significant benefits of using multiple carriers is the potential cost savings. When businesses rely on a single carrier, you will be subject to that carrier’s pricing and structure alone. While you may have negotiated discounts below an initial proposal, the resulting rates may not always be the most cost-effective option.
Using multiple carriers, businesses can compare rates and choose the most cost-effective option for each shipment. Additionally, having multiple carriers can help you when it is time to negotiate rates with each carrier as they compete for the business.
Improved delivery times
Another benefit of using multiple carriers is that it can optimize your delivery time vs. cost optimization. Different carriers may have different time-in-transit expectations to a particular address, so choosing the most suitable carrier and service for any particular package is crucial for optimizing cost with a good customer experience.
In addition, some carriers may offer better “express” type services than others, and so for those expedited shipping requirements, being able to choose a better-performing carrier will facilitate the meeting and hopefully exceed your customers’ expectations.
Increased flexibility
Using multiple carriers can also offer increased flexibility when it comes to shipping. If a business only uses one carrier, it may be limited to shipping to those destinations that the particular carrier supports.
For example, if you need to ship a package to a rural location, you may choose a carrier specializing in delivering to rural areas. Again, by having multiple carriers, you can choose the carrier that offers the best option for each shipment.
Reduced risk of service disruptions
When you rely on a single carrier, you may be vulnerable to service disruptions if that carrier experiences any issues or network outages. If one carrier experiences an issue, the business can quickly switch to another carrier to ensure that the package is still delivered on time.
These disruptions can be from weather impacting part of that carrier’s network (while another may be able to bypass it), or disruptions in service due to labor issues, similar to what the two largest US carriers are facing this year.
By using multiple carriers, you can reduce the risk of delayed deliveries and poor customer experiences because you have backup options available.
Improved customer satisfaction
Is this really a 5th reason? In almost all cases, carrier diversity ends up with the potential for improved customer satisfaction. Improved customer satisfaction will lead to an increase in repeat business. Access to additional services Different carriers may offer different services, such as international shipping, hazardous materials shipping, or temperature-controlled shipping.
By using multiple carriers, you can deliver to a new customer segment or offer new products that may have special handling associated with their transportation, allowing you to grow your business.
Increased Visibility and Control via Multicarrier Technology
Using multiple carriers without a central technology platform can lead to potential chaos. Trying to corral data from multiple stand-alone systems can quickly become a headache when sourcing individual tracking updates, billing-related information, and spending.
With a multi-carrier technology platform in place, you have the ability to track each package and monitor its progress through the shipping process regardless of carrier and service. This platform can also create automation capability by creating rules for carrier and service selection based on defined business logic.
This takes the decision-making out of the hands of the shipping clerk, reducing human error and increasing efficiency in your fulfillment process.
Having a single back-end platform managing and collecting your shipment information saves you time and money when it comes to invoicing customers, auditing your carrier invoices, and optimizing your business rules around carrier and service usage.
Using multiple carriers via a multi-carrier technology platform can offer a range of benefits for small parcel shippers. From cost savings to improved delivery times and increased flexibility, you can leverage the carrier that offers the best option for each shipment.
By having alternative carrier options available and quickly ready to activate, you can reduce the risk of service disruptions due to carrier network issues. Overall, using multiple carriers via a multi-carrier platform, you will have the shipping tools and capabilities you need to optimize your shipping process, improve performance, lower costs, and grow your business.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, outsourcing shipping fulfillment offers numerous advantages for businesses in today’s complex business landscape. By partnering with a reliable logistics provider, businesses can focus on their core competencies while leaving the intricacies of shipping and logistics to the experts.
Cost savings can be achieved through the elimination of the need for in-house infrastructure and the ability to take advantage of economies of scale. Increased efficiency and scalability are also key benefits, as logistics providers have the expertise and resources to optimize operations and adapt to changing order volumes.
Improved customer experience, including faster and more reliable shipping options, can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, increasing sales and revenue.
Considering these compelling reasons, businesses looking to optimize their shipping and logistics operations should consider outsourcing and exploring their options with reliable logistics providers.
Learn what Priority Mail is, what it does best, and who can save the most by using it for shipping.
Finding the lowest prices, fastest delivery times and best service for your customer shipments can be complicated—especially when carriers offer multiple service options.
Shipping services can be challenging to sort through to find a good fit, and USPS Priority Mail is no different. It includes multiple distinct shipping methods with optimal uses and cost structures.
But if used strategically, USPS Priority Mail offerings can provide you with a competitive edge. Here’s how.
What Is USPS Priority Mail?
Priority Mail is the USPS’s top-tier shipping service. It offers faster delivery (one to three business days), along with a host of other benefits, including:
Free Package Pickup or Pickup on Demand
Up to $50 of insurance coverage for free
Free package tracking
No additional fees for fuel, residential/rural deliveries, or deliveries on Saturday
Priority Mail can ship packages to international destinations and overseas US military post offices. Best of all, using Priority Mail doesn’t have to be time-consuming or costly; by using eHub’s API and native integrations, it’s possible to save time and reduce shipping costs.
The Priority Mail category breaks down into several distinct shipping methods, each with its own advantages, pricing structure, and specific requirements that have to be met to use:
Standard Priority Mail
Priority Mail Flat Rate
Priority Mail Cubic
Priority Mail Regional
Priority Mail Express
Standard Priority Mail
This primary option functions similarly to standard shipping but with the added perks of Priority. You bring your own box, and shipping costs are based on package weight and delivery distance. Despite the similarities, however, there are additional requirements to get the service upgrade:
No package larger than 108” in combined length and girth (the length of the longest side, plus the distance around its thickest part)
No package weighing more than 70 pounds
Finally, some large, lightweight packages shipped via standard Priority Mail may be subject to additional “dim” charges.
This standard method, though, is the most negligible advantageous way to use the program. It’s a better service, but it’s also a cost increase. One of the following shipping methods is usually a better fit.
What Is USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate?
Flat Rate is built around specially marked packaging of various types and sizes, each with a prest “flat-rate” cost. If it fits in the box, and the total weight is at most 70 pounds, it ships for the cost of the packaging, regardless of actual weight or distance.
PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS
Use the USPS-provided packaging
The box can be closed properly
70-pound maximum
PROS
Boxes are provided
Easy-to-calculate shipping costs
Heavier packages cost the same
CONS
Cannot use branded packaging
No savings for lighter packages
Limited packaging options
Special Considerations
The USPS provides a variety of flat-rate containers to choose from, allowing you to pick the packaging that fits the shipment and pay accordingly.
Package rates range from about $7 to $20, depending on the container used
“Prepaid Forever” Flat Rate containers function like forever stamps; purchase the box in advance and never worry about a flat rate price increase.
Optimum Use Cases
Shippers save the most using flat rates when shipping heavier items that fit the box, especially if the package needs to travel a great distance. For smaller items, especially those weighing less than 20 pounds, a flat rate may not be an optimal choice.
What Is USPS Priority Mail Cubic?
Cubic offers reduced prices for small packages that weigh less than 20 pounds. Costs are based on package volume and delivery distance, benefiting small-yet-hefty shipments.
50K annual shipment minimum (but see below for a way around this)
PROS
Heavier packages save up to 50%
Branded packaging can be used
CONS
Packaging not provided
Volume calculations required for price
Requires high shipping volume (or the right partner)
Special Considerations
Priority Mail is the USPS’s top-tier shipping service. It offers faster delivery (one to three business days), along with a host of other benefits, including:
Cubic works best for packages that are roughly shoebox-sized
Like Flat-Rate, save more shipping envelopes, bags, and sacks with Cubic Softpack
Partnering with a shipping aggregator allows low-volume shippers to qualify
Optimum Use Cases
Priority Mail Cubic is exceptionally cost-effective for small, heavy packages, especially when traveling a shorter distance.
Most SMBs aware of the program think they can’t reach the 50k shipment minimum. With eHub as a partner, however, you can use cubic since your shipments are combined with the batch we send their way, qualifying them for the program.
Learn how we’ve helped our customers streamline and optimize their shipping programs.
What Is USPS Priority Mail Regional?
According to USPS, Priority Mail Regional “combines the speed and convenience of Priority Mail shipping with zone pricing to reduce costs.” Like flat rate, it uses designated USPS boxes, but prices are based on distance, resulting in discounts for closer destinations.
PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS
Use provided packaging
Doesn’t exceed max weight (15 lbs. for Box A, 20 lbs. for Box B)
PROS
Closer deliveries = better rates
Packaging provided
CONS
Online-only program
Cannot use branded packaging
Less useful for longer distances
Fewer package size options
Special Considerations
Only four box sizes (two each of Box A and Box B)
Boxes must be ordered online
No soft pack option
using Priority Mail doesn’t have to be time-consuming or costly
Optimum Use Cases
Since prices are based solely on distance, regional works best for shipments with higher weights and similar dimensions to cubic, but don’t need to travel far—fewer benefits for smaller, lighter, or further-traveling packages.
What Is USPS Priority Mail Express?
Express is the USPS’s domestic overnight and second-day service, delivering to most US addresses 365 days a year.
PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS
Use official Priority Mail Express packaging
70-pound maximum)
Combined length and girth don’t exceed 108”
PROS
Packaging provided
Next-day and second-day delivery guaranteed
Delivers even on Sundays and federal holidays
Signature delivery confirmation included
CONS
Most expensive option
Cannot use branded packaging
Special Considerations
As an extension of standard Priority Mail, it comes with many of the same requirements and is subject to dim charges when applicable.
Optimum Use Case
Express is best for time-sensitive deliveries, where the importance of speed outweighs cost. That said, the lighter the shipment and shorter the distance, the less expensive it will be.
This April, the USPS is changing the costs of shipping larger packages. Specifically, they’re adding what is colloquially referred to in the industry as “dims” (short for “dimensional fees”). These dims are added fees based on package dimensions, and depending on what your brand ships each day, some, all, or none of your parcels may be affected.
What’s Happening
Starting Sunday, Apr 3, 2022, the USPS will charge additional fees for specific shipments. These “non-standard package fees” and “non-compliance fees” will affect—and be enforced on—parcels shipped via the following services:
First-Class Package Service
Retail Ground
Parcel Select Ground
Priority Mail
Priority Mail Express
So, if you use any of these services when shipping your products, look for the fees described below.
The “Non-Standard Package Fees”
These fees are based on the size of the package you are sending. Not the internal measurements of the product or items in the package but the amount of space the whole thing will take up in a mail truck. They base these fees on two measurements: the length and the cubic volume.
The “Length Fee” affects all packages over 22” in length:
For packages over 22” in length but not over 30”, the fee is $4
For packages over 30” in length, the fee is $15
The “Cube Fee” affects all packages over two cubic feet in volume, regardless of other measurements. This fee is $15 for any package that exceeds the limit.
Now, unless you’re familiar with the USPS Priority Mail Cubic service, you might not be used to calculating the cubic volume of a package you’re using, so here’s how you can get that figure:
Measure the Length (L), Height (H), and Width (W) of the package in inches
Multiply L x H x W to get your cubic volume in inches
Divide that figure by 1728 (which is 12 inches cubed, i.e., one cubic foot)
The final result is your package’s volume in cubic feet
If that final number is more significant than 2, the $15 cube fee applies.
One final note on non-standard package fees: they’re additive. In other words, if your package is over 22” long and more than two cubic feet in volume, the fee total will be $19. If it’s longer than 30” and more than two cu. Ft., the total is $30.
The “Dimension Non-Compliance Fee”
There’s one other fee to watch for. If you hand off your package without properly labeling it with accurate dimension measurements (and thus, paying for the appropriate fees as part of the postage), you’ll also get hit with a non-compliance fee. This $1.50 fee applies to any package that’s:
Longer than 22” in length or
Greater than one cubic foot in volume
But the fee only applies if you fail to provide dimensions or if the measurements you provide are inaccurate (such as listing the measurements of the product inside or the internal measurements of the box it’s in). It’s important to note that most shipping boxes list their internal dimensions, not their external ones, so be sure to double-check those figures.
Does This Affect Your Shipping Costs?
While few (if any) brands sell products that use identical shipping packages across the board, not all brands sell products that require boxes big enough to incur these fees. In other words, any package you ship more minuscule than the above dimensions won’t be affected, and you won’t see any price increase.
You might also have noticed that several other USPS offerings weren’t included in the list of those affected by the fees, such as:
Priority Mail Flat Rate
Priority Mail Cubic
Priority Mail Regional
That’s because the requirements to ship via these programs are already under the abovementioned limits: flat rate and regional both use boxes provided by the USPS, and cubic limits every measurement to 18” or less. So if you primarily use these services, you’re in the clear.
If you find that your packages fall into these additional fees, reach out to us to see if there’s a way to ship your products for less.
For the pleasure that you bring when you make that doorbell ring, no trip will be too far.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for e-commerce retailers.
Whether your store sells perfume for Singles Day (China’s version of Black Friday), dreidels for Hanukkah, candles for Kwanzaa, or giant, blow-up Rudolph lawn ornaments for Christmas, holiday spending accounts for as much as 35% of retailers annual sales.
Here at eHub, the holidays are our championship playoff. We train year-round to help our e-commerce clients meet the increased demands of the season. Keep reading to see what our top-notch team of shipping elves says about how you can use your shipping program to capture more of the projected $910B consumers will spend online this holiday season.
1. Google is making a list. Check it twice. Taking advantage of Google’s new shipping annotations is one of the best ways to promote your online store this holiday season. Available for both free and paid listings, Google Shopping has added the following annotations to their existing “free” and “fast” tags:
Free delivery by Fri, Dec 24
Get it by Dec 24
Free X-day (this is for shipping promotions like Free 2-day or 3-day shipping)
Free returns by X
2. Holidays are plural—prep for all of them. Christmas is not the only holiday people are shopping for. Neither is Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and even Giving Tuesday are all opportunities for you to boost sales and capture new customers.
3. Take a bus, take a train, go and hop an airplane (Offer multiple shipping speeds). It’s no secret that supply chains and shipping channels are a mess right now. The combination of COVID-related labor shortages, exponential increases in online shopping, and totally random events like boats getting stuck in the Suez Canal have caused unprecedented slowdowns in global commerce. And consumers know it, so they are shopping earlier than usual for the holidays. If you are not already offering free shipping, give your customers multiple options and prices for getting their packages delivered.
4. Mele Kalikimaka (Shipping outside the lower 48)If you have many customers who don’t live on the US mainland, having a reliable shipping partner will ensure your success this holiday season. Ehub’s customizable API and status as a premier shipping aggregator means we have the knowledge, relationships, and experience your company needs to find the best, most affordable shipping options for you and your customers.
5. Make sure your customers are watching your countdown We aren’t discussing the New Year’s Eve ball drop countdown. Instead, you must ensure you promote and display ordering deadlines to guarantee delivery before whatever holiday your customers celebrate, especially since that drop-dead date will probably be earlier this year than usual.
6. Optimize for mobile You can expect most customers to have digital wish lists this year, so your site needs to be optimized for desktop and mobile users. Do user experience testing to ensure your checkout process is streamlined and simple. UX testing doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy—you can even have your employees try to buy something on your site in a staff meeting—but you can’t fix a glitchy, clunky, or slow checkout if you don’t know it’s there.
7. Wear out your (digital) mailing list No one likes an inbox full of spammy sale offers and promotions, but innovative retargeting campaigns that reach out to customers with abandoned carts or a purchase history and offer shipping discounts to quickly and easily boost sales.
8. Keep your workshop in order (Manage your inventory) Your store is likely impacted by the same shipping slowdowns affecting your customers. This means it’s more important than ever to stay on top of your inventory so you don’t inadvertently add backorder delays to the potential shipping delays.
9. Be good for goodness sake (Improve your customer service) Shipping and supply delays make it likely your customer service department will field more calls than a normal holiday season. Make sure your team has the training they need to stay on the nice list when customers call to cry and pout.
10. What are you doing on New Year’s Eve? (Simplify your post-holiday return process)Offering free returns is a great way to help consumers avoid purchase anxiety, but it’s not the only way to have a customer-friendly return process. One-click and no-hassle returns, extended return periods, and return purchase incentives can give your buyers confidence in you and your business.
If you have many customers who don’t live on the US mainland, having a reliable shipping partner will ensure your success this holiday season
Whether you need help negotiating with carriers, navigating international shipping laws, pricing out branded packaging, or finding the best rates, EHub can help. Give yourself the gift of a shipping expert this year and contact us for a quote.
Suppose it seems like UPS peak season surcharges are not only higher but lasting longer, too; you’re right. Since March 2020, UPS has had to adapt to the significant changes in e-commerce and the global supply chain. In a nutshell, people were buying more online… a lot more. Thanks to this increased demand, most shipping carriers had to adapt, UPS included.
One adaptation included changes to peak season surcharges. Typically, peak season is just around the 4th quarter, the busiest time of the year for retail. Since the logistics industry hasn’t quite recovered from 2020 (have any of us?), we’re seeing peak season stretch beyond 4th quarter.
It’s already here. Not only that, we’re seeing it split into what resembles a tier system. If you thought surcharges were expensive, well, I have some not-great news for you.
Peak Season Surcharges: Tier 1
July 4 — October 2, 2021 Fees: The following applies to all US domestic, import, and export shipments, qualifying customers who have shipped >1,000 total packages or more than ten that required Additional Handling during any week following February 2020.
Additional handling charges increased from $3.00 per package to $3.50
Large Package peak surcharge increased from $31.45 to $40.00
Peak Season Surcharges: Tier 2
October 2, 2021 — January 15, 2022 Fees: The following applies to all US domestic, import, and export shipments, qualifying customers who have shipped >1,000 total packages or more than ten packages that required Additional Handling during any week following February 2020.
Additional Handling peak surcharge increases from $3.50 to $6.00 per package
Large Package peak surcharge increased from $40.00 to $60.00 per package
The following will apply to all US domestic, import, and export shipments.
The Over Maximum Limits peak surcharge will be $250.00 per package
Handle your shipping costs and communication to customers accordingly, and have a plan for when things go sideways
Bonus Round of Surcharges for High-Volume Shippers
October 31, 2021 — January 15, 2022 Volume-Based Fee: The following applies to certain UPS Air Residential, UPS Ground Residential, and UPS SurePost, who have shipped more than 25,000 packages during any week following February 2020.
October 31, 2021 – January 15, 2022
UPS SurePost
110% to 200% of February 2020 volume
$1.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume
$2.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume
$3.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume
$4.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume
$5.15 per package
UPS Ground Residential
110% to 200% of February 2020 volume
$1.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume
$2.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume
$3.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume
$4.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume
$5.15 per package
UPS Next Day Air Residential
110% to 200% of February 2020 volume
$2.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume
$3.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume
$4.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume
$5.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume
$6.15 per package
All Other UPS Air Residential
110% to 200% of February 2020 volume
$2.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume
$3.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume
$4.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume
$5.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume
$6.15 per package
Current Service Levels With UPS Service Guarantee:
The following applies to certain UPS Air Residential, UPS Ground Residential, and UPS SurePost, who have shipped more than 25,000 packages during any week following February 2020.
UPS Next Day Air
UPS Next Day Air Saver
UPS Next Day Air Early
Domestic Express Plus
Domestic Express
Domestic Midday
Domestic Express Saver
UPS Worldwide Express Plus
UPS Worldwide Express
UPS Worldwide Express NA1
UPS Worldwide Express Saver
UPS Worldwide Express Freight Midday
UPS Worldwide Express Freight
Transborder Express
Transborder Express Plus
Transborder Express Saver
How Does This Affect Your Peak Season?
I think the most important thing to remember is that the peak season results in a lot more shipments, which can mean increased waiting times for customers, delays, and maybe increased charges. Handle your shipping costs and communication to customers accordingly, and have a plan for when things go sideways.
It could also be worth taking a look to make sure you’re getting the best rates on your business shipping. Our shipping specialists can perform an analysis that tells you where you’re already shipping most efficiently and exactly where you could be saving more. Contact us to get started on a custom analysis for your business.
While the technologies used to manage and ship products have changed dramatically over the last century, the business model for shipping companies looks almost the same. For decades, shipping companies have offered small businesses a single pricing formula based on weight and distance.
Think of it this way: a 40” smart TV weighs 20 pounds. So does a 20-pound dumbbell.
But the box the TV comes in is 43”x23”x5”, and the dumbbell can fit in a giant shoebox. With traditional shipping models, you’d pay the same amount to ship both a 40” smart TV and a single dumbbell to your store in Duluth even though the TV box will take up more space in the truck.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has developed an innovative program to meet the modern needs of many small businesses by changing shipping prices for small packages.
Under Cubic, businesses are charged based on the package’s dimensions instead of the package’s weight. This means it costs less to ship small, heavy packages with Cubic than with traditional methods.
And Cubic doesn’t just offer lower prices. It includes USPS priority mail delivery within 1 to 3 business days and free package tracking.
It’s a great deal if your business regularly ships things like clothing, candles, food, small home goods, books, subscription boxes, etc.
If it’s so great, why isn’t everyone using Cubic?
Cubic is a very specific program with strict rules that make it an excellent solution for some businesses but not others.
If you want an in-depth overview of Cubic, check this out, but here are the basics:
USPS Cubic mail is only available to businesses that ship at least 50,000 packages annually.
Packages shipped with priority Cubic shipping have to weigh less than 20 pounds.
USPS Cubic box, soft package, or priority mail poly bag dimensions must be .5 cubic feet or less with sides less than 18” (about the size of a shoebox).
What’s the Cubic formula?
USPS Cubic pricing is based solely on the size of your package. Here’s how to calculate your Cubic shipping price (sorry for the math):
1. Measure your package’s length, width, and height with each dimension rounded to the nearest quarter inch. For example, say that shoebox with your 20-pound dumbbell measures 14 x 8 x 5”
2. Multiply the dimensions (height x width x length) and then divide that number by 1728 (the number of cubic inches in one cubic foot). For your shoebox, it looks like this:
14 x 8 x 5 = 560
560/1728 = .3240
3. Round the decimal to the next tenth, meaning the .3240 of your shoebox rounds up to .4 cubic feet. (Note: you always round up, never down, with USPS Cubic).
4. Congratulations! Your package qualifies for USPS Priority Mail Cubic.
Is Cubic right for your business?
We know that what you really want to know is, “How much will this save me?” Check out this chart:
Zone 1–2
Zone 3–4
Zone 5–6
Zone 7–8
Zone 9
Priority Mail
$23.20
$29.20–$35.85
$49.80–$59.75
$69.35–$80.50
$140.35
USPS Priority Cubic
$7.32
$7.32
$7.32
$7.32
$7.32
A 20-pound Zone 1 package (something shipped 1–50 miles) costs $23.20 to ship with USPS Priority Mail, and the price increases as the distance to the destination increases.
But that same 20-pound package shipped with USPS Priority Cubic starts at only $7.32 to ship.
But here’s the deal—that $7.32 is the commercially listed starting price USPS offers.
EHub has negotiated low rates for our customers.
This means that you’ll still be saving money even after you pay for our API. But you’ll also get easy-to-print labels, order tracking history, address verification services, and insurance options.
At EHub, we know that shipping is essential, but overpaying isn’t. Drop us a line today to see how we can simplify your shipping and save you money.
If you’re an e-commerce store looking to grow your sales, you must get serious about pop-ups.
Contrary to popular belief, pop-ups don’t have to be annoying. Executed correctly, they have the power to make a big difference in your conversions. It all goes down to segmenting them correctly and making them relevant to your visitor.
Today, we will look at the seven best pop-up tools you can use to take your conversion to new heights. Let’s get started:
The easy-to-use program makes it easy to experiment and tweak your email popups. You can test different messages based on color, design, display time, and more to see what works the best, even with no coding skills.
Another area where Privy excels is segmentation. To make your popups relevant to the visitor, you can segment them based on which country they come from, how they landed on your website, how much they have in their shopping cart, etc.
Pros:
A/B testing feature for the best results
Customizable pop-ups to make sure you send the right message at the right time
Creates beautiful newsletters
Reduces your cart abandonment rate
Cons:
Limited templates
A/B and advanced reporting are only available on premium plans
Pricing:
Free plan: up to 5000 average monthly page views
Privy Convert: $20/month for up to 10,000 average monthly page views
Privy email: $10/month for up to 1000 mailable contacts and $5 per additional 1000 afterward.
Privy text: $10/month for up to 100 textable contacts and $10 per additional 100 afterward.
Sumo is a top-rated conversion tool trusted by over 600,000 businesses worldwide. The platform includes multiple features to help stores win more sales, generate conversions, and increase subscribers.
From the platform admin, you can create unique offers and discounts to get your customers’ attention. By making customers sign up, you’ll increase your store’s average order value and boost sales.
Just as shoppers are about to leave their cart, Sumo reaches out with a popup that encourages them to follow through with their purchase. It also retargets customers with a follow-up email when subscribers view your product without buying.
Pros:
Easy-to-read guides on how to use the app
Free customer support
A/B testing
Cons:
The sumo logo shows up on your popups when you’re on the free plan
Limited integrations
Can’t send emails to individual subscribers, only in groups
Justuno uses artificial intelligence to boost conversions with pop-ups, exit offers, countdown timers, and more. It offers endless ways to customize your upsell and cross-sell offers.
The platform’s AI software analyzes billions of data points to tailor pop-ups based on each visitor. It tracks visit frequency, geolocation, cart value, and more to ensure your store sends the right message at the right time.
Justuno comes with advanced analytics to track your marketing success and measure performance. You’ll gain exact insights into what strategies work and what don’t.
Pros:
Artificial intelligence to help you get the best results
Mobile and SEO optimization
Upselling and cross-selling features
A vast library of resources to help you out
Cons:
Limited design and templates
Pricing:
Free plan: all standard features are available for up to 5,000 monthly visitor sessions.
Pro plan 1: $29/month with all features available up to 10,000 monthly visitor sessions.
Pro plan 2: $49/month with all features available up to 25,000 monthly visitor sessions.
Pro plan 3: $99/month with all features available up to 50,000 monthly visitor sessions.
Omnisend is one of Shopify’s most popular email marketing apps, with a near-perfect 4.7 rating. It connects your email efforts with other channels such as SMS, Facebook, and Google.
On top of using pop-ups to generate sales, you can optimize your landing pages for conversion. It’s also known for its Wheel of Fortune pop-up that offers customers the chance to win a special voucher on your store.
Pros:
It makes it possible to target customers across different channels.
Various pre-built automation workflows to choose from
24/7 support
Cons:
Inability to integrate multiple shops at once
You’ll need to upgrade to the premium plan to get access to SMS and push notifications
Pricing:
Free plan: 15,000 emails a month
Standard plan: $16/month for 15,000 emails a month with SMS
Pro plan: $99/month for 15,000 emails a month with SMS, push notifications, and Facebook custom audiences
Sales Pop helps you use social proof to boost sales by displaying real-time customer activity. When visitors know that others are buying from your store, they are more likely to buy themselves. It also makes your store look busy and creates urgency.
The app does this by connecting to your Shopify and tracking recent sales. Customers will also be able to click on the pop-up to look at the purchased product.
Pros:
Live real-time sales pop-up notifications
Fully supports more than 22 languages
Mobile optimized
Cons:
Limited to only 1,000 monthly unique visitors on the free plan
Pricing:
Free plan: up to 1,000 monthly visitors
Starter plan: $21/month for up to 10,000 monthly visitors
Growth plan: $54/month for up to 50,000 monthly visitors
With Pixelpop, you can capture visitors’ emails and sync them to Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Constant Contact, or Conversio. You can also add banners that display special offers, such as free shipping.
Pixelpop has various ways to style and customize pop-ups on your store. The different types of pop-ups you can use on your website include email signups, announcements, coupon codes, social follow, etc. The sky’s the limit!
Pixelpop doesn’t require any coding background to get started and only takes a few seconds to install on your store.
Pros:
Simple to use
Integrations with some of your favorite tools, such as Mailchimp
Various templates to choose from to style your pop-up
Cons:
You’re limited to only 500 monthly pop-up views in the free plan
You get charged by pop-up
Pricing:
Free plan: 500 monthly pop-up views
Starter plan: $12/month for 10,000 monthly popup views
Growth plan: $24/month for 50,000 monthly popup views
Pro plan: $48/month for 300,000 monthly popup views
Thanks to its drag-and-drop editor, Wisepops makes it possible to create high-converting emails within seconds.
One aspect that makes Wisepops stand out from other popup tools is its vast choice of templates. The platform makes it easy to find designs that reflect your brand.
Wisepops sends the right message at the right time with contextual targeting. You can target customers based on various factors such as their cart value, their timezone, location, and more.
Pros:
Extensive library of templates to style your pop-ups
24/7 customer support
Easy-to-use interface
30+ targeting options
Cons:
No free plan
Pricing:
Basic plan: $49/month for 100,000 pageviews/month
Pro plan: $99/month for 500,000 pageviews/month
Conclusion
Pop-ups are great for growing your email list and landing more sales. We hope this list of tools will help you pick the right pop-up tool for your business. Experiment with each platform and see which fits you the best!
In part one of this two-part blog series, we reviewed some basics of the major carriers available for international e-commerce shipping needs. From USPS to several others, you have a few options for international shipping – and which you choose will depend on a few different variables.
At eHub, we’re happy to offer international shipping e-commerce solutions as just one piece of our comprehensive shipping API services. From helping you navigate paperwork and customs documentation to negotiating non-US shipping deals, managing returns, and more, we’re here to help with every area of international commerce for our clients. While much of part one of our series evaluated your options for international shipping, today’s part two will dig into the factors you should consider while selecting your carrier.
Landed Cost
Within the shipping world, the term “landed cost” is commonly used to describe the final, all-in-one price. It includes not only shipping costs but also duties, taxes, and fees, plus potential add-ons like insurance.
Before any customer completes an international purchase of your products, you should lay out their landed cost. In many cases, this information will include details on who is responsible for any additional fees that might be present.
Full Details
In addition to the landed cost of standard shipping needs, you must know what’s included in a shipping carrier’s program. For instance, does the carrier include insurance for all orders, for only orders with a specific minimum price, or not? If it’s not offered at all, you may have to offer some of your own. Also, inquire about areas like whether there’s a charge for proof of delivery, how tracking will work, and more.
Customs Forms
While customs forms will be pretty similar or even identical between carriers, they’re essential to think about. This is actually an area where working with our team of shipping professionals is just as important as finding a great carrier – we’ll help you with things like value per unit, international currency, harmonized tariff codes, and others, though we require a partnership with a robust carrier in several of these areas.
Trade Regulations
Another area where it’s essential to have both a suitable carrier and the expertise of pros like ours is within trade regulations, which vary between countries you may be shipping to or from. For instance, Austria does not allow the shipment of any alcoholic beverages or medicine, among other things; China doesn’t allow the import of toy guns. Knowledge of these regulations is vital for limiting overhead and maintaining your company’s reputation.
