Warehouse Basics Blog

Do we ever say thank you enough to our customers?  Ever tried to come up with that perfect gift that doesn't look like you are buying their continued business?  You know, something simple, yet respectful...and yes it does say "Thanks" for the business.

Bearly Memories offers a set of keepsake boxes that you can customize or personalize with your customer's name or business unit stenciled on the box.  Great to sit at the receptionist's desk for business cards, or marketing brochures, candy, or a guest sign-in book.  These boxes are attractive enough to sit on the boss's desk, bookshelf, or in the lobby.

Offering a variety of styles, shapes, and colors, these keepsake boxes can be stuffed with interesting and imaginative products that help get your message across.  Salt water taffy candy is a popular stuffer, or tootsie rolls make a nice touch.  Some have even put gift cards for the employees or coupons for their products as a stuffer.  The goal is too say thanks.

Some of the keepsake boxes have pre-printed sayings such as: Celebrate, Christmas Cheer, Faith Family Friends, Freedom Box, Live Love Laugh, others are just decorative.

Just a few examples of keepsake boxes many of our clients have purchased to say "Thanks" 

Why is it so hard to find a good fulfillment partner?  Someone who can pick, pack, and ship my products faster, better, and cheaper than I can myself, or who I have currently fulfilling my orders?

Getting a better understanding of the transportation charges for shipping UPS, FedEX, USPS, or International.  How do incentives work?  Is it cheaper for me to go out and set up a UPS account and have everything 3rd party billed to my own account, or just let the provider who does the pick and pack, ship the products on their account?

Bearly Memories asked Warehouse Basics to provide a quote to do their fulfillment.

Bearly Memories is a producer of Keepsake Boxes, Gift Sets, and accessories and other unique gift giving ideas, shipping throughout the U.S. from their on-line retail store. With customization and personalization of many of their products, there were many questions about the cost viability of outsourcing this function.

 Helping Bearly Memories understand the costs to process an order, manage the inventory, the handling costs from inbound receipts to pick, pack, and shipping charges.  How the communications from order entry to end of day billing for transportation and invoicing for warehousing will be handled.  The use of call tags for returns and extra charges for residential delivery versus business addresses.

Setting crystal clear expectations became very critical to give the customer what they want, when they want it, and for a cost that makes sense.  Keeping the communication clean, and removing as many assumptions as possible helped reduce errors, returns and disappointed customers.

Warehouse Basics, Inc. has been handling the fulfillment for Bearly Memories for several years now.  We put some extra effort upfront to ensure we all understood the unit of measure, how often we felt it necessary to communicate, and most importantly, to fully understand all the costs associated in the supply chain. 

Need fulfillment help?  Give Warehouse Basics, Inc. a call and get a free quote. 

15 years in business...who would've thunk it?

On July 1st...Warehouse Basics, Inc. will be celebrating their official 15th year since incorporating in Georgia.  My how time flys when you are having this much fun.

The last couple of years have been a little tougher as the economy continues to struggle along, however, with the team that continues to gut it out everyday, we are making a difference.

We have had some good years and we have had our share of some lean years, but I would not change a thing.  The learning experience of having some of the best customers you could imagine make getting up each day a pleasure.  Something to look forward to, and getting paid for what you love to to...it just doesn't get much better.

I want to take the time to say thank-you to all our customers...current, past, and hopefully future prospects.  Thanks to our employees, vendors, suppliers, and all who have contributed to the success of Warehouse Basics, Inc.   

In particular, I want to thank Ken Watkins, my partner, and most of all, the glue that has made the company what it is today.  I just recently returned from a two month sabbatical, along with a trip to Alaska.  To be able to do that after 42 years of working is nothing short of phenomenal, knowing the company was in good hands while I was off.  Thanks Ken.

With continuing our push to lower costs, increase revenues through crossdocking, fulfillment, warehousing and distribution, the future looks bright.  Our entire team is hitting on all cylinders, and we seem to have the right people on the bus in the right seats...Hold on, 25 years is just around the corner.

Need any help with warehousing, crossdocks, distribution, fulfillment, inventory management, or other supply chain or logistics solutions....give us a call @ 404 346-1848 or see more info at www.warehousebasics.com

Crossdocking in Atlanta, GA

Have you ever arrived at destination and were told the customer can't take the load?  Might be a couple of days before they will...who are you going to call?  You have another appointment for a pick-up at another location...full trailer, and now your stuck...Well are you really?

Nope...just call Warehouse Basics, Inc.  404 346-1848

We will unload your trailer, get you on your way, and re-deliver the freight to your customer when he can accept it.  This is a typical "Crossdock" situation.

Typical minimum charge is $150.00 for a palletized load up to 24 pallets for the unloading and the re-loading at our facility.  Re-delivery and transportation charges will be based on destination.

We will hold your freight up to 3 business days with no additional storage charges.

That is just over $3.00 per pallet handling in and the same out for handling an emergency and keeping the truck on-time to meet all your financial responsibilities. 

Flexibility, reliability, and overall ability to unload, load, provide all appropriate paperwork and communication to you and the customer is what we do.

Open Monday to Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm we can react to most needs.  Typical in and out of the building in under 2 hours...most of the time under one hour.  Help us help you solve this appointment problem.  Want to know more click here...http://mce_temp_url/

When looking to price warehousing distribution services, there are 5 critical areas to keep in mind:

1. Storage...there are typically 2 types of storage pricing...the initial storage is the 1st time entry of the goods into the warehouse...this can be figured through split month if the product comes in on the 1st of the month thru the 15th you should expect to pay a full months rent...if however, the products arrive from the 16h thru the 31st of the month you should figure on paying half a month's rent.  Some companies might average the days or use a formula of 75% of the recurring monthly rent.

The second type of storage charges are called recurring, that is whatever number of the unit of measure, cases, pallets, sacks, totes, or whatever you agree on is billed for the quantity stored on the 1st day of each new month following the original entry. 

Things to watch out for are:  product arrives on the 14th of the month and goes out on the 1st day of the new month...you are paying 2 months rent for 16-17 days storage...timing is everything.  If you hold off one more day...you could save a half month of rent...or at least you have something to negotiate...

Handling charges...these charges cover the inbound and outbound handling of the goods.  Again, back to the unit of measure you agree on.  What are some items that impact the handling price....weight, size, stackability (bulk or rack storage) number of SKU's (stock keeping units) and number and complexity of the times the product wil need to be touched.  Whether product is handled by hand, pallet jack, or special forklift with specialized attachment.

Order entry / Admin costs:  Typically the cost associated with handling all the Bill-of-lading, to phone calls, faxes, emails, scans, and paper shuffling.  End of day reports, parcel and LTL shipments with tracing and tracking numbers all have an impact on the price.  Complexity, and information technology can either add to the price or minimize "fat fingering" info into the database.  Watch out for the pesky transaction fees, they can add up very quickly.  If you require web visibility of your inventory management, typically the costs will sometimes get buried in this line item.

Next are accessorial charges...this can be anything and everything from pallets, stretchwrap, banding, UPS charges, phone charges, labeling, inventory cycle counts, and the change in scope...you forgot to tell me about this charge...all-in-all, this becomes a catch-all.  Agree that these charges should only apply if agreed upon in advance.

Last but not least are "Contract terms and conditions"...Net payment terms, 30 day contracts, limits of liability, claim handling, insurance, and extra services.  Ask lots of questions...don't assume anything...

Most contract terms and conditions in the public and contract warehousing business are boilerplate agreements...but keep one eye on the fine print. 

If this still pretty confusing...give us a call @ 404 -346-1848 or email at warehousebasics@gmail.com

We will help you anyway we can...you are the customer...demand nothing but the best.