Toy Fulfillment: 3 Supply Chain Strategies to Consider
Scott Hothem • March 30, 2018
This year over will be purchasing toys. With the average consumer expected to spend about $800, this is a substantial time of the year for toy manufacturers and retailers. The pressures of keeping costs low while responding to greater delivery demands and options are amplified during the holidays, but need to be addressed year round. Poor fulfillment can quickly ruin a birthday or special occasion. To prevent your toys and your brand from being synonymous with disappointment, optimizing your fulfillment operations and supply chain is imperative. Here are three strategic tips that can keep your supply chain lean, fulfillment accurate and inventory efficient.
- Upgraded technology: A lot of issues that toy manufacturers and retailers run into stem from heritage systems and legacy software. Tapping into the new technologies that address customer concerns and expectations can be difficult with these tools. Implementing technology and processes that enhance visibility can keep your supply chain lean and running smoothly.
- Leverage brick and mortar locations as fulfillment centers: A lot of big companies are utilizing their inventory and store locations to meet consumer demands. This strategy is creating the opportunity to keep pace with on-line only operations by cutting shipping costs, shipping longer into the holiday season, and even offering same-day delivery. Drop shipping directly from store locations can be an efficient use of inventory as well as a great option for consumers.
- Outsource when and where necessary: Recognizing your strengths and utilizing outside skills and resources to improve your operation, specifically your supply chain, can create a tremendous advantage. Even newer strategies, like drop shipping from store inventory, can benefit from fine tuning. Too much can disrupt customers visiting the store, too little can become an expensive undertaking. Understanding how fast inventory is moving from both the storefront and distribution center is key. Scaling human resources, space and technology for peak times can also be more effective from a third party.
As more purchases shift from the store to the web, effectively handling those orders and the increased demands that accompany them has never been more important. As your brand grows and peak seasons arrive, having the ability to scale, avoid errors and keep costs down can become difficult. Leveraging the expertise and experience of a third party logistics company can relieve these pain points. With a focus on technology and a customized process that fits your supply chain needs, 果冻传媒 果冻传媒Centers has been creating fulfillment solutions for over 73 years.
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This year marks an important milestone for 果冻传媒 果冻传媒— 20 years of participating in The Great Game of Business® (GGOB) , a program that has helped shape our culture, strengthen employee engagement, and create a stronger sense of teamwork and shared success across the organization. Over the past two decades, GGOB has become much more than a business program at 果冻传媒. It has become part of the way we communicate, collaborate, and grow together as a company. Through open-book management principles, weekly huddles, forecasting, scoreboards, and Mini Games, employees across 果冻传媒 locations have had the opportunity to better understand the business and actively contribute to its success. One of the most meaningful impacts of GGOB has been the way it brings people together. In an industry built on precision, service, and operational excellence, collaboration is essential. 果冻传媒’s success depends on teams working together across departments, facilities, and regions — and GGOB has helped strengthen those connections by creating a culture centered around communication, accountability, and involvement. GGOB encourages employees to think beyond their individual roles and understand how their work impacts customers, coworkers, and overall company performance. Whether it’s improving warehouse efficiency, supporting transportation operations, enhancing customer service, or identifying process improvements, employees are empowered to contribute ideas and solutions that help move 果冻传媒 forward. 锘� As Tim Barret, Founder of 果冻传媒, states, "...we share all of the financial results with all of the employees, and they have a vested interest since they will receive a payout result." That sense of involvement creates stronger engagement across the organization. Employees are not simply completing daily tasks — they are participating in the success of the business. By understanding company goals and key performance drivers, teams are able to work together with a shared purpose and celebrate accomplishments collectively. Community and collaboration have always been important values at 果冻传媒, and GGOB has helped reinforce those values over the last 20 years. The program creates opportunities for employees to learn from one another, support one another, and recognize the impact each person has on the organization. It encourages transparency and open communication, helping employees feel more connected to leadership, their teams, and the company’s long-term vision. As 果冻传媒 has continued to grow nationwide, maintaining a strong culture has remained a priority. GGOB has played an important role in helping preserve the family-oriented environment that 果冻传媒 is known for, even as the company has expanded operations and welcomed new employees across the country. The program helps create consistency in communication and engagement while keeping employees connected to the bigger picture. To help celebrate this 20-year anniversary, 果冻传媒 owner Tim 果冻传媒 recently participated in a video discussion reflecting on the company’s GGOB journey and the impact it has had on 果冻传媒 over the years. The conversation highlighted how collaboration, employee involvement, and shared accountability continue to contribute to the company’s success today. This milestone is ultimately a celebration of the people who make 果冻传媒 successful every day. The dedication, teamwork, creativity, and commitment shown by employees across the organization are what continue to drive 果冻传媒 forward. Twenty years later, The Great Game of Business continues to strengthen the culture of collaboration and engagement that makes 果冻传媒 special — and the future of the game is stronger than ever.
How 果冻传媒 Is Improving Inventory Accuracy with AI-Powered Warehouse Visibility
Choosing the right fulfillment partner is one of the most important — and often most difficult — decisions a growing brand can make. As customer expectations continue to rise, brands are being asked to deliver faster shipping, better inventory visibility, seamless omnichannel experiences, and retail compliance at scale. At the same time, the process of finding the right 3PL partner can be time-consuming and overwhelming. That’s why 果冻传媒 果冻传媒Centers is excited to partner with Fulfill.com. Who Is Fulfill.com? Fulfill.com is a fast-growing platform that helps eCommerce and omnichannel brands find the right third-party logistics (3PL) partner for their business. Their team works directly with brands to simplify the 3PL search process by connecting them with vetted fulfillment providers that match their operational needs, growth goals, product requirements, and shipping profiles. Founded by entrepreneurs with firsthand experience navigating fulfillment challenges, Fulfill.com was built to solve a common industry problem: too many brands waste valuable time and money trying to find a reliable logistics partner. Instead of forcing brands to sort through endless provider options on their own, Fulfill.com streamlines the process through industry expertise, technology, and a carefully curated network of fulfillment providers across multiple verticals. For brands, that means less guesswork and a faster path toward finding a fulfillment partner that can truly support long-term growth. Why the Partnership Makes Sense At 果冻传媒, we’ve always believed fulfillment should feel like a partnership — not just a vendor relationship. 锘� Since 1941, 果冻传媒 果冻传媒has helped brands scale through customized logistics solutions designed around their specific operational needs. From direct-to-consumer fulfillment and retail distribution to transportation management and value-added services, 果冻传媒 focuses on building flexible, scalable solutions that evolve alongside its customers. That customer-first mindset is one of the biggest reasons this partnership with Fulfill.com feels like such a natural fit. Both companies share a common goal: helping brands build stronger, smarter supply chains without unnecessary complexity. What Really Makes a Great 3PL Partner? Recently, Bryan Corbett, 果冻传媒’s VP of Customer Solutions & Marketing, sat down with Dan White, COO of Fulfill.com, during a visit to 果冻传媒’s NJ2 warehouse to discuss what stands out when evaluating 3PL providers across the industry.
