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To say that 2014 was a crazy year for fulfillment would be an understatement. Between the rise of digital commerce and significant changes in retail sales, distribution and fulfillment services are evolving rapidly.

Now that 2015 is here, it’s time to look back and see what lessons can be learned from 2014 and what can be done to make your 2015 fulfillment year the best yet.

1. Sell Internationally

The recent news about developed U.S.-Cuba relations, combined with the rise of e- and m-commerce, means that your order fulfillment can and needs to go global. There’s a lot of international demand and now you’ve got the tools to access it. Provided you abide lawfully, you can send products across borders that may not have been possible to send before.

Consumers by nature are ambitious, finding joy in being able to get what they want in spite of the obstacles. And if people far away want your products or your local client base desires foreign goods, it’s time to engage in importing and exporting.

If you’ve never done this before, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Know Your Niche and Buyers

This may sound obvious, but you need to know where your product line is in demand.

Consider the big picture: it’s not just regular clients of your fulfillment center that might be interested, but also governments, corporations, and even the military.

2. Know Your Budget

While this likely also sounds like a no-brainer, costs for importing and exporting goods are pretty varied. There are tariffs, transport fees, foreign distribution, and fulfillment fares to consider, not to mention repackaging, promo material, and marketing campaigns.

3. Know Your Laws

Legal knowledge is a necessity. Product restrictions and laws regarding intellectual property, amongst other rules, can vary between countries. And with the expansion of e-commerce order fulfillment, security measures for imports and exports are stricter about abiding to their standards.

4. Know Your Capabilities

Shipping can be complex, but is manageable provided you plan ahead and obtain the right assistance with your warehousing and shipping. You have to determine which containers, storage, and means of transportation are required, the answers depending on the size and amount of product being moved.

5. Know Your Allies

More than anything, you’re going to need some sort of agent to assist you with your import/export operations—someone to assist with third-party fulfillment. Options include a home-based agent, a multinational product agency, a branch office of a major associate business, a distributor, and a joint venture with another company. To get started, work backwards by contacting your existing distribution and fulfillment source and see what information they can provide you on international representation.

Need solutions to your product fulfillment problems? APS Fulfillment, Inc. has the knowledge and services to make your direct mail and product fulfillment ventures more successful. Contact APS Fulfillment, Inc. by e-mail at [email protected], visit their web site at www.apsfulfillment.com, or phone at (954) 582-7450.

It’s been reported that retail juggernaut Wal-Mart has stepped up its fulfillment solutions in an attempt to go head-to-head with major competitor Amazon.

The times are indeed changing, both for retail and for business-to-business fulfillment. Wal-Mart is now under pressure and they may not come out on top. Either way, some of their new methods should be noted buy other fulfillment centers.

Here’s five things you can learn from Wal-Mart to stay on top of your fulfillment game:

The fact is that too many in product fulfillment don’t make the most of the summer season. Yes, enjoying the weather is important, but the season also possesses great business potential. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to enjoy summertime success.

‘Tis the Season

In truth, it’s not summer so much that you have to concern yourself with; it’s fall. Even before August ends, you have to start thinking about upcoming fall events: back-to-school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas. These are busy times, making them ripe with business opportunities.

While spending your summer in a classroom might not seem very exciting, furthering your education can greatly benefit your product fulfillment business. There are a lot of interesting courses to take, many of which can easily be made to fit within your schedule.

Higher Learning

As you’re already employed in product fulfillment, you don’t have the time to go back and earn your MBA. That’s why continuing education exists, allowing you to work and study at the same time.

Product fulfillment businesses give their products a lot of thought. However, if you hope to be even remotely successful in this business, you need to analyze your products thoroughly. Here’s what you need to know.

Handle with Care

First of all, any good product fulfillment service has to consider what can potentially damage or otherwise affect their products, such as local weather. Depending on the items in question, you’ll have to consider special storage and warehousing; your chosen location may also need to include temperature controls and special containers.

Ideas are a business’ lifeblood. If you’re having trouble generating new ideas, product fulfillment offers several opportunities to think some up and get back on track. Here’s what you can do to get your creative juices flowing.

Brainstorming

A good start is to simply assess your current situation: what areas of your business need new ideas, which ideas didn’t work in the first place, and what all this means for your business.

Long Way from Home

These days, you see a lot of businesses going local, either because of certain constraints or commitment to the local economy. The local option is also very appealing to the consumer public, and can bring great success to many new businesses.

But what about the long-distance options? Going local is good, but there are options for those who wish to seek fortune internationally.