Etsy is a great eCommerce platform for several reasons.
Namely, it offers individual artisans and small businesses the chance to sell their wares around the world without having to build a full website or eCommerce platform. After all, the common crafter isn’t on a big business budget, and will always be looking for ways to save. Etsy allows people to sell all kinds of items while making it easy to create and manage listings, complete transactions, and build relationships with customers.
It also offers several options for fulfillment solutions and support with shipping. When you become a seller on Etsy, you can handle your own shipping and fulfillment. However, if you want to make it easier on yourself, you can enlist the help of a 3PL (third-party logistics) fulfillment provider like Print Bind Ship. Read on to learn all about your options for order fulfillment with Etsy.
Etsy Order Fulfillment
When you sell an item online, there is a process that takes place—fulfillment. This includes every step of the transaction from the time of the sale until delivery, and usually even includes returns. The order is sent to the warehouse, which picks out the items and packs them accordingly. Then, the order needs to be shipped out to the buyer in a timely and affordable fashion.
Fulfilling your own eCommerce orders can be a challenge. It might seem easy to handle your own packing and shipping at first, but as your business grows, so does your need for a better solution. You might get tired of running to the Post Office all the time or spending money on other carrier fees that add up over time. You may just want a more streamlined, professional solution that is out of your reach unless you partner with a 3PL provider like Print Bind Ship.
What Etsy Does for Order Fulfillment
Etsy does offer some resources to assist with order fulfillment, including shipping profiles, label creation, tracking, and more. Their goal is to assist buyers in whatever way possible. While Etsy does make shipping easier, they cannot handle fulfillment for sellers. Moreover, Etsy does not offer a full range of shipping solutions that work for everyone.
Challenges of Etsy Order Fulfillment
Several things miss the mark with Etsy order fulfillment. For starters, you have to invest the time and effort into additional customer service, warehousing your product, dealing with shipping and order processing, and more. You may not have the time and resources to service your Etsy customers efficiently.
Not only that, but Etsy also charges a lot of small fees for their various services. As mentioned before, Esty is not a fulfillment service; and their shipping label making and tracking services leave something to be sought. It’s not a bad starting point, but sellers can do better.
Solutions for Etsy eCommerce Fulfillment
When you get an order from Etsy, you will have to choose how you are going to fulfill that order. You can do this in-house if you have the means. However, you will need to invest in shipping support and also have a place to keep your inventory. If you don’t have space or resources to offer the best fulfillment for your customers, considering a 3PL partner can be a great idea!
A 3PL partner can handle as little or as much of the fulfillment process as you desire from packing and shipping orders to custom fulfillment solutions for handling all of your order processing needs. With 3PL services in your tool kit, you can focus on running your business.
Etsy Amazon Fulfillment
Fulfillment by Amazon, more commonly known as FBA, is a new service offered by the retail giant. Additionally, allows sellers to fulfill orders even if they aren’t selling directly through Amazon. FBA accounts can be set up to sell on sites like Etsy and other channels. Sellers are offered a way to do eCommerce business without having to warehouse or ship their own products.
FBA works much like other third-party order fulfillment services. However, Amazon’s fees prevent it from being a profitable choice for low-value items. Furthermore, it can actually end up costing more to list items through FBA. Plus, you still have to manage your inventory and handle other duties that most 3PL providers offer—3PLs who don’t charge expensive fees like Amazon’s 75% price increase for eBay and Etsy orders.
Outsourcing Etsy Fulfillment
3PL stands for third-party logistics. It refers to providers that handle a variety of logistics solutions; from picking and packing to warehousing, shipping and returns, and more. These services can streamline operations and have dedicated ties with shipping partners. This can often save Etsy vendors and others a lot of time and money.
When you outsource your order fulfillment for your Etsy shop, you will find several benefits. Don’t feel trapped in choosing a service like Amazon’s FBA. Instead, you can find 3PL partners that offer:
- Streamlined order processing
- Cheaper warehousing and storage solutions
- Better rates on shipping
- Cost savings in all areas of fulfillment
- Expertise from eCommerce professionals
- Options for custom packaging, and more
Partner with Print Bind Ship
If you’re looking for a 3PL partner that can deliver everything that you need for Etsy fulfillment, contact our team at Print Bind Ship. Our dedicated team of experts can help you create the perfect fulfillment solutions for your needs, no matter what the scale might be or what type of orders you need to be fulfilled. From the moment orders are received until the products are delivered, we’ll handle all of the details.
We provide cost-effective solutions for warehousing, picking and packing, and shipping orders, along with returning assistance and more. Contact us today to learn more or discuss your Etsy fulfillment needs.