Warehousing Services
Your inventory may be in a warehouse for 3 days, 3 months or 3 years. Five & Counting can help you maximize your warehousing spend.
Warehouse / 3PL Sourcing
Choosing your first 3rd Party Logistics supplier can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be
How We Can Help
- Review 3PL Options in your chosen region
- Review/interview/tour on your behalf
- Create a presentation to compare options:
– Services
– Future needs
– Costs
Inventory Reports
If reports aren’t being read and actioned, they are not useful.
How We Can Help
- Review current reports from warehouses and couriers
- Ensure all data points are included
- Validate report frequency & recipients
- Analyze for short and/or long-term actions
- Train your staff so they can make data-informed decisions going forward
Single vs. Multiple Warehouses
Should you fulfill out of one North American location? Do you need a west-coast depot?
How We Can Help
- Consider current and future shipping patterns
- Compare customer expectations vs current service levels vs. competitor offerings
- Consider volume vs overhead
Whole-life cost of a SKU
Each month that inventory stays on a shelf, you are paying rent for it. We’ll explore how to minimize financial impacts.
How We Can Help
- Calculate costs to develop, manufacture and transit to warehouse
- Calculate storage costs and impact on bottom line
- Recommend how to minimize cost of stale inventory up front
Inventory Cleanups
Like cleaning out your closet, inventory should be regularly reviewed to ensure you aren’t stocking irrelevant material and to deal with any stock that may expire before shipment.
How We Can Help
- Review stock on hand for organic distribution
- Minimize surprises with report creation and review (ex. short expiry dates etc.)
- Explore stock removal before end of life:
– Donation
– “Free gift” in customer orders
– Push orders to Sales for hand-outs
- Explore stock disposal after end of life:
– Garbage vs. recycling
– Incineration
– Adulterated destruction
– Secure shredding
– Authorized certificates of destruction
Featured Case Study
Address Labels
Using Laels to Avoid Reprints
How reprinting 500 documents was avoided following an office
re-location, by using three label variations to update the new address per Health Canada regulations.
Explore Other Services
Packaging
Packaging
Plan your product packaging with warehousing and shipping in mind. We bring a big-picture perspective to the table.
Shipping & Handling
Shipping & Handling
How your item arrives to the consumer is an extension of your brand. We can help ensure shipping is congruent with your values and customer expectations.
Transportation
Transportation
The route your products take from the manufacturer to the warehouse is the start of their journey. Picking the best mode and route is key!
Retail / DC & Beyond
Retail / DC & Beyond
When shipping into a store or distribution centre (DC), details matter to avoid surprises.