FULFILLMENT FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS BRANDS
In today’s world, many consumers are shifting from traditional retail options to more online-based shopping, especially when it comes to health, wellness, nutrition, and beauty products. Health and wellness fulfillment services offer consumers a quick and easy way to buy products such as toiletries, makeup, vitamins, and more.
On this page, we’ll explain what health fulfillment is, what kinds of products you can get related to health and wellness, and how the process of fulfillment works. We’ll also let you know how NextGen3PL relates to health fulfillment and the services we offer relating to wellness and nutrition products, as well as some benefits of working with a 3PL provider for fulfillment.
How does the process of fulfillment work, and what does fulfillment for health and wellness entail?
To understand health and wellness fulfillment, it’s important to first understand fulfillment in general. In its most basic form, fulfillment means getting products to a customer on time, in excellent condition, and with any special requests met. In addition, the process of fulfillment entails storing, packaging, and delivering items in a timely and professional manner to ensure customers are 100% satisfied.
At its foundation, health and wellness fulfillment refers to any products related to beauty, health, wellness, nutrition, and similar categories that are stored and packaged by 3PL companies and subsequently shipped to consumers. eCommerce distribution is a type of circulation which allows companies to store and then ship inventory and products to consumers. NextGen3PL in particular ships from coast to coast in the U.S., and we work with health and wellness companies to distribute their fulfillment products as part of our retail distribution. We also provide storage and warehousing for eCommerce to ensure that all products are received, stored, and delivered in a safe and organized manner. Health and wellness brands can work with us as their partner in fulfillment in eCommerce and rest assured that we will provide high-quality, professional service.
What is NextGen3PL, and how do our services relate to health fulfillment?
NextGen3PL is an eCommerce fulfillment company specializing in eCommerce distribution. We are at the forefront of the popular direct-to-consumer (DTC) business model in that we understand the importance and rising trend of DTC products. We’re here to assist businesses in creating and maintaining a successful DTC system. As part of our services, we distribute health and wellness fulfillment products, such as beauty and nutritional products. Our team of skilled professionals strives to ensure that all online orders are collected, packed, and shipped on schedule. Security is a priority in our warehouses, and we follow all health and safety protocols, especially when dealing with health and wellness products. Because of the often-sensitive or perishable nature of these products, we are particularly aware of the following safety regulations and procedures:
-
FDA regulations
We follow all FDA regulations for health and wellness products and operate within FDA-approved warehouses and storage spaces.
-
Temperature control
Because of the temperature-sensitive nature of several of the products we package, store, and ship, we use temperature-controlled warehouses and storage spaces. In addition, we are sure to give extra care to products which must be kept at a certain temperature. This guarantees that nothing is spoiled or damaged.
-
Quality control
To further ensure that no goods are damaged, we maintain strict levels of quality control. If a customer is ever dissatisfied with the quality of their products, we will assess the issue to see if it came from our end and what we can do to avoid similar issues in the future.
-
Special packaging for fragile and/or temperature-sensitive products
The state a product is in when it is delivered to a customer is extremely important. Many health and wellness items are delicate or temperature-sensitive and therefore require special packaging to make sure they arrive in excellent condition. We pay careful attention to items which require special packaging, such as bubble wrap, paper, or temperature-controlled boxes, and are sure to modify our packaging accordingly.
-
Expiration date tracking
Products won’t be any good if they are delivered after their expiration date has passed. We log all expiration dates and have a rigorous organizational system to ensure that products are sent out long before they expire. In the case that a product has expired, we will not deliver it and inform the company immediately to rectify the situation and get the right product to the consumer as soon as possible.
With these protocols in place, businesses can rest assured that their products will arrive in a safe and timely manner and that consumers will be satisfied with the service.
What types of products are included in health and wellness fulfillment?
A lot of products included in health and wellness fulfillment are common ones you’ve heard of, such as beauty products and nutritional supplements. However, we’ve compiled a more exhaustive list below so you can see the wide range of products and related services most 3PL companies—including us—comprise in their options for health and wellness fulfillment.
We provide services for multiple health, beauty, wellness, and nutritional products, including but not limited to:
- Protein powders and shakes
- Nutritional supplements and vitamins
- Meal replacements and food
- powders
- Energy drinks
- Exercise apparel and equipment
- Allergy and non-prescription
- medicine
- Acne medicine
- Creams and lotions
- Makeup and makeup remover
- Facial and body cleansers
- Soap
- Hand sanitizer
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Deodorant
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss
- General toiletries
Because of the sensitive and/or fragile nature of many of the above products, 3PL health and wellness fulfillment services must pay attention to safety protocols such as:
- FDA regulations
- Temperature control
- Quality control
- Special packaging for fragile
- and/or temperature-sensitive products
- Expiration date tracking
Both within the warehouse and behind the scenes, our services at NextGen3PL go above and beyond to include online orders, same-day shipping, excellent customer service, and more. All online orders will be collected, packed, and shipped on schedule, and we ship with lot tracking numbers so that businesses know exactly what product is sent out, and customers know exactly what they’re getting.
What are the benefits of fulfillment in eCommerce for health and wellness brands?
There are many benefits of fulfillment in eCommerce for health and wellness brands. We’ve compiled a list of some of these benefits below.
-
Save money
3PL companies often negotiate better pricing for shipping companies than individual businesses, so working with a 3PL company can actually save businesses money. In addition, private businesses don’t need to buy their own storage or warehouse space because 3PL companies have their own.
-
Save time
When working with a 3PL company, businesses don’t have to spend time packaging or preparing their products for shipping.
-
Guarantee a better customer experience
Businesses are often under a lot of pressure to organize all aspects of their business themselves, including shipping items to customers. That pressure can be reduced significantly by utilizing the services of a 3PL company. Beyond storing and preparing products for delivery, many 3PL companies offer same- or next-day shipping. This ensures a high-quality customer experience and guarantees that packages will be delivered on time and in excellent condition.
-
Minimize overall risk to businesses
To further reduce the stressors of running a business, 3PL companies can take care of any issues with products that have gone through their system. For example, if there is a shipping delay, it is the responsibility of the 3PL provider to manage new shipping arrangements for that order. This system of responsibility also ensures that businesses are protected in case of lost or damaged goods.
-
Gain industry knowledge
By working with a 3PL company, businesses gain insight into the industry and are further rewarded with more knowledge and experience within the world of eCommerce. Businesses are encouraged to talk to professionals at 3PL companies to learn more and ask any questions they may have. Gaining industry knowledge and asking questions allows businesses to stay up-to-date with modern company trends, including current technology, marketing procedures, and shipping logistics in general.
-
Experience flexibility to scale operations
3PL companies use technology to determine scale space, labor, and transportation for their business partners. This flexibility allows for quick adjustments to new trends and markets as businesses continuously grow, change, and improve.
What are some of the challenges health and wellness fulfillment faces?
As DTC business models have increased in recent years, many businesses have need of 3PL companies to partner with in order to keep their own businesses successful. However, with new business models and fulfillment methods come new challenges. Below are a few major challenges businesses may face when adjusting to DTC models and online retail—and ways fulfillment companies like NextGen3PL can help guide them through these hurdles.
Logistics
3PL companies are all about logistics—so we’ve got businesses covered! Whether it’s storage space, packaging management, or shipping and delivery, it’s our job to ensure everything logistical runs smoothly. This allows businesses to run stress-free and focus on other aspects of their mission, such as growing their business or further adapting to new business models.
Lot number tracking
Lot number tracking is important because businesses must know what inventory is in the warehouse and what has been shipped or delivered at any given time. In addition, businesses need to know what lot number each consumer receives. Lot numbers and expiration dates also provide information in the case of an investigation or recall, allowing companies to isolate the problem and identify the product in question.
Inventory accuracy and security
One of the most important jobs of a 3PL company is to ensure the accuracy and security of all inventory. Businesses who are interested in partnering with a 3PL company should ask how they measure accuracy and what their operational procedures are, as each company has different policies in place for keeping track of inventory. In addition, each company has varied security measures in place—such as cameras, security guards, and sprinkled storage spaces—to keep all items safe. Finally, businesses can address the question of bulky and/or high-end product tracking and security if they expect to have orders of such nature.
Inventory aging/expiring
It’s essential for any company to keep track of expiration dates, especially because many health-related products are time-sensitive. 3PL providers understand the importance of logging expiration dates and making sure items are shipped on schedule so that they are not wasted or spoiled. In addition, providers must employ extra care to ensure that any expired items are not shipped out.
Data privacy
It is imperative that 3PL companies be aware of the sensitive nature of health information. At NextGen3PL, we pride ourselves on our ability to safeguard customers’ privacy. While not all health and wellness products include sensitive health information, we still come into contact with personal information such as names, addresses, and the products customers have ordered. As such, we take data privacy seriously and adhere to strict protocols to ensure that customers’ information is kept private.
Returns
In the event that a product needs to be returned, 3PL companies are equipped to assist businesses to make sure returns are processed correctly. Often, health- and wellness-related businesses have their own rules for how to process returns, and 3PL companies are in charge of implementing those rules.
At NextGen3PL, we can help companies overcome these and other challenges that may arise during our partnership. We’ll meet each challenge head-on, and with our professional advice and experience, we’ll get companies back in business in no time.
Why is it so important for businesses to have and maintain an online presence?
With the rising global trend in DTC products and services as opposed to traditional retail, branding and marketing have become all about online presence and promotion. Health, wellness, and nutrition brands are no exception to this movement! That’s why it’s important for companies to assess if their brands would benefit from working with a qualified 3PL company like NextGen3PL to ensure that their online orders are shipped, stored, and delivered safely and on time.
If you are a health, wellness, nutrition, or beauty company looking to partner with a 3PL company but don’t know where to start or how to adapt your model to modern trends, we can help! Our friendly and experienced customer service team is ready to assist you and answer any questions you may have, or guide you in the right direction if you have a more specific concern.
With our professional health fulfillment services and our experience in eCommerce distribution, we will work with you to store and ship your products to consumers in a timely and safe fashion. We ship from coast to coast in the U.S., and our warehouses follow all health and safety protocols to guarantee that your products are taken care of through reception, storage, and delivery.
Health and wellness fulfillment is more than just getting your products out there; it’s about putting in the work to make your product and brand the best they can be. Health, wellness, beauty, and nutrition brands are welcome to reach out to us as potential partners in fulfillment in eCommerce and rest assured that our experts will listen and cater to your needs, providing exceptional and experienced service. The process of fulfillment and its relationship to health and wellness products can seem daunting, but we are here to help! With our no-strings-attached services and expert guidance, fulfillment for health and wellness brands is a simple, efficient, and professional process.