Whether your operation is online or offline, increased competition in an uncertain economy makes it difficult for small businesses to turn a profit. So, you have to take every advantage you can to stay in the black.

What causes small business failures? Often, it’s things that you never think about; like underestimating fulfillment expenses. Maintaining a warehouse—even a small storage space—can be overwhelming when you factor in the time involved in retrieving products every day. Add to that the cost of packing material, postage, and shipping personnel, and pretty soon, you’re making a lot less profit than you expected.

The extraordinary reach of the Internet has given way to a revolution of sorts—a revolution that gives small businesses an edge and lets them compete on the same field as bigger ones. A key component of this revolution is outsourcing—a strategy that lets you focus on your core business, while letting specialists take care of everything else. The most successful businesses have long ago discovered that it’s cheaper and more efficient to outsource functions like warehouse management and fulfillment. In the end, it results in not only cost savings, but better customer service—and as a result, happier customers and more repeat business.

And what happens if a customer wants to return a product? Every company faces this, no matter how superior the quality of your goods—but if you handle returns and exchanges in an efficient and professional manner, you’ll keep that customer. Primebin handles all returns, exchanges and restocking for you, so you don’t have to worry—and your customers remain satisfied.

Think your business just isn’t big enough to use a fulfillment service? Think again. Small businesses in particular gain the greatest benefit from outsourcing fulfillment, because they are able to take advantage of economies of scale that wouldn’t otherwise be available. Here are just a few:

• Packing material is expensive when purchased in smaller quantities, and if you buy larger quantities, you are faced with a storage problem. Primebin purchases quality packing materials in very large quantities so you save on cost—and you don’t have to park your car in the driveway anymore because you garage won’t be filled to the top with boxes and Styrofoam.
• When you do your own fulfillment, you have to hire more of your own personnel, which can be very costly when you factor in employment taxes and benefits—and don’t forget about downtime! Our skilled staff handles fulfillment for multiple clients—so the cost is far less than maintaining your own dedicated personnel.
• The high cost of fuel is causing shipping rates to increase. You can take advantage of Primebin’s negotiated shipping rates, which are usually between ten to thirty percent cheaper than what shipping companies normally offer.

Storage and fulfillment services from Primebin give you a competitive edge and help you stay profitable. Get started today by signing up for a free account.