John had a eureka moment and came up with the best idea for an item. For Karla there wasn’t actually a eureka moment, but an idea she has been working on for a while. What do they have in common? They both posted projects on Kickstarter that were fully funded. Woohoo! While this is awesome news, it’s not time to celebrate just yet. What are they going to do with their Kickstarter shipping fulfillment? They each have thousands of orders that will have to be fulfilled. These orders are going to take them and their teams forever to ship out. John and Karla breathe, it’s going to be okay. Reach out to a 3PL. Actually, reach out to a few 3PLs. You want to make sure you are working with a 3PL that cares about you and your project.
A good 3PL will understand the importance of your Kickstarter campaign. From the time someone has invested in your project to the time your product will arrive at the 3PL, it is probably months, if not longer. You’ve worked so hard on this project you don’t want to slack on your Kickstarter shipping fulfillment and let your investors down. A 3PL will need to receive and ship out your orders ASAP for you. Believe it or not, you can help make the process a smooth one.
Related: Why 3PL is the Best Option for Your Kickstarter Fulfillment Needs?
How? Easy, make sure you give all the product information to the 3PL. Is this item fragile, does your item come in a ship-ready box with the barcode on the outside of the box, etc, what’s the anticipated weight, what are the dimensions, etc? There’s no such thing as too much information. Okay, let me rephrase that statement, there’s usually no such thing as too much information. I think we all have that one person in our lives who can make a five-minute story stretch into a half hour.
I’m sure you have thought; “How will I be charged from a 3PL for my Kickstarter Shipping Fulfillment?” Great question. You’re going to hate this answer. It depends. I know this is a stinky answer, but let me explain. There are a few factors that will go into your pricing. What is the product coming in? Is it fragile, is it ship-ready, is it heavy? How many orders will be going out? What courier and shipping service do you want to use to ship your orders? What would you like to do with the product left over? Will the 3PL keep it and ship it out, or is this a one and done and you want any leftover product to ship back to you? As you can see, there are many factors that can go into your pricing. Please make sure you have this information so a 3PL can give you the best price possible.
At Ship My Orders, I’m sure we’re not the only 3PL that loves talking to people about their current products and their future products. Over the past 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking to so many business owners regarding their products, as well as people who are testing the waters with a new project on Kickstarter. These conversations shed light on many things involving Kickstarter Shipping Fulfillment.
Feel free to reach out to us and ask questions. We can answer any questions you might have about shipping and product packaging. So, before you’re ready for a 3PL and you're getting ready to go into production, make a call or two. We might have an idea that will help create the best product packaging to ensure your product arrives to your investors and eventually your customers in the safest and most economical way for you.
A quick call to a 3PL could help save you money down the road when you are ready to start shipping. Who doesn’t enjoy a little extra profit? Do you have some questions? If so, request a quote today and we will reach out to you ASAP!