What is Fulfilment?

Additionally, What is the Fulfilment Process?

By Definition: Fulfilment is the process of receiving, packaging and shipping order for goods (Entrepreneur.com) 

Fulfilment services are business processes often outsourced to fulfilment companies also known as fulfilment houses. These businesses are third party services that take care of fulfilling client orders on the business owner's behalf.

What's involved in the fulfilment process?

• Data Processing & Order Processing
• Storage & Warehousing
• Inventory Management
• Pick and Pack
• Customer Services
• Banking
• Ecommerce
• and more...

 The fulfilment house works close with their clients to ensure each task that is outsourced is followed according to the clients brand and or company ethos.

The fulfilment process begins by receiving the products from the clients supplier, storing the clients inventory, receiving the orders from the clients sales pipeline, picking and packaging the orders as they come through and sending them off via post. Fulfilment can additionally include payment processing, customer service handling and returns handling.

Note: Fulfilment services can be used outside of ecommerce in other areas such as response handling, promotional fulfilment and even market research.

Who can use Fulfilment Solutions?

• Ecommerce
• Retail
• Market Research
• Promotional Marketing
• Direct Mail
• and more...

When it comes to fulfilment, because every company is different, the fulfilment process varies between each company. Companies have two options when it comes to handling fulfilment.

1st Option: In-House Fulfilment
It's quite common for businesses to handle their own fulfilment, but as time progresses and the sales grow, in-house fulfilment can eat away valuable time that could be spent on growth related activities as well as cost you financially. Keep in mind as your business and sales volumes grow so will your need for additional storage space and staff.

Growth Related Activities: These activities could be anything from product research and development, marketing and or promotional campaigns.

2nd Option: Outsource to Fulfilment House
A fulfilment house can free up your time by allowing them to take on your daily business processes. Businesses who switch to using a fulfilment house enjoy the seasonal flexibility, lower shipping costs and convert fixed costs to variable costs.

              Seasonal Flexibility:
                  When the holiday seasonal rush is right around the corner businesses no longer need to stress and worry about taking on temporary staff to support the influx of demand. This also means that those businesses do not need to worry about training new staff and or purchase new equipment to keep up with the rush and when the rush dies down their are no excess employees or idle equipment.

              Lower Shipping Costs:
                   Since shipping is a key service that most all fulfilment houses dabble in, their mail volumes grant them the ability to get lower mailing rates that your business might not be able to negotiate.

               Convert Fixed Costs to Variable Costs:
                   Storage facilities regardless if they are purchased or leased come attached with fixed costs. Some fixed costs could be rent, heating / air conditioning, plumbing and security services to name a few.

Basic Fulfilment Solutions include

 

Warehousing

The fulfilment house should be able to store your goods safely and secure in their storage facilities.
When you store your products with a fulfilment house they will generally monitor your stock levels and communicate when the need arises for stock replenishment.

Order Processing

How your orders get passed onto your fulfilment provider. This can be done either by API integration, Direct Download and or CSV just to name a few possibilities. Once the order has been received by the fulfilment house, the fulfilment team will process the order by first selecting the ordered products from your stored stock and package the products then sending them out to the identified customer on the order.

Returns & Exchanges

In the event an order is processed and the customer is not satisfied its common that most fulfilment houses to handle customer returns. The fulfilment house can process returns, examine returned items and determine if they can be resold and of course replace the faulty and or damaged product or refund the order.

By Erik Miller

JEM Marketing & Fulfilment Services Ltd.
The Invisible Link- Between your business and its customers
www.j-e-m.com

Wondering How to Sell Products Internationally?

Growing your business on an international level is essential in order to maintain your businesses competitiveness. However, expanding your products to the international market can lead to potential challenges that can include:

1.   Increase postage fees due to international postage fees
2.   Increase lead times due to international courier services
3.   Customer service can become challenging:
1. International consumers can become irritated with the time it takes to receive their products
2. Products could get damaged, lost or stolen when being shipped internationally.
3. Products could potentially get stuck in hold, waiting to pass customs inspections.
4. Product returns can get expensive and tricky due to the time it wold take to send the product back and get replaced.
5. Every country has different social norms, which can make communicating efficiently challenging.
6. Government paper work can eat your time and become rather confusing.

 Shipping & Returns Policies

Shipping products internationally can be expensive and somewhat of a challenge. It is important to clearly state on your website your shipping process and return policies. Most international consumers will refuse to buy from a seller if these processes and policies are not clearly defined.

The shipping process should include the method of transport and time it will take for the product to arrive. Keep in mind, the longer it takes for your product to arrive to those international buyers the chances of them purchasing from you begins to deteriorate. It is also important to list potential variables in the event their parcel does not come in the time your shipping policy states.

The returns policies needs to clearly instruct your businesses process of accepting returned goods.

1. Will your business provide return postage free of charge?
1. If Yes, how will you provide this?
2. Will you enclose a return label in the event they need to return the item, or will you reimburse the customer?
2. What options do you provide on your returns?
1. Do you provide a full refund, or replacement of product sold?
3. How long could the process of returning a product take?

Sizing & Customs

UK and American sizing is completely different. One country prefers metric while the other prefers imperial. To prevent any miscommunication the prospective sellers need to ensure that sizing conversions and product information is presented clearly for all nationalities to perceive correctly. Remember, the success of any business comes from customer satisfaction.

Customs can be tricky and should be handled with care. Any paperwork that is filled out incorrectly can cost your business both financial loses but also damage its reputation. Think about that potential international customer who has been waiting over three weeks for their product and your business is unable to track and locate it. International sellers should also be mindful of the customs charges imposed on items coming into the EU. 

Summary  

The main objective here is to ensure expectations are clearly laid out from the beginning. Providing clear understandable shipping, returns and customs procedures. Adding, additional info on sizing, weight, etc.. shows your business goes the extra mile, by accommodating different country norms. Having a policy in place covering these bases will aid in providing great customer service, improve your businesses reputation and guarantee returning happy customers! 

By Erik Miller

JEM Marketing & Fulfilment Services Ltd.
The Invisible Link- Between your business and its customers
www.j-e-m.com 

Promotional Fulfilment by JEM

Starting a Promotional Marketing Campaign?

Planning on Conducting a Marketing Campaign?

Look no further, as JEM Marketing & Fulfilment Services Ltd has years of experience handling all sorts of different promotional projects for clients. Regardless if you’re looking to furnish your team with the latest marketing materials, deliver point of sales materials to retailers or process data from market studies, our talented team has the flair, skill and knowledge to manage your outsourced promotional fulfilment.  Our flexible approach allows us to tailor our services to meet your business requirements and needs.

Examples of Promotional Fulfilment

•   Promotional Literature (Brochures, Catalogues, Leaflets)
•   Cash Backs, Try Me Free and Money Back Guarantee
•   Coupon Clearing
•   Instant Wins
•   Prize Promotions
•   Free Mail-ins
•   Collector and Loyalty Schemes
•   Gift Packs
•   Free Sample Mail Outs
•  Point of Sale Collation
•   Beauty Kits and Sampling
•   And More

Additional Value Added Services by JEM

•   Contract packaging capabilities
•   Handling product returns
•   Kitting & Assembly solutions
•   Quality inspection
•   Data Capture
•   Data Validation and Cleansing
•   Procurement experience to select, source and manage the distribution of promotional products  and the marketing collateral used to communicate these offers.
•   Domestic Contact Centre for customer service solutions, with a dedicated network of agents.  Our contact centre handles a variety of customer service programs on a day-to-day basis. 
•   Escape those disgruntled customers by providing a UK based call centre with friendly and knowledgeable staff.
•   JEM has the ability to provide full contact logs and summary reports if required.
•   Save time and effort and allow us to cleanse your data from inaccurate or incomplete records.

Promotional campaigns that are well-concieved and executed properly, can drive financial results and improve your brand image. The execution and management of a promotional campaign is the key to success. At JEM we aim to be the invisible link between your mission and its customers. Trusting your brand to someone else is a huge leap of faith. We not only understand that is a major commitment, but we also have the experience to delivery on your brand promise while maintaining its integrity.

Notes:

What are Promotional Products?

•  Promotional products also known as advertising products are branded articles often having the logo or slogan of the company they are promoting. They could be T-shirts, pens, key-chains etc. They are usually distributed at trade exhibitions or fairs or product launches where there is going to be a large gathering of like-minded people. 

 What are Marketing Campaigns?

•  Specific activities designed to promote a product, service or business. A marketing campaign is a coordinated series of steps that can include promotion of a product through different mediums (television, radio, print, online) using a variety of different types of advertisements. The campaign doesn't have to rely solely on advertising, and can also include demonstrations, word of mouth and other interactive techniques (Investopedia.com).

 Quick Access Pages Regarding JEM's Fulfilment Solutions

• Pick and Pack
• Response Fulfilment
• Fulfilment
• Contact Us 

By Erik Miller

JEM Marketing & Fulfilment Services Ltd.
The Invisible Link- Between your business and its customers
www.j-e-m.com

How Promotional Products Work for Your Business

Have you or your company considered using promotional products and or materials to help boost awareness of your venture?

Promotional Marketing is a common strategy but most businesses do not often implement their strategy effectively. Promotional Product Campaigns can cover a wide array of different opportunities. The bags of goodies that we all acquire at trade shows and conferences, or those free gifts for being a member of a club, magazine and or organisation. There is also the giveaways, competitions and sweepstakes, where prizes can be an all-inclusive holiday, new car, and kitchenware just to name a few. These are all examples of different forms of Promotional Marketing campaigns.

When to use Promotional Products

•          Thank you Gifts
•          Employee Appreciation
•          Event Merchandise
•          Trade Show & Event Branding
•          Giveaways, Sweepstakes & Competitions

What to consider when choosing to use Promotional Products

•   Give away useful items that have purpose
•    Be creative when designing (WoW Factor)
•   Target your audience, Quality over Quantity

Products with Purpose

Firstly, it’s important to always remember the promotional items are for your clients. Secondly it’s imperative to select a product that addresses their needs and suits their taste. The British Promotional Merchandise Association Patrons (BPMA) statistics show that promotional items deliver an equal or higher ROI than other types of advertising – but that impact increases exponentially if your promotional product is repeatedly used by the customer. So a functional product is

What are some examples of Promotional Products with Purpose?

•  Pens
•  Mints
•  USB Memory cards / Stick
• Cutting Boards
• Water Bottles / Cups

Branded promotional products that have a purpose not only offer a use for every day but also ensure that those potential clients will be in reach with your company’s details. Additionally, if that client is allowing another person to barrow your company’s pen, USB Memory Card/ Stick, cup and so forth, they are essentially spreading the word of your business by sight. This is why design, branding and the overall look and use are essential to a successful promotional product strategy.

Design for Wow

Use this opportunity to stand out from your competitors. In today’s marketplace the world is becoming more and more transparent and competition is only going to increase. Great promotional materials should be organised and usable, similar to how a good website operates. Your brand and information should be easily identifiable. These branded materials need to also be able to capture the attention of your targeted audience and inspire them to try your services or products.

Quirky, witty and or creatively designed products is a proven effective method to capturing the minds of your prospective clients and or customers. Items designed with this in mind will leave a memorable impression of your business by leaving a branded footprint with your prospective target audience. These creative promotional products also give off a positive, innovative and imaginative perception that your organisation is creative with fresh ideas.

Targeting Your Audience

In order for you or your business to maximise the return on the investment of these promotional materials, it is essential to pick the right product that matches and compliments your industry. A good promotional strategy includes setting clear goals and objectives that will not only help you focus on a target but also streamline your marketing activities.

Share this Image On Your Site

<p> <b>Please include attribution to www.j-e-m.com with this graphic.</b><br /><br /><a href='http://jemfulfilment.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/how-promotional-products-work-for-your.html'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLxTsFg84cebqKF1bAVmYtXsQHokzgAbaJxHJtigSswsX9lpAYJwSPD8XfZvUXFjkCpExNzOOHTne04l_4Hvv3o1UjUbzRzped1cxzSxx4DRO5Jl35RYXw0thqMfBQKJrse7s1VUb-Ew/s1600/Promotional+Marketing+Facts+Infographic.jpg' alt='Infographic highlighting statistics on how Promotional Marketing is an effective tool for business.' width='600' border='0' /></a></p>

By Erik Miller

JEM Marketing & Fulfilment Services Ltd.
The Invisible Link- Between your business and its customers
www.j-e-m.com

JEM is Hiring New Talent

JEM is Hiring - Looking for new talent

We are looking for two highly motivated warehouse assistants to work in our busy mail order environment based in Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8ND. 

Position Details:

The position involves picking and packing daily products for despatch, unloading deliveries and some heavy lifting involved. Duties also include warehouse administration; such as checking in stock deliveries and the end of day postal account entries. The ability to work on your own or as part of a team is essential. Good computer and written skills are a must. 

The working hours are 8am – 4.30pm

          -one hour for lunch

          -20 days holiday per annum

          -plus bank holidays. 

    Good rates of pay, plus bonus opportunities

Note: 

Please check out our location before applying for the position. If you do not have your own transport, please check public transport costs first, as they can be expensive.  For more information about our company check out www.j-e-m.com or www.shopatjem.co.uk To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to carole.south@j-e-m.com

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

By Erik Miller

JEM Marketing & Fulfilment Services Ltd.
The Invisible Link- Between your business and its customers
www.j-e-m.com