Small Business Fulfilment Service

Current data shows that the average return rate in the UK is roughly 20% annually. That means around 1 in 5 items bought online are returned yearly, which amounts to a staggering £6.6 billion worth of goods in 2024.

While returns are an inevitable part of ecommerce business, the way this process is handled can make or break an online store.

Today's savvy online shopper knows what they want, and they want it yesterday. Not only do you need to ship the order out quickly, but you are also expected to handle the returns and refund process just as swiftly.

Understandably, most ecommerce businesses are focused on sales, as this is where the revenue comes from. Wading through piles of returned goods and issuing refunds isn't necessarily a priority, but this can be a costly mistake; one of the most common complaints from customers relates to returns policies and processes. The knock-on effect is that those customers are unlikely to buy from you again, and they may leave negative feedback that puts other buyers off.

If your returns process is causing you problems, Direct Fulfilment 365 can take hold of the reins and get things running smoothly. We handle everything, from inspecting the items when they arrive to adding them back to the inventory for re-sale as quickly as possible.

We also take care of the refund process and will arrange for the refurbishment, recycling or responsible disposal of any items that can't be sold.

Finally, we will field any customer service queries, leaving you free to run your business.

As a third-party logistics provider, Direct Fulfilment 365 also handles business-to-business fulfilment services in addition to business-to-customer.

This means you can trust us to take care of the complete process when it comes to your supply chain management.

B2B fulfilment is all about efficiently handling bulk orders for wholesalers, retailers, and corporate clients. For small businesses, this means outsourcing the storage, packing, and shipping of large orders to us, and we ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Instead of managing wholesale logistics in-house, Direct Fulfilment 365 takes care of everything - from securely storing stock and tracking inventory in real-time to carefully picking, packing, and preparing palletised shipments. If necessary, we can also support Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), allowing seamless order processing with major retailers.

The benefits are game-changing for small businesses. With lower bulk shipping costs, automated stock management, and professional packing, businesses can fulfil larger orders without the need for extra warehouse space or staff.

Reliable and timely deliveries help strengthen relationships with trade partners, ensuring repeat business and long-term growth. Plus, with integration across multiple sales channels - whether that’s a website, Amazon, Faire, or direct wholesale orders - stock levels remain accurate, preventing overselling. By outsourcing B2B fulfilment to us, small businesses can scale up confidently, focus on building their brand, and meet increasing wholesale demand without any of the usual logistical headaches!

To summarise: our order fulfilment services are not only geared to help ecommerce business, we also help brick-and-mortar stores to streamline their logistical operations and manage their stock efficiently.

At Direct Fulfilment 365, we're under no illusion that this topic is the most important factor for any business, no matter the size. However, questions like how much do fulfilment services cost are especially relevant to small businesses that typically have lower budgets and smaller profit margins.

Fulfilment fees can be broken down into their component parts, such as storage fees, picking, packing and shipping costs, etc. However, we usually express this as a flat rate based on the size and requirements of the e-commerce business in question.

We recognise that many small and medium-sized businesses are reluctant to use business fulfilment services due to the potential costs involved. Bigger businesses rely on economies of scale to balance the cost of business fulfilment against the rewards.

However, Direct Fulfilment 365 offers a range of incentives to entice small businesses to take advantage of our services, such as:

• Bulk shipping discounts
• Scaled pricing (based on order volume)
• Discounted storage fees
• Free onboarding and integration
• Special offers for start-ups

On average, without taking any of the above factors into account, small business fulfilment will cost between £1.50 and £5 per item. This includes all of the other factors mentioned above, including storage space, pick-and-pack and shipping costs.

To gain a better idea of the costs you might expect to pay, why not contact us for a chat? We'll take your specific needs and requirements into account, and then we'll suggest a reasonable figure in line with your unique circumstances and budget.

When you consider that the big names mostly have fulfilment services of their own (including Amazon fulfilment centres), and that there are dozens of other fulfilment companies to consider, why would any small to medium businesses choose Direct Fulfilment 365 over a traditional fulfilment company?

The answer can be summed up in two words: Efficiency and dedication.

We also offer the following:

• Zero set-up fees - While these can be applied to larger businesses, we try to make things as easy as possible for small business owners. Set-up fees will be waived as an incentive to get you up and running as soon as possible without putting a strain on your budget.
• No minimum order volumes - We don't impose minimum order volumes as we understand the challenges faced by online sellers and ecommerce businesses. Sales volumes are dynamic, with seasonal fluctuations and trends.
• No long-term contracts - We don't tie you into lengthy contracts; it's up to you to decide how long you want to benefit from our fulfilment solution. We don't expect unqualified commitment, unlike many other order fulfilment services. However, for those who prefer the sense of security a contract can offer, we will offer further discounts as an incentive - but it's entirely your choice!
• Pay-as-you-go option - Rather than setting a specific timescale, we can keep things ticking over at a pace that suits you, paying fulfilment fees at set intervals.
• Scalable fulfilment services - We are proud to help small businesses scale up, adapting the service to suit order fulfilment volumes as your business grows. We can also accommodate any seasonal fluctuations in demand, changing the level of service to suit the conditions.
• Fast delivery - With 99% of orders delivered on time, we help boost customer satisfaction rates, attracting positive reviews and ratings, along with repeat buyers.

We believe there's no better way to secure the future of your business than by teaming up with Direct Fulfilment 365, and these incentives illustrate our commitment to your cause.

While most businesses have an online presence, some will make the bulk of their sales through a physical store. So, how can Direct Fulfilment 365's order fulfilment work for them?

For traditional businesses, Direct Fulfilment 365 can handle bulk stock storage, restocking retail locations, and managing B2B orders to trade partners or corporate clients. This is especially useful for businesses that supply multiple locations, work with wholesalers, or want to expand into online sales without managing their own logistics.

Additionally, businesses that take phone or catalogue orders can integrate our fulfilment services to process and dispatch goods more efficiently.

Using Direct Fulfilment 365 to do this allows traditional businesses to reduce storage costs, streamline distribution, and focus on growth rather than warehouse management. Whether selling in-store, online, or both, fulfilment services can offer a flexible, scalable solution to meet demand.

Running a small business comes with plenty of challenges, but order fulfilment doesn’t have to be one of them!

At Direct Fulfilment 365, we are delighted to be able to help you by taking care of the storage, packing, and shipping, so you can focus on what matters most - growing your business. Whether you're sending a handful of orders or scaling up to meet rising demand, our flexible, reliable fulfilment solutions ensure your products reach customers quickly and efficiently.

With seamless integrations, cost-effective shipping, and a fulfilment team that treats your business like their own, we make logistics simple and stress-free. Let us handle the heavy lifting while you focus on building your brand.

When you're ready to streamline your fulfilment and take your small business to the next level, contact Direct Fulfilment 365 and let's create a partnership for success.