You must consider many requirements when hiring a 3PL for your beauty and skincare brand.
For example, what happens if the 3PL fails to provide real-time updates or monitor stock levels properly? You may run out of essential products during peak sales, leading to incomplete orders, lost sales, and delayed shipments. Therefore, cosmetic products should be handled with care.
In this guide will help you discover the key requirements to consider when hiring a 3PL for your beauty or skincare brand.
1. Do They Have Experience With DTC Fulfillment?
You need to check whether the 3PL has experience with DTC(direct-to-consumer) fulfillment, as it’s a specialty. Moreover, when they are experienced even with the small package, they provide you with effective and efficient solutions. Here’s why you need to check whether they have ideal experience in beauty or skincare services:
- Prior expertise in beauty-focused DTC logistics helps to handle business activities effectively.
- Ensure efficiency with small-package shipping.
- Confirm ability to handle fragile and sensitive items.
- Ability to ensure scalability during high-demand periods.
- Provide tailored solutions specific to skincare needs.
2. Can They Accommodate Storage And Shipping Requirements?
Cosmetic products must be stored properly and meet the given requirements. They must also be managed effectively, as they have expiration dates and temperature controls.
Therefore, they need to be stored, packed, and shipped carefully. Also, the containers or products inside a container should not be damaged, as this would affect the overall quality of all products.
Moreover, different shipping carriers, such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx, have unique requirements and standards you need to fulfill. Therefore, your 3PL should meet these requirements and coordinate effectively with the shipping carriers.
3. Do They Maintain A Clear Communication?
Understanding whether the 3PL provider establishes transparent and clear communication is essential. It would be best to always think about a long-term partnership; clear communication will be the foundation here.
Moreover, there are plenty of other instances where you can check whether they have clear communication as follows:
- While discussing the pricing structures.
- Being flexible to adjust to your requirements.
- Discussing about terms and conditions.
- Providing transparent timelines for order fulfillment.
- Offering proactive solutions to unexpected issues.
- Maintain clarity during onboarding processes.
- Ensure responsiveness to queries or concerns.
4. Can They Scale With Your Brand?
When you are a beauty or skincare brand, depending on your business growth, they should be flexible enough to scale with your brand. Moreover, they should be forward-thinkers who bring innovative solutions.
Therefore, they also need the ideal technology to be prepared with your scaling options. For example, they should be flexible in managing warehouse space, order management, careful handling of multiple orders, and more.
5. Do They Provide Shipping Discounts?
When a 3PL handles many orders, including small packages of your beauty or skincare brand, they must be able to offer shipping discounts. Moreover, they should have multiple warehouses based on your requirements to reach your customers on time.
When it comes to shipping, you can consider these factors:
- Provide shipping discounts.
- Consists of multiple warehouses.
- Maintains connections with more than one shipping carrier.
- Have flexible shipping routes planned.
- Offer expedited shipping options.
- Ensure accurate delivery timeframes.
- Provide international shipping capabilities.
- Optimize packaging to reduce shipping costs.
6. Do They Have A Temperature-Controlled Storage System?
When handling beauty or skincare products, the products must be at the ideal temperature. Therefore, they should have an effective temperature-controlled storage system to accompany your needs. Also, pay attention to whether they keep up the below vital factors:
- Ensure temperature-controlled storage for sensitive products.
- Maintain optimal conditions for creams, serums, and oils.
- Use insulated packaging to protect products during shipping.
- Monitor and adjust temperatures in real-time for consistency.
- Guarantee temperature compliance across the supply chain.
Moreover, even while shipping, the products should be handled to meet both storage needs and keep them at the right temperature.
7. Can They Share Real-Time Updates?
When you integrate your business activities with your 3PLs’ integrated systems, you depend on them for real-time updates. Therefore, you must ensure they can provide you with updates instantly and on time.
Getting real-time updates frequently can help you ease many tasks. They include:
- Prioritize and fulfill orders efficiently.
- Track and manage inventory in real time.
- Simplify shipment tracking for better visibility.
- Streamline inventory management processes.
- Coordinate seamlessly with all shipping carriers.
- Identify and address delays proactively.
- Optimize warehouse operations for faster processing.
- Ensure accurate stock replenishment planning.
- Provide customers with timely delivery updates.
Therefore, your 3PL partner should be committed to effectively providing you with ideal updates.
8. Do They Use Branded Packaging?
When you build a beauty or skincare brand, packaging is the main point that attracts your customers. Therefore, the packaging should make customers feel innovative, attractive, and personalized.
Here’s why you need to pay attention to the packaging customizations when hiring a 3PL for your skincare or beauty brand:
- Reflects your brand identity and values.
- Enhances customer experience with a premium touch.
- Allows for personalized options like notes or samples.
- Protects fragile and sensitive beauty products.
- Supports sustainable and eco-friendly packaging goals.
Hence, ensure your 3PL can support effective package branding requirements and customizations. This will help you to establish your brand in the long run.
9. Can They Accommodate Kitting And Other Requirements?
Your 3PL should be flexible to go beyond making a basic package. If you need additional requirements, ask your 3PL whether they can accompany it. Here are some options that you may require to ask:
- Kitting
- Assembly
- Product inspection
- Special inserts
- Gift card
For example, during festival seasons, you may add a gift card or even take orders on birthday customizations from your clients. In such instances, your 3PL should be flexible to accompany these requirements.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, when hiring a 3PL provider for your beauty or skincare brand, you need to ensure they are committed to the work they do. Thereby, they can meet quality standards and even help you elevate your brand. Paying attention to these beauty brand requirements enables you to find the right 3PL provider.
But do you still need help finding the ideal 3PL for your beauty or skincare brand? Well, check out our 3PeeL, your 3PL matchmaker, to find the perfect match that fits your requirements (just a few clicks away).
