How can you make the most of your 3PL?

Entering into a partnership with a 3PL can transform your business in many ways. Making the most out of your 3PL can be essential for business growth and success. The key to this? – your relationship.

Your relationship with your 3PL is crucial – you need to have a comfortable and harmonious relationship with them so that you can communicate and plan effectively and honestly, which can take your business far.

Some things you can do to ensure a great partnership with your 3PL are:

1. Be honest – particularly with forecasting. 3PLs need honest forecasts to base their plans from, whether this is good or not necessarily where you wanted to be, honesty is key to effective planning for your supply chain management. This works both ways – 3PLs must also be honest with their clients about their own capabilities so as to ensure everyone is on the same page.
2. Collaborate for cost savings – For 4 decades, Staci has built incredibly strong customer partnerships, with regular feedback on our people appearing at the top of our customer research. Creating efficiencies is one of the most important things we can do as a 3PL, and to create the fastest, most impactive efficiencies it’s important we together see as much of the end-to-end supply chain as possible.
3. Focus on the basics – actionable insights when it comes to reporting and setup. With Staci anything is possible, we’ve built a reputation on being flexible for 35 years, but to streamline your own time, you need to make sure that you’re super focussed on the data, reporting and tasks that can make a real difference to your business and performance. 
4. Trust us – let us know your vision, and we’ll make it happen. A great 3PL relationship and more success for your brand is reliant on trust. Your 3PL should be a trustworthy partner, and you should feel comfortable enough with them to open up, be transparent, and allow them to use their expertise to bring your visions to life.

If you’re looking for an expert 3PL who cares about your business and builds relationships on trust to ensure your success? Get in touch today.

In the world of POS and marketing materials, most recognisable in the drinks industry, there can be a clear difference between two distinct strategies – distribution or premiumisation – in line with your strategic brand choices.

When setting your targets for the year ahead, you need to identify which areas of the market you’re going to choose to drive the profitable sales growth your brand needs. New customers vs. existing customers. High value accounts vs. low value accounts. New verticals vs. existing verticals. Whichever choices you make they’re yours, and your marketing supply chain gets to work with you to help you deliver your success.

As a proud partner to some of the worlds leading brands for over 35 years, Staci has the fortunate position of monitoring the outflow of POS and marketing materials across key sectors, and helping brands compare their performance vs. their peers both inside and outside of the vertical that they operate in.

One of these key areas we help visualise for clients is how their POS performance aligns to their strategy, and how this compares to averages across the UK.

When looking at the distribution vs. premiumisation argument, we’re able to highlight for our clients their average POS investment per address/trade customer, in the UK, whilst also looking at their average number of annual orders per address too. We then map this for our clients to show how this compares to other brands within their market, to see how their strategies compare.

How does this help?

Well, a brand with a focus on distribution should of course be seeing a lower number of orders per address, and a lower investment per address too – where the focus is about reaching as many outlets as possible throughout the year. Conversely, those brands with a focus on premiumisation, we’d expect to see the number of orders and/or the investment per address each year being higher, as those brands look to enrich a select number of trade customers with the best marketing materials and spend.

This is something to consider when planning your POS strategy within your internal teams and with your 3PL, who can help effectively execute your chosen strategy. Each method has its benefits and limitations, and entirely depends on your brand’s position within its industry.

As Staci is a seasoned expert with over 35 years of experience in POS logistics, we can help you find the perfect solution for your brand’s marketing materials that will suit your positioning and assist your overall marketing strategy. Get in touch with us today.

 

European Logistics and Supply Chain Sustainability Report 2024: Key Insights and What They Mean for the Industry

Sustainability continues to take centre stage in European logistics, as revealed in the recently published European Logistics and Supply Chain Sustainability Report 2024 by HFW, Panattoni, Pledge, and Analytiqa. The annual report offers a deep dive into how businesses are embracing eco-friendly practices and prioritising sustainability in their supply chains.

At Staci, sustainability is embedded in our operations, so we’re thrilled to see some of the report’s key findings showcasing significant growth in sustainable logistics initiatives across Europe. Below, we explore the highlights and their implications for the logistics industry.

 

Key Takeaways from the Report

From Aspirations to Obligations

• Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have.” According to the report, 33% of companies now demand sustainability performance rather than merely requesting it.
• This shift demonstrates that organisations are holding supply chain partners accountable for measurable progress in reducing their environmental impact. It’s a clear sign that sustainable practices are becoming a standard expectation rather than an optional enhancement

Premiums for Green Warehousing

• An encouraging 42% of surveyed companies expressed a willingness to pay a storage premium to transition their operations to greener, more energy-efficient buildings.
• This finding underscores the growing recognition of green facilities as a worthwhile investment—not only for their environmental benefits but also for their potential to enhance corporate reputation and operational efficiency.

Motivations for Sustainability Investments Manufacturers and retailers are prioritising sustainability for several key reasons:

• Enhancing corporate reputation.
• Making a positive social or environmental impact.
• Meeting 2050 UN carbon-neutral targets.
• Responding to customer demands for sustainable practices.

These motivations highlight the alignment of sustainability with both long-term corporate strategies and immediate customer expectations.

 

How Staci is Driving Sustainability

At Staci, we’re proud to be part of the movement toward greener logistics. Here’s how we’re contributing to a more sustainable future:

• Green Energy in Fulfilment Centres
  All seven of our UK fulfilment centres are powered by renewable electricity, significantly reducing our carbon footprint.
• Carbon-Neutral Delivery Options
  We offer carbon-neutral delivery solutions to support our clients’ sustainability goals while ensuring that goods reach customers with minimal environmental impact.
• Top 25% Globally for ESG Performance
  Our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives have positioned us among the top 25% of companies worldwide, a testament to our commitment to making meaningful change.

 

What This Means for the Industry

The findings in the European Logistics and Supply Chain Sustainability Report demonstrate the logistics sector’s growing responsibility to lead on sustainability. For businesses, this is both an opportunity and a necessity.

By implementing measurable eco-friendly practices, companies can not only meet regulatory and customer requirements but also position themselves as leaders in a rapidly evolving market.

 

Looking Ahead

As we approach 2025, the expectations for greener logistics will only intensify. Organisations like Staci and many others are setting an example by actively integrating sustainability into their operations.

For a more detailed analysis and future trend predictions, visit the full report here

By prioritising sustainability, we’re not only protecting the planet but also enhancing the resilience and reputation of our supply chains. Let’s work together to create a greener future for logistics and beyond.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday – the dreaded Peak that can hold both opportunity and fear in equal measure for brands and retailers across the world. 

The last 3 months of the year is the busiest time for most businesses. With the Black Friday sales and the run up to Christmas, people are buying more products and spending more money. This increase in demand has to be prepared for by retailers and suppliers alike, whose production and distribution needs to be in line with demand in order to maximise sales, profit and revenue, whilst increasing customer satisfaction.

These plans are often informed not only by individual business’ performance of previous peaks and throughout the year, but also by market trends and averages, and predictions of how this peak period will go. 

The predictions for this peak generally state that it will be bigger than last year – UK consumers plan to spend 21% more this peak than they did last peak, and searches for ‘when is Black Friday’ are up 22% this year compared to last year.

In terms of sectors, the cosmetics industry is expected to have a big peak, as interest in cosmetics products has gone up 22% this year. This is likely to be amplified by social commerce platforms such as TikTok Shop, as 62% of 18-24 year olds are likely to use this platform, and 80% of the platform’s sales are of cosmetics products, of which one sells every 2 seconds on the platform.

For the toys industry, interest in discounted sales of toys products has also increased by 22%, which suggests that people may be waiting for Black Friday to buy toys products, which could lead to a large spike.

Not only is this data important for ensuring businesses can meet demand during peak season, data centred around customers’ shopping habits will also allow businesses to meet customers’ expectations and increase their loyalty. 59% of UK consumers prefer a hybrid shopping experience – your customers are looking for a multichannel experience, with a mix of online shopping for small products and in-store shopping for larger products. As well as this, 25% of shoppers say they wait for a big sale before beginning their holiday shopping, and 50% say that discounts are the best way to increase their loyalty to a brand.

In conclusion, this year’s peak will see consumers spending more money than last year, and demand seems to be increasing this year for discounts and sales, particularly in the toys and cosmetics industries. A multichannel experience is in high demand from shoppers, and offering more discounts will increase their loyalty to your brand and increase the likelihood of repeat purchases. Planning for this increase in demand will be essential – having a third party logistics partner who can assist you with planning and forecasting, and provide expert multichannel logistics services to your brand to allow you to provide your customers with a hybrid shopping experience seamlessly – will unlock huge growth for your business, particularly during peak.

If you’re looking for a partner with this expertise, talk to Staci.

The recent budget by the UK government has been hailed as a ‘milestone in history’, but the implications for business, particularly as a result of changes to tax and employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) are considerable. Wayne Chapman, UK CEO of Staci, discusses this, the positives and the challenges, and what the impact on UK logistics might be.

“We predicted changes to NICs – but we definitely didn’t expect the scale and size of the changes that have been made” said Chapman.

According to UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the autumn budget will raise an additional £40bn in taxes. £25bn of this will be funded by two key changes to National Insurance; increasing Employer NICs by 1.2% to 15% of salary, and reducing the threshold when these NICs are to be paid from £9,100 to £5,000. Furthermore, the National Living Wage is set to rise by 6.7% and plans to in time equalise pay for under-21s too.

These changes are set to take place in April 2025.

“The pace of these changes is quite staggering.” said Chapman. “Businesses both inside and outside of logistics like ourselves typically work to investment planning cycles from 5 to 10 years, so considerable changes arriving in 5 months is a difficult one for any business to navigate. We expect the impact on our business to be £1m in 2025 – approximately 2% of our business”.

There are some good news for logistics. Fuel duty was frozen for the 13th consecutive year, maintaining the previous 5p reduction. There will also be a £500m increase in the roads budget to prioritise fixing potholes across the UK road network. Updates to the rail programme will include funding for tunnelling HS2 to Euston, and improving both Transpennine services and links between Oxford and Cambridge.

“The UK is a densely populated country, and any investment to our transport infrastructure is welcomed to improved the transport of goods” Chapman commented, adding “this is good for business and the planned to invest this quickly will be good for the short term too”.

Chapman also complimented the focus on productivity targets “In business we are continually looking for ways to optimise and increase our efficiency – we welcome the news that will help ensure the funds raised will be spent wisely, and with real outcomes”

With 35 years experience in the UK logistics market, and as part of EUR4bn delivery expert bpostgroup, Staci offers considerable resilience to brands and retailers looking for a long term fulfilment and delivery solutions partner. A business built on creating efficiencies for clients in the UK and around the world, Staci is a flexible fulfilment partner that is focussed on continually improving and evolving.

News of investment into logistics will hopefully mean brands and retailers will be supported in their efforts to deliver a great experience to their customers across the UK – the ambition would be that this helps improve delivery lead time, and helps reduce the overall cost for final mile delivery companies who can then reinvest into improving services further and the transition towards ever more sustainable networks. There is feeling across the wider logistics industry, particularly rail, about whether these investment commitments go far enough.

Discussing the changes to NICs, Chapman said “Anything that increases wages for individuals we’re really supportive of. Staci has paid a normalised adult living wage for all, including under 21s, for many years, and having been certified and official Great Place To Work TM for 2 years we’ve got a great track record for engagement. For other companies not there yet, such as those in hospitality, there really needs to be a plan to smooth that transition”

Wayne also commented on the overall European economic position “As a fulfilment business with over 60 Fulfilment Centres across the UK and Europe we help brands deliver across the continent – as well as further afield into Asia, US and Australia too with our sites there. In the UK, as hard as it may feel, we do have to remember we are actually lighter than some of our European colleagues in terms of taxation. However, as previously mentioned, the pace of when these changes are expected to be implemented are the most difficult challenge we’ll overcome”.

So, what’s the impact for brands and retailers – and importantly how can business like Staci help support logistics for brands and retailers facing changes to their cost base.

“Staci helps brands become more efficient in a number of ways” said Andrew Scanlon, UK Head of Sales and Marketing for Staci. “Brands currently insourcing can outsource to Staci to immediately lift the employer impact by taking on that responsibility on their behalf – and because we operate 7 share user fulfilment centres in the UK, we’re able to fulfill on a much more efficient and competitive base as we eliminate resource waste.”

Scanlon continued “It also means clients can operate on a pay-as-you-use basis – forget employer responsibilities, warehouse rent, rates, utilities. They’re financial commitments and timely to manage. Staci makes fulfilment easy – especially when brands have complex supply chain requirements, that’s when we really make the greatest difference”.

You can stream the full episode of ‘Wake Up To Money – The Budget: Trick or Treat?’ wherever you listen to podcasts, or find it on BBC Sounds here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0024f2h

4 Top Tips For a Successful 3PL Implementation

Integrating your business operations with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider is a critical step in streamlining your fulfilment processes. This phase, known as implementation, sets the foundation for a productive partnership between your business and the 3PL. It involves the transition of your stock, data, and operational processes into the fulfilment centre managed by your chosen provider. While this sounds straightforward, successful implementation requires careful planning, coordination, and communication.

At Staci, with over 35 years of experience in fulfilment and PRINCE2-qualified project managers, we understand that a smooth implementation is essential for operational excellence. Here, we’ll share insights from our project management team on how to make your 3PL implementation a success.

 

What is implementation?

Implementation is the first step in the logistics process with a 3PL provider. It encompasses everything from physically moving your inventory to setting up systems and procedures for ongoing operations. During this phase, your 3PL provider receives your stock, verifies its condition, allocates storage, and integrates systems to manage orders effectively.

This process involves collaboration between your internal teams and the 3PL to ensure that everything—from inventory accuracy to workflow integration—is seamless. Done right, implementation sets the stage for a partnership that drives efficiency and growth.

 

Tips for a successful implementation

1. Have the right people involved in the project

A successful implementation relies on having a team of qualified and experienced stakeholders. Typically, this includes:

• A project manager: An expert in planning and execution, responsible for liaising between your team and the 3PL.
• A decision-maker: Someone empowered to approve processes and resolve issues quickly.
• Stakeholders from relevant departments: Involvement from departments like IT, procurement, and operations ensures alignment and smooth integration.

By assembling a capable team, you create a foundation for clear communication and efficient problem-solving throughout the implementation process.

 

2. Set achievable goals

Implementation is a structured process, often broken down into phases with specific milestones. Planning is critical, but it’s equally important to set realistic timelines and goals. For example:

• Defining a realistic timeframe for moving stock.
• Allowing sufficient time for data sharing and system integration.
• Accounting for contingencies, such as delays in stock transfer or system issues.

Clear, achievable goals keep the project on track, ensure alignment between stakeholders, and reduce the risk of disruptions.

 

3. Share data early

One of the most important elements of a smooth implementation is sharing data early and accurately. This includes:

• Part data: Information about SKUs and inventory specifications.
• Order data: Historical orders and expected volumes.
• Forecasts: Predictions of sales or operational peaks.
• Packing notes: Guidelines on packaging or specific handling instructions.

Providing this information early enables the 3PL to prepare adequately, forecast effectively, and tailor operations to your specific needs. This proactive approach minimises surprises and enhances readiness.

 

4. Know your business requirements

Every business is unique, and so are its logistics requirements. Understanding and communicating your needs is critical for a successful implementation. This includes:

• Highlighting your strengths and weaknesses.
• Outlining special requirements, such as personalisation, repairs, or customised packaging.
• Being transparent about problem areas that need improvement.

By providing a comprehensive overview, you allow your 3PL to design solutions that align with your goals and address potential bottlenecks.

 

Why choose Staci?

At Staci, we understand that implementation is more than a technical exercise—it’s about building a partnership. With our PRINCE2-certified project managers and decades of fulfilment experience, we’ve successfully implemented businesses of all sizes across industries.

Some of the standout benefits of working with Staci include:

• End-to-end project management: From planning to execution, our experts ensure every detail is addressed.
• Customised solutions: Whether it’s gift wrapping, personalised packaging, or specific stock requirements, we adapt to your business.
• Proven results: Our implementations are designed to deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and customer satisfaction.

 

Final thoughts

A successful 3PL implementation isn’t just about moving stock—it’s about building a logistics framework that supports your business’s growth. By assembling the right team, setting achievable goals, sharing data early, and understanding your unique requirements, you lay the groundwork for a seamless transition.

If you’re looking for a logistics partner who prioritises excellence from day one, Staci is here to help. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your business with our expert implementation services.

What is Logistics Planning?

This is the process of planning out your supply chain operations. As a fulfilment company who have been operating for over 35 years, many of our logistics plans are already well-defined and can be applied to many clients as a starting point. We then build out these plans individually for each client depending on their requirements and needs. There are also extra plans that have to be put in place and refreshed annually for peak periods, as these are built from the clients’ order data and forecasting.

What is the process of logistics?

The logistics process begins with implementation. This is where your stock is moved from wherever it was previously housed, into one of our fulfilment centres. This takes some planning and organisation to determine the volume of stock we will receive, that it is on the correct pallets/storage methods, where it will be placed etc.

A part of the implementation process includes integrating your business’ systems with ours. This means integrating your products into our warehouse management systems and ensuring every SKU is on our system. This is also the time when we integrate with your systems such as your webshop e.g. Shopify.

Once your products are in one of our global fulfilment centres, and our systems are set up to receive your order data, we can begin sending out your orders. As an order comes through, we will pick from your stock, pack up the order and send it out to its destination – whether that be your chosen retailer, or your customers’ address.

This process can vary from client to client, as we are a very flexible fulfilment partner. Any added value services your business may require will have to be planned into the process too, as well as any custom services you my need.

What is Logistics Planning for eCommerce?

The main difference with eCommerce fulfilment is the integrations with your systems such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce etc. With B2B logistics, your orders have to be sent to the retailer usually in bulk, and packed in a specific way depending on the requirements that retailer sets for receipt of goods – which we know like the back of our hand thanks to Standard Operating Procedures with many high street, marketplace and niche retailers. With eCommerce, each order is packed individually, and is done so with expert precision to ensure there are no errors and the presentation is perfect, ready for your customers to receive directly.

Challenges of Logistics Planning

The main cause of issues during planning is communication. After 35 years, we know what questions we need to ask our clients in order to gather all the information we require to implement them smoothly. However, sometimes issues can arise when planning for peak periods if our clients’ forecasting isn’t accurate. Luckily, our teams are always on hand to assist you with forecasting, so you’ll have a helping hand to ensure we get the most realistic numbers. This allows us to plan our staffing numbers, extra transport needed, extra packaging units needed etc. perfectly.

Why is logistics planning important?

If we didn’t do any planning for our clients, we wouldn’t know if we have the capacity to house their stock, we wouldn’t know where it was going, we wouldn’t be able to receive their order data, therefore we would be unable to send out orders, so planning is essential to the process.

How to choose a logistics partner

Communication is a really important factor to look out for when choosing a logistics partner. This is essential to the planning process and ensures you’re kept in the loop. A partner who cares about your business and shows they are invested in your success will help you not only fulfil your orders, but grow your business as well. We’re not just a service provider, we’re a partner to your business and are committed to seeing you succeed. The location of your partner can play a part, if they’re placed somewhere that is ideal for your business, and have global locations allowing your expansion in the future, this could be a good match for you. Someone who has positive client testimonials, and awards and accreditations, can indicate their expertise and good service.

FAQs

When should you create a logistics plan? – If you’re doing your logistics in-house, you should already have a plan. If you’re thinking of outsourcing, coming up with a rough plan is a great idea, then you can discuss this with the providers you’re speaking with, which could help you make your decision as one provider may be more capable of honing and bringing your plan to life than another.

What are the benefits of a logistics plan? – A plan allows everything to be set up and run smoothly so that your orders can be sent out with precision and accuracy. It also means we can maximise on peak periods to help you sell as much of your products as possible.

Should you outsource logistics planning? – Having an expert handle your logistics planning will give you peace of mind that everything is planned meticulously and accurately. This minimises the chance of errors, and increases the chance of implementation and peak periods going to plan.

Need an expert to help plan your logistics?

Talk to Staci. Drop your details below and a member of our team will contact you to begin planning:

As global multichannel fulfilment experts, Staci knows a thing or two about getting the right products to different customer types, in different countries, at the same time – at high volume.

Whilst the complexity from eCommerce orders can come from short lead times, personalisation requirements and returns, brands and retailers in the UK appear to be struggling most at the moment with getting their orders to their various B2B retail partners – and the impact of getting this wrong really can be devastating to any business, whether start up or established.

B2B orders often require a great deal of time, support and careful management. Requirements range from timely booking in, compliance with delivery windows, careful paperwork completion, crucial stock presentation requirements, and minimum shelf life compliance – and often all different for every retailer, and many 3PLs are simply unable to cope with this level of complexity.

The consequences? Additional costs from retailer failures, re-working and redeliveries, delays in stock being available for sale, cash flow impact and tarnishing retailer relationships – sometimes irrevocably.

“Over the last 6 months we’ve had so many reports from companies in the market that their existing 3PLs are really letting them down when it comes to B2B orders. It’s one of the biggest real pain points we find, and we’re able to really help potential customers out here because the management of complexity is what Staci has been so strong at for over 35 years” said Andrew Scanlon, Staci UK Head of Sales and Marketing.

“We send out 15 billion items a year, much of this coming via eCommerce and D2C orders where we’re integrated with systems such as Shopify, Commerce Cloud, and other online platforms, and the strict processes which we follow, supported by robust training, recruitment and technology sees these orders flow through really seamlessly.

“And indeed, it’s that strength of process, scoping, analysis and additional time and care that Staci takes on B2B orders that has really made a difference to our clients. At Staci, people are our greatest strength, and our business is geared entirely around accuracy. With Standard Operating Procedures in place for countless retailers, and a team of 500 in the UK and 3,000 globally, we give our teams time to focus on getting it right, because we know you can’t allow it to be wrong.

“Staci knows exactly what it takes to flow stock into retailer and marketplace distribution centres, as easy as it is to deliver to a customer at home.”

“Any brand or retailer struggling with their B2B orders at the moment should talk to Staci – we know many are struggling out there, and we really can help make life easier for them today.”

B2B logistics experts