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What is a Delivery Area Surcharge on My Shipping Bill?

What is a Delivery Area Surcharge? Most shipping carriers charge additional fees called assessorial or surcharges to account for packages that have additional costs to handle. One of the most common of these surcharges is the Delivery Area Surcharge, often referred to as DAS. This surcharge was created in 1999 after an industry consultant published …

Unveiling GS1: Revolutionizing Retail Through Standardization

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, where efficiency and accuracy are paramount, understanding and implementing standardized business practices is key. One such standard that plays a crucial role in the retail industry is GS1, or Global Standards 1. In this article, we’ll delve into the significance of GS1, its impact on the retail landscape, and …

Boost Your eCommerce Marketing Communication Flows with Klaviyo

Are you struggling to connect with your customers and drive more sales on your eCommerce store? Have you considered using an email or SMS marketing automation tool to streamline your eCommerce marketing communication flows, but don’t know where to start? Email marketing automations, or flows, are an automation feature that enable eCommerce brands to tailer …

FedEx Picture Proof of Delivery

The much-anticipated announcement was made on July 22nd, 2022 — FedEx picture proof of deliveries on recipients’ doorsteps will soon begin nationwide. The new service is called Picture Perfect Delivery and customers will not be required to sign up for an account with FedEx in order to view delivery photos. This move follows the wildly …

Faire Marketplace: A Great Add-On for DTC Businesses

Faire is an online wholesale marketplace based in San Francisco that was created in 2017 with the mission of helping independent entrepreneurs realize their dreams and be able to successfully compete with larger competitors. Faire connects retailers with makers (sellers) and enables them to buy and sell wholesale goods via a robust online marketplace. Faire …

Understanding Customs Duties and Taxes – International Shipments

When sending international shipments, it’s important to consider the effects that customs Duties & Taxes will have on the total landed cost of your shipments. Depending on the commodity being shipped and the destination it’s headed to, clearance charges could be very impactful to the total cost of the shipment. The ability to calculate the …

Recharge – The Subscription Management App of Choice for eCommerce 

In 2014, an entrepreneur named Oisin O’Connor launched Recharge which offers a subscription management service for shopping cart marketplaces and gives eCommerce merchants the ability to launch and scale subscription programs. Recharge not only makes managing customer subscriptions easy, it also has pre-wired checkout integrations with some of the top merchant processing platforms and makes …

Shopify Monthly Subscription Plans

shopify subscription plan

Shopify is a subscription-based eCommerce platform that helps businesses of all sizes launch online storefronts and immediately begin selling their goods to customers all over the world. Shopify wisely realized that the value of their platform stemmed from the number of merchants they could sign up. There are three different Shopify subscription plans for clients …

Understanding the Importance of a Bill of Lading (BOL)

Whether you’re shipping a full truckload (FTL) or less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipment, it is vitally important that the shipment is accompanied by a Bill of Lading. Also known in the industry as a BOL, this is a legal document outlining the details of a shipment and it serves as a legal contract between the carrier …

Shopify – The Powerful eCommerce Shopping Cart Platform

Shopify was founded in 2006 by Toby Lutke because he could not find a simple set of software tools to build his own eCommerce website. Toby lives in Canada and was looking to create a niche site to sell snowboards and winter merchandise on. Toby took matters into his own hands and, after a couple …

Understanding and Explaining Fuel Surcharges

fuel surcharges

Fuel surcharges (FSCs) are a pivotal component in the transportation and logistics industry. They serve as a financial buffer for carriers against the unpredictable and often volatile fluctuations in fuel prices. These extra charges can greatly affect the shipping cost. They can be a fixed amount, based on the distance traveled, or a percentage added …

3PL Tips for Amazon FBA-Prep

Amazon FBA prep

Amazon is the undisputed juggernaut in the world of online commerce and many clients ask us about our Amazon FBA-prep service. Their dominance in the space does not mean that your company should rely on Amazon for 100% of your online orders though. Many DTC retailers are instead choosing an omni-channel approach and relying on …

Understanding LTL Freight Classification in 2022

freight classification

If your business ships freight using less-than-truckload (LTL) services, it is vitally important to understand freight classification. Originally created for the railroad freight industry, and later adopted by the LTL industry, freight classification was established to categorize goods and standardize shipping prices. Identifying the correct LTL freight class can be a tall order, and incorrect …

What Are 1PL’s, 2PL’s, 3PL’s, 4PL’s, & 5PL’s?

1PL's, 2PL's, 3Pl's, 4PLs, 5PLs

The world of logistics is a dynamic and rapidly evolving environment. As a nation of on-demand consumers, we are all greatly dependent upon the various companies that make up the logistics spiderweb that is ingrained in the fabric of our society. Logistics in its most basic defined form is the process of managing how resources …

Should Your Business be Using TikTok for Marketing in 2022?

If your business sells products on an eCommerce platform, you are probably no stranger to the world of direct response online marketing. Successful TikTok marketing campaigns can be a driving force for sales, and it’s no secret that social media sites are excellent launchpads for online advertising.  While there are many moving parts to advertising …

Shipping Costs 101: Dimensional Weight & Delivery Area Surcharges

UPS / FedEx Dim weight

Shipping costs should be simple right? You place your packed box on the scale, enter the customer’s address, and get a price from the shipping software. The package is then tendered to the carrier and a happy customer awaits the delivery 😊. A few weeks later you are reconciling your billing statement from the carrier, and …

How will the 10-Year Plan for USPS® Impact eCommerce?

US Postal Service

On March 23 of 2021, the venerable United States Postal Service, under the direction of their new Postmaster Louis DeJoy, announced a 10-year Strategic Plan to stem it’s annual operating losses and achieve financial sustainability while delivering service excellence. Excellence and USPS® are typically not mentioned in the same sentence so how does the 240-year-old institution plan achieve …

A Guide to Fulfillment Warehousing

fulfillment warehouse

In the fast-paced realm of e-commerce, the role of fulfillment warehousing is pivotal in determining the success and efficiency of your business operations. This guide aims to deepen your understanding of fulfillment warehousing, highlighting why it’s integral to e-commerce and what to consider when selecting a fulfillment partner. The Essence of Fulfillment Warehousing in E-Commerce …

What is a 3PL, Anyways?

3PL

3PL is a term that gets mentioned a lot in the world of logistics. Most users of a 3PL don’t really understand exactly what it means, just that “they have a warehouse”. So, what is a 3PL anyway? 3PL stands for third-party logistics and is an organization’s use of a third-party warehouse or company to …

When Should I Outsource to a Fulfillment Center (3PL)?

outsource to a fulfillment center

In the dynamic world of e-commerce, the decision to outsource to a fulfillment center, its logistics, and order fulfillment to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, like a fulfillment center, is a strategic one that can significantly influence the trajectory of a business. At 5 Logistics, we often engage with clients on this pivotal decision. Understanding …

Apple’s ATT Deployment

Apples ATT policy

Apple’s ATT Deployment and The Impact on DTC Fulfillment Apple’s hotly contested App Tracking Transparency (ATT) policy started rolling out in late April with the release of iOS 14.5. The repercussions for small businesses are now becoming a reality, especially those in eCommerce Fulfillment. The advent of Google and Facebook marketing gave smaller DTC brands a …