E-commerce Fulfillment FAQ

A 3PL, or third-party logistics provider, handles fulfillment operations for a brand, including receiving inventory, warehousing, inventory management, picking and packing orders, shipping, returns, and other logistics services.

Ecommerce brands typically consider a 3PL when fulfilling orders in-house starts taking too much time, space, or labor, or when order volume becomes difficult to manage consistently. A 3PL can give a growing brand access to professional warehouse operations, fulfillment technology, carrier relationships, and scalable labor without having to build its own fulfillment operation.

Packed Fulfillment is a Chicago-based 3PL focused on helping growing ecommerce brands outsource fulfillment while maintaining visibility and flexibility over their operations.

The cost of ecommerce fulfillment depends on order volume, average items per order, storage requirements, packaging, receiving needs, shipping profile, returns, and any special handling or kitting required.

Most 3PL pricing includes some combination of pick-and-pack fees, additional-item fees, warehouse storage, receiving, packaging, shipping, returns processing, and special-project labor.

Packed Fulfillment builds pricing around the actual needs of each account rather than assuming every ecommerce brand operates the same way. Our goal is to provide straightforward pricing that makes it easy to understand what you're paying for and how costs will change as your business grows. For a deeper look, see our guides on how much a 3PL costs and how to compare 3PL quotes.

A Chicago 3PL gives ecommerce brands a centrally located fulfillment point with strong access to parcel, freight, highway, rail, and air transportation throughout the United States.

Chicago's Midwest location can be especially useful for brands shipping to customers across multiple regions because inventory starts from a relatively central point rather than one coast.

Packed Fulfillment operates in Chicago, Illinois, providing ecommerce warehousing, DTC order fulfillment, B2B and wholesale fulfillment, inventory storage, returns, kitting, and shipping coordination from a single fulfillment operation.

Packed Fulfillment uses ShipHero as its warehouse management and fulfillment platform, allowing inventory, orders, shipments, and fulfillment activity to be managed through a centralized system.

We support Shopify fulfillment and can work with additional ecommerce, marketplace, and retail integrations supported by the account's technology setup and ShipHero. We also support Amazon-related fulfillment workflows, including FBA preparation, as well as retailer and EDI workflows when required.

Because integrations can vary by platform and retailer, we review each brand's technology stack during onboarding to make sure orders, inventory, shipping data, and any special requirements can flow correctly before launch.

Yes. Packed Fulfillment supports both direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce fulfillment and B2B/wholesale fulfillment from the same Chicago warehouse operation. You can see the full list on our services page.

For DTC orders, Packed can receive inventory, store products, pick and pack individual customer orders, coordinate shipping, process returns, and support branded packaging and inserts.

For B2B and wholesale orders, Packed can support larger order quantities, case and pallet preparation, labeling, kitting, retailer-specific preparation, FBA preparation, and other special-project requirements.

This allows brands selling through multiple channels to manage inventory through one fulfillment partner instead of maintaining separate operations for ecommerce and wholesale.

Packed Fulfillment processes orders according to the fulfillment schedule and service level agreed with each customer, taking into account order cutoff times, volume, special handling, and seasonal demand. Typically, orders placed before 1pm ship out same-day.

Because fulfillment speed and carrier transit time are different, Packed is responsible for efficiently receiving, picking, packing, preparing, and tendering orders to the selected carrier. Once a properly prepared order has been transferred to UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, or another carrier, actual delivery timing depends on the carrier and service level selected.

Our Chicago fulfillment location also provides a central starting point for shipments traveling throughout the United States, helping brands build an efficient nationwide shipping strategy.

Switching 3PLs typically involves coordinating three things: technology, inventory, and timing.

Packed starts by reviewing your current fulfillment operation, including SKU data, inventory, order volume, packaging requirements, ecommerce integrations, shipping methods, returns, and any B2B or retailer requirements. We then configure the account in ShipHero, establish operating procedures, and coordinate the transfer and receiving of inventory into our Chicago warehouse.

The goal is to create a clear transition plan so inventory can move from your existing warehouse or 3PL without unnecessarily disrupting customer orders.

If you're considering switching 3PL providers, Packed can review your current operation and help identify the cleanest way to transition. Our post on how to know when it's time to switch 3PLs walks through the signs.

Yes. Packed Fulfillment can support kitting, bundling, assembly, relabeling, custom packaging, promotional inserts, Amazon FBA preparation, and other special fulfillment projects.

Kitting can include combining multiple SKUs into a single sellable kit, creating variety packs, adding inserts, relabeling products, or preparing inventory for a specific retail or marketplace requirement.

For Amazon FBA, preparation may include labeling, carton preparation, bundling, and preparing inventory for shipment into Amazon's fulfillment network.

Packed reviews non-standard projects in advance so the process, requirements, and pricing are clear before work begins.

Packed Fulfillment uses ShipHero warehouse management software to help manage inventory, orders, receiving, fulfillment, and shipment activity.

Inventory is tracked as products move through receiving, storage, picking, packing, shipping, and returns. Brands can maintain visibility into inventory and fulfillment activity while Packed's warehouse team follows established procedures for each account.

Returns can also be received and processed according to the brand's instructions, including inspection, restocking, quarantine, or other approved disposition.

Accurate inventory data and fulfillment procedures are especially important for ecommerce brands selling across multiple channels and needing their warehouse systems, storefronts, marketplaces, and inventory records to remain synchronized.

Packed Fulfillment is designed for growing ecommerce brands that are ready to outsource fulfillment but still want flexibility, visibility, and direct access to their fulfillment partner.

A good fit may be a brand that has outgrown self-fulfillment, is switching from another 3PL, is expanding into wholesale or Amazon, needs more warehouse space, or simply wants its internal team focused on sales, marketing, and product growth instead of packing orders.

We work best with brands where we can understand the operation in detail and build fulfillment procedures around the actual business rather than forcing every account into the same model.

Fit depends on factors such as monthly order volume, SKU count, storage requirements, average order size, packaging, sales channels, and special handling needs. Brands can contact Packed for a fulfillment review and customized quote.