Header photo credit to Buck Mason, a true iconic American clothing brand found with humble beginnings and endless opportunities.
Apparel fulfillment at scale is not for the faint of heart! Fast-moving SKUs, inventory replenishments, direct-to-consumer (DTC) fulfillment spikes with peak seasons and sales, B2B wholesale orders, EDI requirements, returns management, damage control, moderating FIFO for POs, and the list continues.
My name is Arsen Janikyan, Founder and CEO of Ops Engine and former VP of Operations at Buck Mason, an iconic American apparel brand.
I have written this article to share my point of view on what it takes to design and execute operational excellence for apparel brands—the essence of apparel fulfillment, whether it's managed internally or by an apparel 3PL fulfillment center.
You started an apparel brand with a sketch on the back of a napkin. The idea grew into a passion, the passion grew into traction, and the next thing you know, you're shipping several hundred orders. At this point, you feel anxious about not being as effective as you used to be when you had just a handful of orders and knew where the products were located by memory in your garage or small office warehouse. Sounds familiar? Some operational inefficiencies may include, but not limited to, depending on the unique situations, are:
Why did I list those challenges? Because I grew Buck Mason's operations from start-up to 9-digits and 30 brick-and-mortar stores. Without these workflows and dozens more, apparel fulfillment or any clothing fulfillment company is a warehouse disaster, a nightmare, a huge liability, and even a deadweight to the brand. However, if executed correctly, the operational weaknesses turn into an asset. Here's why:
I can write a book on all the challenges and opportunities. The ones mentioned above provide a good insight into why operational expertise is essential, whether you are handling fulfillment internally or outsourced to a clothing fulfillment company, also known as an apparel fulfillment center. As a brand Owner, Founder, or CEO, I think your key takeaways from all of the above details are:
If you agree with both points, you position your brand for unimaginable operational heights. Your focus can shift from day-to-day operations to product, marketing, and storytelling efforts because you know you have a strong pillar to lean on for operations and fulfillment.
If you decide to work with a 3PL that provides apparel fulfillment services, please ensure they can perform the following on a cadence:
As apparel brands grow, challenges are a dime a dozen. Whether you run your operations internally or outsourced to an apparel fulfillment company, how effective they are in problem-solving, thinking in solutions, identifying root causes, and issuing corrective actions with strong operational rigor and toolset will determine your brand's operational success.
Buck Mason is a prime example of our expertise and experience. They are my favorite brand, not because I worked for them for almost six years but because they appreciate operations, which allowed them to scale quickly and efficiently. Everyone can scale quickly, but how effective they will be on the journey to that success is a critical component and measurable KPI of their success.
There are many real-life cases of brands that emerge quickly, but they fall apart several times faster than their growth. Why? Because their operational execution was faulty.
Our Los Angeles-based fulfillment center is strategically located in SoCal and prepared to serve from port-to-dock, dock-to-stock, and stock-to-porch, giving you and your customers the end-to-end operational excellence experience. Have the peace of mind that experienced individuals are handling your business needs and treating your business like their own.
Kind reminder: look for a quality and value-based relationship with your apparel fulfillment center, not a transaction-based one. The operator behind the company runs the show, not the brand name of the 3PL, with potentially poor operators.
Sincerely,
Arsen Janikyan
Ops Engine
Founder & CEO