Fulfillment & Logistics

In This Section, You Will Learn:

• • What 3PL fulfillment is
• • Why you can't ship from Pakistan
• • Setting up warehouse in UK/US
• • Shipping inventory to warehouse
• • Order fulfillment process
• • Managing inventory levels

What is 3PL Fulfillment? (Definition)

• 3PL = Third Party Logistics
• A warehouse company that stores your products and ships them to customers for you.
• How It Works:
• 1. You ship products from China to 3PL warehouse in UK/US
• 2. 3PL stores your inventory
• 3. Customer orders on TikTok
• 4. 3PL packs and ships to customer
• 5. Customer receives in 2-5 days
• Why 3PL is Essential:
• • Shipping from Pakistan = 15-30 days (too slow!)
• • TikTok requires fast delivery
• • Customers expect 2-7 day shipping
• • Local warehouse = happy customers

Choosing a 3PL Partner

• UK 3PL Options:
• • J&J Global Fulfilment
• • Huboo
• • James and James
• • ParcelHub
• US 3PL Options:
• • ShipBob
• • Deliverr
• • Fulfillment Bridge
• What to Look For:
• • TikTok Shop integration
• • Competitive pricing
• • Fast processing times
• • Good reviews
• • Responsive support
• Typical Costs:
• • Storage: $0.50-1 per cubic foot/month
• • Pick & Pack: $2-4 per order
• • Shipping: Varies by destination

Shipping Inventory to 3PL

• The Process:
• 1. Order products from Alibaba supplier
• 2. Supplier ships directly to 3PL warehouse
• 3. Provide 3PL receiving details to supplier
• 4. 3PL receives and stores inventory
• Shipping Methods (China to UK/US):
• • Sea Freight: Cheapest, 30-45 days
• • Air Freight: Faster, 7-15 days, more expensive
• • Express (DHL/FedEx): Fastest, 3-5 days, most expensive
• Recommendation:
• • First order: Use air freight (faster testing)
• • Once validated: Use sea freight (lower cost)
• Important: Product must clear customs – work with experienced freight forwarder

Order Fulfillment Process

• When Customer Orders:
• 1. Order appears in TikTok Seller Center
• 2. Order syncs to 3PL system (automatic)
• 3. 3PL picks and packs order
• 4. 3PL ships with tracking number
• 5. Tracking uploads to TikTok automatically
• 6. Customer receives package
• Your Role:
• • Monitor orders daily
• • Ensure inventory levels are good
• • Handle customer inquiries
• • Resolve any shipping issues
• Ideal Processing Time:
• • Order to ship: Within 24-48 hours
• • Delivery to customer: 2-5 days (domestic)

Inventory Management

• Stock Level Strategy:
• • Keep 2-4 weeks of inventory at 3PL
• • Reorder when stock hits 1-week level
• • Don't over-order unvalidated products
• Avoiding Stockouts:
• • Track daily sales velocity
• • Account for shipping time (30+ days for sea)
• • Order before you need it
• Avoiding Overstock:
• • Start with small test orders (50-100 units)
• • Scale only validated sellers
• • Diversify products to spread risk
• 3PL Integration:
• • Most 3PLs show real-time inventory
• • Set up low-stock alerts
• • Monitor aging inventory