Author: Evolution Fulfillment

Clothing and apparel brands deal with unique shipping challenges.

These challenges are compounded further nowadays with ongoing supply chain issues across the world.

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What’s the one solution to these challenges facing apparel brands? It’s working with a clothing fulfillment center.

Here are 4 reasons why clothing and apparel brands should work with an experienced third party fulfillment center.

4 Reasons You Need a Clothing Fulfillment Center

High Number of SKUs

Every clothing brand understands the difficulty of dealing with high SKU counts. Processing a large number of SKUs is vital and makes inventory management very hard. Not to mention, new fashion trends come in every season, meaning SKUs can change very rapidly.

Returns Management

If you are in the clothing and apparel industry, you know returns are something you will have to deal with all the time. Management of a returns program can be very distracting for brands during busy periods. At Evolution, our returns management team take this distraction away and manages this for you. We implement automated systems and client specific processes that help to minimize the costs associated with returns handling from your customers to our distribution warehouse in Vancouver, Canada. The product is inspected, photographed and quickly put back into inventory as shippable finished goods (for those items that can be resold).

At Evolution we also understand the need to process returns in a timely fashion, whether these be Wholesale Returns where clients look to clean up the books before month end, or Consumer Returns where customers expect immediate credit on their orders.

We process large volumes of retail product returns, from the big box retailers to the independent boutiques. Evolution utilizes a sophisticated cloud based warehouse management system to efficiently manage returns for credit and returns for exchange on behalf of our clients.

Admin Support Services

Don’t slow down your business operations with boring administration work. You can instead outsource it to an experienced logistics partner. Here at Evolution, our senior accounting team at Evolution is available to assist in the following areas:

  • Business registration
  • Accounts payables / payment processing
  • Bank and Credit Card reconciliations
  • Tax remittance & filing
  • Bank deposits
  • Insurance reporting
  • Sales Rep/Agency Commission processing & payment
  • Administrative Support Services – Receivables & Credit Management

Customer Service

Our outsourced customer service department can help with:

  • Inventory allocation
  • Contacting customers to obtain shipping authorization
  • Order administration
  • Notifying customers of PDC and COD pick ups
  • Administering Advances Shipping Notifications (ASN) or special customer shipping requirements
  • Pre – shipping season preparation including order acknowledgements, cancellation notification, issuing welcome packages and confirming payment terms.
  • Maintaining customer relationships and fielding customer issues
  • Processing Return Authorizations Requests & Credits
  • Administrative Support Services –Forwarding, Brokerage & Logistics

IT Support

Lastly, our outsourced IT support team is able to provide the highest level of IT customer support. We are actively integrated with some of the leading industry cloud based e-commerce software including Nu order, Brandboom, Shopify, Spree and Magento.

Minimize Overhead Costs

By partnering with a 3PL company, you don’t have the added cost of getting warehouse space, hiring warehouse workers, and the needed equipment. The 3PL company you outsource to handles all of these areas for you.

This also means you don’t need to spend time hiring and training more employees, freeing up valuable time for your leadership team.

About Evolution Group of Companies

Established in 2010, Evolution Group of Companies has grown to include five distinct operating entities: Evolution Fulfillment, Evolution Global, Ape Ship, Order Marshal and Blastramp. Each one of our brands is unique in its own way and effectively allows international businesses to operate in Canada and the US with turnkey order fulfillment solutions. Our focus on efficiencies, solutions, and technologies sets us apart.

From warehousing and fulfillment, customer service and accounting to software integrations, application development and shipping and courier – we have evolved to cover all aspects of supply chain management.

If you’re interested in learning more about our 3PL services in Canada and in the US, visit our website at www.evolvewithus.ca.

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Do you find yourself wondering what B2B fulfillment is? Find it a challenge to fully understand B2B fulfillment and B2B shipping?

In this article, we’ll discuss what B2B fulfillment is and how you can find the right B2B service provider. We’ll also discuss B2C fulfillment and how it is different from B2B fulfillment.

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What is B2B Fulfillment?

Business-to-business (B2B) is a situation where one business makes a commercial transaction with another. This typically occurs when:

  • A business is sourcing materials for their production process for output 
  • A business needs the services of another for their operations
  • A business re-sells goods and services produced by others 

B2B Fulfillment is the process of fulfilling orders to other businesses instead of directly to customers. Most B2B fulfillment orders are larger orders that are sent out to other businesses, which then resale to consumers directly. B2B fulfillment helps those businesses that don’t have warehouse space, or simply want to outsource their warehousing needs to a fulfillment service provider. Using a B2B shipping 3PL company allows you to focus on your core business needs, while a trusted fulfillment provider handles your wholesale delivery.

By definition, a third-party logistics (3PL) company “is a service that allows you to outsource operational logistics from warehousing, all the way through to delivery, and ultimately enables you to focus on other parts of your business.” A 3PL company can provide services such as transportation, warehousing, picking and packing, inventory forecasting, order fulfillment, packaging, freight forwarding, and much more.

The next section will now go over B2C order fulfillment.

B2C Order Fulfillment 

B2C (business-to-consumer) order fulfillment services focus on delivering goods directly to customers.

Like B2B businesses, B2C businesses also start off by shipping inventory to your fulfillment center partner. This fulfillment center stores your inventory in bulk and when B2C orders need to be sent out, your 3PL fulfillment center ships packages to your customers.

What Does a Good B2B Order Fulfillment Service Provider Have?

Finding the right B2B fulfillment provider can be tough, but it’s very important to take it seriously to ensure you have a sound B2B shipping strategy. You want to make sure they have a good reputation, are a good match for your business, and have the right experience.

Here are a couple of things to look for:

EDI compliance

Electronic data interchange (EDI) is the concept of businesses electronically communicating information that was traditionally communicated on paper, such as purchase orders and invoices. Technical standards for EDI exist to facilitate parties transacting such instruments without having to make special arrangements.

Good Customer Service

Everyone knows that issues arise with orders and you want to have a B2B fulfillment partner who can handle them the right way. Speak with multiple B2B service providers if needed, but make sure they have a committed customer service approach. 

Our Brand Fulfillment Model

Evolution is a different kind of North American distributor. That means we think differently about the challenges you face.

We have established a turn key alternative to the traditional international outsourced distribution sales model that we call “Brand Fulfillment”. This alternative allows US & international designing/manufacturing companies to enter the US and Canadian markets without relinquishing brand control or giving up valuable margin points to distributors. With your customer in mind, we have created a streamlined process to ensure that your customers will focus on enjoying your product, without the worries of managing the importation process. Your company retains complete control of your brand’s marketing message and your customer list.

Our outsourced fulfillment service takes care of the management of your wholesale & consumer distribution business, allowing you to build the market directly through third party domestic sales agencies. With Evolution support staff employed as an extension of your own staff, you will retain sales and brand control of your products at a significant cost savings, while ensuring the highest level of brand focused customer service.

To learn more about our Brand Fulfillment Model and how it can transform your B2B shipping, click here.

About Evolution Group of Companies

Established in 2010, Evolution Group of Companies has grown to include five distinct operating entities: Evolution Fulfillment, Evolution Global, Ape Ship, Order Marshal and Blastramp. Each one of our brands is unique in its own way and effectively allows international businesses to operate in Canada and the US with turnkey order fulfillment solutions. Our focus on efficiencies, solutions, and technologies sets us apart.

From warehousing and fulfillment, customer service and accounting to software integrations, application development and shipping and courier – we have evolved to cover all aspects of supply chain management.

If you’re interested in learning more about our services, visit our website at www.evolvewithus.ca.

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Do you find yourself waiting longer than usual for your Amazon orders? Well you’re not alone as people all around the globe are dealing with Amazon shipping delays, including right here in Canada.

Amazon Canada shipping delays and further delays impacting global Amazon deliveries can be partially blamed on lockdown measures impacting the Chinese city of Shenzhen. Shenzhen is China’s tech hub and just recently got out of a seven-day lockdown that has disrupted global supply chains. Work has resumed in Shenzhen, but as we saw last year with the Suez Canal blockage, it could take weeks or even months for industries to catch up.

RELATED: The Top 5 Third-Party Logistics Trends To Know About For 2022

Shenzhen is responsible for almost half of China’s online retail exports and these restrictions has a serious impact on big online retailers like Amazon and Walmart. There remains worries that other large-scale COVID-19 breakouts could occur in the future, which leaves supply chains and distribution networks in a tough position. China’s government has put in place strict border controls and extensive testing requirements that will continue to impact Amazon orders and shipping across the world.

COVID-19 & Global Shipping Delays

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was first declared, global shipping delays have continued to put a strain on supply chains with no letting up. During the second half of last year, devastating floods in Europe and China made shipping delays even worse. Key transportation routes saw damage and the flood waters even wrecked warehouses.

In addition to COVID-19 lockdowns and adverse weather, the global economy is still dealing with the ongoing shipping container shortage. According to visionproject.org, roughly 90% percent of the world’s goods are transported by sea with over 70% as containerized cargo. In addition, demand for shipping containers currently outweigh supply, which means higher costs for shipping.

When you take everything listed above into consideration, consumers can expect supply chain problems and shipping delays to persist.

About Evolution Group of Companies

Established in 2010, Evolution Group of Companies has grown to include five distinct operating entities: Evolution Fulfillment, Evolution Global, Ape Ship, Order Marshal and Blastramp. Each one of our brands is unique in its own way and effectively allow international business to operate in Canada and the US with turnkey order fulfillment solutions. Our focus on efficiencies, solutions, and technologies sets us apart.

From warehousing and fulfillment, customer service and accounting to software integrations, application development and shipping and courier – we have evolved to cover all aspects of supply chain management.

If you’re interested in learning more about our 3PL services in Canada and in the US, visit our website at www.evolvewithus.ca.

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2020 was a wild year for the logistics industry as the COVID-19 pandemic broke e-commerce sales records and had retailers rethinking how to best serve their customers. The shift to more e-commerce also meant that it would be harder to find warehouse space across Canada and the world. According to CBRE Ltd’s Canada Market Outlook 2021 report, for every $1 billion in ecommerce sales, 1.25 million sq. ft. of additional warehouse space was needed. That number is probably even higher for 2022 with ongoing supply chain issues.

RELATED: We Love Our Customers Featuring Tofino Towel!

Now these are just a couple of the third-party logistics trends that have taken place over the last couple of years, but it doesn’t come without any headaches. The ongoing growth in the industry has also caused chaos on the global supply chain and these issues aren’t going to be resolved anytime soon. During the holiday season in 2021, Western Europe and China’s Henan province, which is a key transport hub, both were impacted by devastating floods. Key transportation routes have been damaged and the flood waters even wrecked warehouses.

2022 and 2021 were rough times for the logistics industry, but there are some exciting trends to keep an eye on for 2022. Here are the 5 third-party logistics trends you need to know about for 2022.

5 Third-Party Logistics Trends To Know About For 2022

Omnichannel Shipping

First on our third-party logistics trends list is omnichannel shipping. Customer shopping experiences and expectations have shifted dramatically, making omnichannel fulfilment is more important than ever before.

The “Amazon effect,” is defined as “the impact created by the online, eCommerce, or digital marketplace on the traditional brick and mortar business model that is the result of the change in shopping patterns, customer expectations, and the industry’s competitive landscape. The Amazon effect is forcing retailers to offer more omnichannel touchpoints to increase customer satisfaction. Retailers need to offer their customers an easy way to shop whether that be in-store or digitally. The supply chain has become more complex than ever before and if you want to stay ahead of your competitors and ensure your customers loyalty, omnichannel shipping must be something your brand utilizes.

Big Data

Big data is one of those third-party logistics trends that when used properly, make your brand efficient and help you save money. GPS and other tracking devices allow logistics companies to monitor the movement of goods in real-time. That information is combined with traffic data, fleet data, and on-road network data to help maximize delivery routes, while also driving up profits.

One big cost that can be brought down with the use of big data is fuel consumption. Gas prices are at an all-time high right now and reducing fuel usage is a must. Saving on fuel also means brands can consciously be aware of their environmental impact and commit to protecting it. Another big data outcome related to route optimization is to decrease mileage. Brands can further save more on fuel and slow down how quickly cars begin to deteriorate during day-to-day operations.

Last-Mile Delivery

Last mile, in supply chain management and transportation planning, is the last leg of a journey comprising the movement of people and goods from a transportation hub to a final destination. With the rapid growth of ecommerce and changing retail conditions, last-mile delivery has taken on more importance for businesses in today’s economy. Having a sound last-mile delivery strategy will keep your customers loyal and attract new ones.

Integrated 3PL services

This is one of those third-party logistics trends that will be extremely important for years to come. You need a 3PL provider that can provide you individual services, but also have the capability to combine them for full effect.

For example, here at Evolution Fulfilment, we offer a handful of different fulfilment services to advance your distribution strategy.

These services include:

  • Brand Fulfillment Model: A turnkey alternative to the traditional distribution model that keeps control – and margins – in your hands. Learn more about our unique North American distribution model that we call Brand Fulfillment.
  • Amazon FBA Prep Service: Gain access to the massive marketplace that is Amazon without the hassle or headaches of fulfilling orders.
  • Cross Border Domesticated Shipping Service: Imagine shipping directly to your US customers in a way that’s both cheaper and faster? If you’re a Canadian brand with $250K+ in annual revenue, you should definitely learn more about our cross border domesticated shipping service.
  • B2B Order Fulfillment Service: A business-to-business retail distribution service that adheres to strict guidelines and is customized to suit your logistical needs (pick and pack, cross docking, etc).
  • B2C Order Fulfillment Service: A direct-to-consumer (B2C) pick and pack Canadian fulfillment service based in Vancouver, Canada with same day turnaround and a polished consumer experience.
  • Dedicated North American Warehousing: An ecommerce warehousing partner that acts as an extension of your company.
  • Returns Management: Avoid the distraction and hassle of inevitable product returns.
  • Admin Support Services: Focus on your core business by outsourcing accounting and financial processes to experts.

Green Supply Chains

Last on our third-party logistics trends list is green supply chains. Advocacy groups are increasingly pushing for more environmentally-friendly business practices and consumers want to do their part as well.

Different parts of the supply chain have a role to play in creating a more green future. Whether that’s adopting energy management systems, or switching to more electric vehicles, brands can significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

About Evolution Group of Companies

Established in 2010, Evolution Group of Companies has grown to include five distinct operating entities: Evolution Fulfillment, Evolution Global, Ape Ship, Order Marshal and Blastramp. Each one of our brands is unique in its own way and effectively allow international business to operate in Canada and the US with turnkey order fulfillment solutions. Our focus on efficiencies, solutions, and technologies sets us apart.

From warehousing and fulfillment, customer service and accounting to software integrations, application development and shipping and courier – we have evolved to cover all aspects of supply chain management.

If you’re interested in learning more about our 3PL services in Canada and in the US, visit our website at www.evolvewithus.ca.

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Delta, B.C. (December 3rd, 2021): The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) has announced the 2021 Women 2 Watch, a list of the fastest-growing WPO members from around the world. These companies applied for the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies™ and are experiencing significant revenue growth as they reach new levels of success. Gwen Martin, CEO of Blastramp, based in Delta, BC, has been ranked 23rd on this year’s WPO Women 2 Watch list.

To qualify for the ranking, businesses are required to be WPO members in good standing, privately held, woman-owned or -led, and must have reached annual revenues of at least $500,000 in each of the past five years. In addition, WPO Members must be running their company’s day to day management as the CEO/President/Partner of a privately held company, with at least $2 million in annual revenue ($1 million for service-based businesses).

“As part of our celebration of the Fifty Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies™, we are happy to put a spotlight on these WPO member companies that have made incredible strides in growing their businesses. We are excited to highlight the impact these diverse and vibrant women-owned and -led companies have on the global economy through the jobs they create and communities they serve.” said Camille Burns, CEO of the WPO.

“I am honored to be a finalist in a panel of such accomplished businesswomen,” says Gwen Martin. While this award recognizes my leadership, it truly represents the dedication and commitment of our entire Evolution team, who continue to elevate our success year over year in the face of all obstacles.”

“Established in 2010, Evolution Group of Companies has grown to include five distinct operating entities that effectively allow international business to operate in Canada and the US with turn key order fulfillment solutions. Our focus on efficiencies, solutions, and technologies sets us apart,” Martin says.

“One of our technology solutions, Blastramp, is an easy-to-use cloud-based ERP software designed to help B2B and B2C brands manage their inventory and orders. We specialize in our ability to integrate with multiple third-party systems and seamlessly sync with outside applications. The resilience and expertise of our teams, coupled with the impact we’ve been able to make on our communities, has been proven over the last two challenging years. I’m excited about the journey ahead as we continue to exponentially grow and evolve.”

About The Women Presidents’ Organization

The WPO is the premier peer advisory organization connecting women who own multi-million-dollar companies. In monthly meetings across six continents, chapters of 20 women presidents from diverse industries invest time and energy in themselves and their businesses to drive their corporations to the next level. Local WPO chapters are coordinated by a professional facilitator and meet monthly to share business expertise and experience in a confidential setting. For more information visit www.womenpresidentsorg.com.

Learn More About Blastramp

If you’re interested in learning more about our cloud-based inventory and order management software, you can take advantage of our Blast Academy, a set of training modules and step-by-step tutorials that guide you to get the most out of our cloud-based inventory management software. Whether you’re looking for an answer to a specific question or want to build your Blastramp skills, our Blast Academy is the perfect one-stop-shop for your training needs. With Blast Academy by your side, you’ll be an expert in no time!

If you have any other questions that need to be answered, feel free to email us at info@blastramp.com.

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Delta-based Evolution Group of Companies is happy to announce that we have signed a sponsorship agreement with BC Parks Foundation. As the official charitable partner of BC Parks, the BC Parks Foundation is leading an expedition to create the best park system in the world. They do this by working with you to protect, enhance and sustain our parks, while inspiring and connecting people to them.

The non-profit was created in 2017 and began operations in 2018. While the Foundation itself is new, the combined track record of board members and staff are impressive.

“I was frustrated with the amount of deforestation in many parts of the world and the impact that was having on our environment and animal habitats. I was excited to find out that there was a local organization diligently working to protect our forests and the habitats and was inspired to hear that other BC business leaders were supporting these efforts. I immediately wanted to get involved and do my part to save this essential resource,” says Ben Martin, President and CEO of Evolution Group of Companies.

BC’s parks are iconic and core to being British Columbian. As a BC-based company, we understand and appreciate this beautiful province and want to keep it beautiful, while also contributing to the economy.

“My family and I truly love this province and love spending time hiking, kayaking and exploring our provincial parks,” says Ben.

BC Parks Foundation’s mission is to “enhance and pass on the legacy of British Columbia’s world-class provincial parks by catalyzing support and resources so that they flourish forever”. Their primary role is to promote and support public interest, engagement and involvement in parks and encourage others to contribute.

For Evolution Group of Companies, it’s about protecting our home.

B.C. is home to the highest diversity of life in North America. We are home to iconic species like salmon, bear, elk, caribou, lynx, moose, bighorn sheep and whales. Some of these creatures only exist here on this planet, and others stop here on their terrific, long, international journeys.

“As a business person, I know that my success has been fostered by the people and environment that I am fortunate enough to operate within, and that cultivating this environment is also my responsibility. B.C. has been good to me and I’m always excited to find ways to give back,” says Ben.

Our team is truly excited about this new partnership and believe that our two organizations can work together to create a better BC for all.

About Evolution Group of Companies

Established in 2010, Evolution Group of Companies has grown to include five distinct operating entities: Evolution Fulfillment, Evolution Global, Ape Ship, Order Marshal and Blastramp. Each one of our brands is unique in its own way and effectively allow international business to operate in Canada and the US with turnkey order fulfillment solutions. Our focus on efficiencies, solutions, and technologies sets us apart.

From warehousing and fulfillment, customer service and accounting to software integrations, application development and shipping and courier – we have evolved to cover all aspects of supply chain management.

If you’re interested in learning more about our 3PL services in Canada and in the US, visit our website at www.evolvewithus.ca.

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Over the next couple of months, we will be featuring some of the customers we work for and why we love to work with them. Our first feature article will be on Tofino Towel; an amazing customer of ours since 2016.

Tofino Towel’s mantra is simple: Live Outside, Love Inside.

They are the originators of the Canadian West Coast Round Towel, which was designed right here in British Columbia, Canada.

As stated on their website, Tofino Towel aims to “thoughtfully create products and convey a lifestyle that encourages you to consciously slow down, be present in the moment and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.”

It’s safe to say it’s been a pleasure for us having them as an amazing customer.

“Working with Tofino Towel since its infancy and seeing all their success, knowing that Evolution fulfillment was part of that, is one of my biggest professional accomplishments.” says Jonathan Tchao, our Warehouse General Manager.

Tofino Towel was built by two entrepreneurs with heart and hustle, and our team saw this from the very beginning.

Stacy Moore of Jade Sales Agency and Lindsay Wallis of Skout Showroom told Devin and Glendon to reach out to Evolution Fulfillment when it was evident to them that their turnaround time on fulfilling orders wasn’t good enough to keep up with the demand they were seeing.

“Devin and Glendon took an idea and have turned it into a huge success. Their branding has a beautiful West Coast feel.” says Ben Martin, President of Evolution Fulfillment.

Since we started working with Tofino Towel, the results speak for themselves.

“Tofino Towel has collaborated with some of the top fashion and lifestyle brands in North America. This speaks volumes about their product.”

We look forward to seeing Tofino Towel continue to flourish as a tremendous brand and our team is prepared to go above and beyond for them.

About Evolution Fulfillment

Evolution Fulfillment provides eight turnkey services to advance your North American distribution strategy – which you can choose independently or combine for full effect – to ensure on-time, accurate, and efficient product delivery into all sales channels.

If you’re interested in learning more about our 3PL services in Canada and in the US, visit our website at www.evolvewithus.ca.

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With fall on the horizon and the holiday shopping season not far behind, many consumers may once again face shipping delays on their favorite products.

What’s causing these shipping delays? For starters, global supply chains remain strained due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and now recent floods in Europe and China have made the matter worse.

RELATED: Shift To More E-Commerce Means Less Available Warehouse Space In Canada

Western Europe and China’s Henan province, which is a key transport hub, are both still reeling from the impact of devastating floods. Key transportation routes have been damaged and the flood waters even wrecked warehouses.

That’s not all.

The global economy is still dealing with the ongoing shipping container shortage. According to visionproject.org, roughly 90% percent of the world’s goods are transported by sea with over 70% as containerized cargo. In addition, demand for shipping containers currently outweigh supply, which means higher costs for shipping.

Dw.com highlights that one reason for the global shipping container shortage is that there are only two companies in the world that build and sell shipping containers — both are based in China. We must also keep in mind that all shipping containers leaving China are first loaded with goods in China and sent out to their destination. This results in time spent unloading the containers first and COVID-19 itself has caused huge bottlenecks at crowded ports.

Pawan Joshi, executive vice president of Texas-based supply chain software firm E2open had this to say to CNBC:

“Black Friday and the holiday season, for which products (and raw materials) are being staged, will face the brunt of the impact”.

These global shipping delays mean products such as consumer electronics, dorm room furniture, clothing and appliances will continue to be in short supply this holiday shopping season.

Consumers will feel these impacts right through the holiday shopping season as the delays will last for weeks and months. It’s too soon to know how supply chains will handle this latest challenge, and whether retailers will be able to offer extensive Black Friday deals and other sales.

Flooding in China and Europe

Global Shipping Delays during holiday shopping season

Zhengzhou, a city in Henan province was hit hardest by the flooding last month. This city is home to numerous manufacturing facilities, including the world’s largest iPhone assembly plant. The Henan province is also a major producer of grains and raw materials, which will only add to the existing delays.

There’s more bad news for your holiday shopping season. Floods in Europe have forced Germany’s largest steel maker Thyssenkrupp to deciare force majeure. Force majeure is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance is beyond the control of the parties, such as natural catastrophes.

Even as flood waters have receded, the damage was already done and operations have been slow to pick up again.

Global Shipping Delays For Back-To-School Shopping

Global Shipping Delays during holiday shopping season

Global shipping delays aren’t just a concern for the holiday shopping season. Even before that, there’s back-to-school shopping.

Global shipping delays and uncertainty around the delta variant have parents worried about the upcoming school year. As COVID cases surge once again, there are many who worry that their kids may have to resort to digital learning like last year.

Even if students can return to normal class lessons, will school supplies be in stock? Shortages of items like sneakers, backpacks and gadgets will become more common this year. COVID-19 has in many ways changed consumer behaviour. These changes have disrupted global trade and can be partially blamed for the global shipping container shortage.

Outlook For Global Supply Chains

Global Shipping Delays during holiday shopping season

Global supply chains were already dealing with a lot before the recent floods in China and Europe. The closing and reopening of economies around the world have forced the industry to be as flexible as ever before. However, this will cause shipping delays across numerous industries around the world.

For example, to control the spread of COVID-19, many ports reduced their workforces, and this caused heavy vessel delays and cancelled shipments. Consumer demand has continued to pick up and supply chains simply can’t meet the demand. According to freightwaves.com, “Los Angeles handled 957,599 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in March, up 113% year on year — the highest March number in the port’s history.” Cities across the world are slowly relaxing lockdown measures, but backlogs will continue to exist for the foreseeable future. Port congestion has been an issue for Port of Los Angeles throughout the pandemic and will likely get worse as we head into the colder months.

Also in March, the Suez Canal was blocked for six days after the grounding of Ever Given, a 20,000 TEU container ship. The ripple effects were devastating to already strained global supply chains. Lloyd’s List estimated during the blockage the value of the goods delayed each hour at US$400 million, and that every day it takes to clear the obstruction would disrupt an additional US$9 billion worth of goods.

About Evolution Fulfillment

With 135,000 square feet, three locations and a variety of specialized distribution services, we help brands reach the entire North American marketplace. We specialize in integrations with various sales platforms accessing everyone from the end consumer to retail giants.

Evolution has created six turnkey fulfillment services to advance your North American distribution strategy – which you can choose independently or combine for full effect – to ensure on-time, accurate and efficient product delivery into all sales channels.

If you’re interested in learning more about our 3PL services in Canada and in the US, visit our website at www.evolvewithus.ca.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the global economy to pivot dramatically and as a result, warehouse space in Canada is gradually running out.

Warehouse space in Canada may soon be nearly impossible for businesses to find. According to CBRE Ltd’s Canada Market Outlook 2021 report, for every $1 billion in ecommerce sales, 1.25 million sq. ft. of additional warehouse space is needed.

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This, coupled with already low vacancy rates, means warehouse space in Canada will be very hard to find and brands will have a tough time finding space to store their products.

Even before the pandemic, Canada lagged behind other developed countries in the E-Commerce sector and that has left many industries scrambling to find warehouse space. According to Group M, online spending (excluding purchases in the food services and catering categories) grew by more than 72.7% last year, totaling $28.6 billion (all dollar figures are in USD).

That growth smashes past the 22.1% growth recorded in 2019 when ecommerce reached $16.6 billion and 3.6% of all retail revenues. In comparison, Australia, which has an economy of similar scale to Canada’s, grew by only 47.7%.

Warehouse Space In Canada Isn’t Being Built Fast Enough

warehouse space in Canada | Evolution Fulfillment

The demand for warehouse space in Canada is so high that the country can’t build new warehouse space fast enough. “With online spending by Canadians forecast to reach $92.7 billion by 2025, net-new warehouse requirements from ecommerce-related demand are expected to exceed 40.0 million sq. ft. over the next five years.” reads CBRE’s Canada Market Outlook 2021 report. To explain the current demand even further, this is greater than all of the leasable space in Canada’s three largest industrial markets combined.

Throughout the pandemic, retailers have been forced to close their storefronts for extended periods of time, which left them scrambling to transition to online sales. These changes obviously couldn’t happen overnight and created new bottlenecks in the supply chain.

There also isn’t one simple solution that will work for every brand. Some businesses have been able to repurpose their space to keep up with online orders and shipments. Other brands have looked at fulfillment centers like the space Evolution Fulfillment offers.

Warehouse Space In Canada Moving Forward

warehouse space in Canada | Evolution Fulfillment

Even as lockdowns end and vaccination rates continue to climb across the country, warehouse space in Canada will be hard to come by for the foreseeable future. Ecommerce will become even more popular amongst consumers and retailers, meaning traditional shopping habits may be a thing of the past.

About Evolution Fulfillment and Our Warehouse Services

warehouse space in Canada | Evolution Fulfillment

With 135,000 square feet, three locations and a variety of specialized distribution services, we help brands reach the entire North American marketplace. We specialize in integrations with various sales platforms accessing everyone from the end consumer to retail giants.

Our main fulfillment warehouse is in Vancouver, Canada, but we also have warehouses in the United States and have access to partner warehouses globally through our Evolution Global initiative.

Evolution Fulfillment provides the experience and resources to operate single client dedicated American and Canadian warehouse operations as an extension of your company. For established businesses, we are able to offer an alternative to the unit based transactional pricing by way of our Dedicated Warehouse Solution. This solution involves a long term strategic partnership charged on an open book cost plus basis, where we provide: customized logistics assets; and, dedicated warehouse space and resources exclusively for your company.

Working closely with you, we provide staff, management, equipment and technology with a dedicated team of people that work only on your distribution requirements. Our efficient and experienced labor structure effectively shields your company from the potential liabilities associated with a warehouse workforce.

About Evolution Fulfillment

Evolution Fulfillment provides eight turnkey services to advance your North American distribution strategy – which you can choose independently or combine for full effect – to ensure on-time, accurate, and efficient product delivery into all sales channels.

If you’re interested in learning more about our 3PL services in Canada and in the US, visit our website at www.evolvewithus.ca.

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