The global health and beauty industry is projected to reach over $650 billion by 2025, driven by strong growth in skincare and a rising demand for natural and organic products. In the health and beauty industry, current trends and statistics are opening up big opportunities for e-commerce businesses to grow and innovate. Whether you run a small boutique skincare brand or a large online cosmetics store, the current trends in the health and beauty industry offer you a chance to expand your reach and innovate your business strategies.
You’re probably no stranger to the challenges of running a health and beauty business. From managing inventory to ensuring timely deliveries, it can be a lot to juggle for an e-commerce business. That’s where a great health and beauty fulfillment services partner comes in—to help you streamline operations and focus on what really matters: creating amazing products and making your customers happy. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the right one? You need someone who gets the specifics of your industry, whether it’s handling fragile glass bottles or keeping track of expiration dates.
What should I look for in a health and beauty fulfillment services partner?
When choosing the best fulfillment services company for your health and beauty business to partner with, there are several things to consider. First, you will want to confirm that your 3PL’s warehouse storage and shipping conditions are flawless to prevent products from being damaged. Depending on the type of products your business sells, you may be required by law to outsource to an FDA-registered and cGMP compliant fulfillment center. Expertise with continuity orders, or subscription box fulfillment, is also beneficial for ecommerce merchants who are looking to get ahead of competition.
Let’s take a closer look at three things that e-commerce business owners should look for when choosing a health and beauty fulfillment services partner.
Does your 3PL offer Proper warehouse storage and shipping conditions?
Health and beauty products like lipstick, hair conditioner, and body lotions require specific storage and shipping conditions to prevent them from getting broken or ruined. For starters, the warehouse or fulfillment center that the products are stored in must be kept at a temperature that’s not too hot or cold, and isn’t too dry or humid. When shipping, proper packaging is vital to ensure that glass perfume bottles don’t shatter, liquid substances don’t spill, and products don’t otherwise become damaged.
Many health and beauty products also have expiration dates, so be sure to partner with a fulfillment center that follows the “FIFO” (first in-first out) approach. First in first out (FIFO) warehousing means exactly what it sounds like. It’s an inventory control method in which the first items to come into the warehouse are the first items to leave. Similar to the service industry concept of “first come, first served”, the FIFO method focuses on products. FIFO serves as both a method of calculating ending inventory value as well as a best practice to manage your inventory.
In the event that a product expires, your 3PL vendor must have a system in place to prevent the expired products from being sent to a customer accidentally. Under the FIFO inventory method, when goods are received at a store, warehouse, or eCommerce fulfillment center, care is taken to move the older merchandise to the front of the shelf and to restock the shelf from the rear.
Choose a 3PL With An FDA-registered warehouse and cGMP compliance
The ideal storage conditions listed above are taken care of when you outsource to a fulfillment center that is FDA-registered and cGMP compliant. Partnering with an FDA-registered warehouse ensures that the team handling your products receives ongoing specialized training, and that they follow strict guidelines so that all merchandise arrives in pristine condition.
If your business sells products that are consumed for health reasons, such as vitamins or dietary supplements, the fulfillment center that you outsource to must be cGMP compliant (in addition to being registered with the FDA). Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) protect consumers from getting sick as the result of taking supplements that are contaminated or flawed. These regulations protect consumers to ensure that the products they take to improve their health will not do the opposite and make them sick. Partnering with a 3PL that adheres to cGMP regulations ensures that products are stored in a facility that’s clean, pest-free, and efficiently run. When you work with a fulfillment services provider that adheres to cGMP regulations, you can rest assured that that quality is achieved, and that all products are being kept in pristine condition.
When selecting a health and beauty fulfillment services partner, bear in mind that not all FDA-registered fulfillment centers are cGMP compliant. ShipWizard is proud to be one of the few 3PL companies that is fully cGMP 211-compliant, meaning that we follow all guidelines, and that our fulfillment centers continually pass all inspections.
Choose a 3PL With Continuity order expertise
These days, there is no shortage of subscription box services. Not only are these services a fun way for consumers to sample new products each month, but they are a great way for ecommerce businesses to generate recurring revenue. Continuity orders are also referred to as standing orders, auto ship, and subscription box fulfillment, which we’ll explain more about in a moment. When it’s the same products being shipped to customers each month, the packages typically consist of consumable, disposable or single-use products such as dog food, coffee filters, vitamins, diapers, beauty products, and more. Customers enjoy the convenience of not having to run to the store each time they need these products, and never having to worry about running out. By choosing a 3PL services company that can handle your subscription box fulfillment, an order will automatically generate, and your customer’s credit card will be charged each month. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
The health and beauty industry is at an exciting crossroads, with e-commerce playing a pivotal role in its growth. As you chart your company’s path in this exciting landscape, focusing on trends like sustainability, personalization, and digital engagement can be the key to unlocking new opportunities. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your business, understanding these shifts and adapting your strategies accordingly can help you stay ahead of the curve.
By choosing the right 3PL partner for your health and beauty business, you can not only grow your business but also build a loyal customer base that shares your vision for a more vibrant and sustainable future in health and beauty. A reliable 3PL provider helps streamline operations, reduce costs, and scale as your brand grows. From managing temperature-sensitive products and handling complex logistics to offering personalized packaging and faster delivery times, the right 3PL will be your most trusted partner. With a reliable 3PL, you can kiss goodbye to inventory headaches and hello to faster, more fabulous deliveries that leave your customers glowing. It’s not just about shipping products; it’s about delivering an experience that keeps them coming back for more. So, pick wisely and let your business bloom!
Use ShipWizard’s fulfillment cost calculator to get a custom quote and discover how our dedicated team can help you grow your business and solve logistics headaches. Whether you’re expanding into new markets or optimizing existing operations, ShipWizard’s expertise in e-commerce fulfillment, reverse logistics, and more can be your strategic advantage.
