Fulfillment Focus October 9

Author

Slotted Admin
October 09, 2025

Early October always takes me back to my time at Amazon Final Mile and my time working with a portfolio of DTC brands. Many of the timelines and challenges I experienced on both sides of the fulfillment relationship translate directly to fulfillment companies and pure-play DTC companies.

Key takeaways:

  1. Plan ahead, then refine and re-plan — and do it again.

  2. Assume the worst, but expect the best.

  3. Know your deadlines and your partners’ deadlines.

  4. Have contingencies ready.

  5. Communicate early and often.

And most importantly: understand that something will not go as expected — whether good or bad. Be ready to respond quickly and effectively.

U.S. Holiday sales are expected to grow, but at a slower pace driven by economic uncertainty pressuring consumer spending.

FBA Cut-Offs for BFCM start this week. But those dates are arrival targets, not ship by targets. The concepts behind these tips are applicable to peak execution for any channel.

Opportunities in Fulfillment

Director, Final Mile Operations @ Hub Group | Remote

Sales Development Executive @ RR Donnelley | California

National Account Executive @ Patterson Companies | Remote

Enterprise Account Executive @ Rippling | California

Partner Highlight: izba

U.S. Market Entry: How 3PLs Can Become the Bridge for Global Brands

As international brands rush to establish a U.S. footprint, many underestimate the complexity of entity setup, importer-of-record compliance, and partner coordination. That’s where Izba steps in—and where 3PLs can play a pivotal role.

Izba’s Market Entry Advisory & Project Management program helps brands navigate the operational maze of U.S. launch—from entity decisions to fulfillment partner onboarding. We serve as the connective tissue between global strategy and local execution, aligning 3PL capabilities with a brand’s readiness to scale.

For 3PLs, this means smoother onboardings, better-prepared clients, and fewer “learning the hard way” moments.
We help brands enter the market right—the first time.

How we help:

  • Design compliant entry frameworks (Entity vs. FIOR vs. Third-Party IOR)

  • Vet and activate 3PL, freight, and tax partners

  • Manage project execution from setup through first shipment

  • Deliver post-launch playbooks for sustained operations

📦 If you’re a 3PL working with international brands—or want to attract more of them—partnering with Izba can make every launch cleaner, faster, and more successful.