Coming out of the long holiday break, it feels like everyone is moving fast again.

Acquisitions. Rate increases. Trade show announcements. Post-peak performance reviews. RFPs.

The year is off to a familiar start, and while many teams are still getting their footing, the pace isn’t slowing. So let’s dive right in.

What's trending

📦 Earlier, faster RFP cycles.

Coming out of peak, brands are already reassessing fulfillment partners and moving quickly into structured RFPs. Demand signals suggest these processes are starting earlier — and narrowing faster — than in prior years.

(See the Highlight section below for how we’re helping providers capitalize on this shift in Q1.)

📦 Stord acquires Shipwire.

Stord announced the acquisition of Shipwire, further expanding its global network. This builds on its acquisition of Pitney Bowes’ ecommerce fulfillment operations in 2024 and Ware2Go from UPS in Q2 of 2025.

📦 New year, new parcel rates.

FedEx parcel rate increases went into effect on January 5, with Home Delivery rates increasing on January 12. USPS rate increases follow on January 18 for Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select services.

Opportunities in Fulfillment

Q1 Is Already Taking Shape

With the new year underway, fulfillment teams are facing a familiar challenges: more inbound sourcing conversations, limited sales engineering time, and pressure to move faster than last year.

Post-holiday demand signals suggest this cycle is already in motion. Brands are initiating RFPs earlier as they lock in partners based on peak performance.

Since October 1, 2025, we’ve seen:

1. 43% growth in brand account creation

2. 10% growth since December 1 alone

That momentum is carrying straight into Q1.

Slotted exists to remove friction from this process — giving brands and providers a structured, neutral way to evaluate fit without wasted labor on either side.

To support that, we’ve simplified how providers engage with Slotted by adjusting the pricing and bringing more flexible and robust tools for constructing proposals.

1. Base Subscription — $250/month

   Unlimited locations and unlimited access to brand-led RFP invitations.

2. Enterprise Subscription

   Lead intake from any source, automated scoring, CRM integration, and proposal creation and analysis — all in one system.

3. Enhanced contract builder

   Designed to support more flexible pricing structures as deal complexity increases.

In parallel, Slotted will soon partner with StartUp CPG as their preferred fulfillment provider sourcing and RFP platform. Their 30,000+ brand community is expected to drive increased sourcing activity through Slotted.

If Q1 RFP participation matters to your pipeline, now is the right time to update your account and subscribe.