It’s March. That means March Madness.

On the surface, it’s a spectacle. On the court, it’s chaos. Off the court, it’s a masterclass in logistics. Condensed timelines, unknown participants, cross-country travel. Everything moving at once, with no room for error.

Feels familiar.

Last year’s Final Four host city, San Antonio, is where we’ll be this weekend for the IWLA Convention. Next weekend, the tournament heads to Indianapolis, another warehousing hotbed, and I’ll be there as well.

If you’ll be in either place and we’re not already planning to connect, you’ll know where to find me!

What's trending

📦 Warehouse Real Estate: Consolidation & Big Boxes Return

Saks is closing two Pennsylvania DCs and cutting 600 jobs, a real-world example of a broader market shift: companies are exiting smaller, outdated facilities and consolidating into larger, modern distribution centers, with 3PLs leading the charge.

1. Saks consolidates Two PA distribution centers shuttered as part of a fulfillment cost optimization - displaced volume that could represent opportunity for regional 3PLs.

2. Big-box leasing is back as demand for warehouses 500K+ sq ft surged 32% YoY in 2025 per Cushman & Wakefield, with 3PLs and manufacturers driving nearly two-thirds of activity. Vacancy rates for large warehouses dropped 140 bps year-over-year.

3. Inland, lower-cost markets are winning - 71% of large leases signed in markets priced below the national average, as occupiers prioritize total cost over port proximity.

Saks → | Big-Box Trend →

📦 Tariffs in Transition: Refunds Coming, But Stay Ready

The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs last month. CBP is now building the refund system, but companies aren't letting up on supply chain resilience planning.

1. CBP's new CAPE system will return ~$166B to importers via a 4-step portal. Launch expected mid-April, components 40-80% complete.

2. 48% of CEOs are actively deploying tariff mitigation strategies; 41% using AI for trade compliance (KPMG survey).

3. Customers are reshuffling sourcing and inventory positioning. Opportunity for 3PLs offering flexible warehousing and distribution.

Tariff Refunds → | Supply Chain Agility →

Shipping costs are one of the fastest ways fulfillment providers can improve margins, especially on USPS-heavy volume.

Your Shipping Partners (YSP) helps 3PLs and brands access enterprise-level carrier rate cards without changing how the warehouse operates. The model is straightforward. Connect your WMS to YSP’s rate card and continue shipping as usual. Labels print the same way, pick and pack does not change, and teams do not need retraining.

Where providers typically see the biggest impact:

1. Stronger USPS pricing for lightweight DTC shipments

2. Enterprise carrier rate access across USPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon that smaller operators typically cannot secure on their own

3. Quick integration through API, plugin, or WMS connection, often completed within 24–48 hours

4. 10–25% shipping cost reductions compared to standard merchant pricing

The typical approach is simple. Start with a portion of USPS volume or one brand, validate service and economics for a week, and scale if the savings are there.

For providers managing high DTC parcel volume, especially under 20 lbs, programs like this can create meaningful margin improvement without adding operational complexity.

Schedule time with the YSP Team to learn more.

Talk with James

Opportunities in Fulfillment