Four Steps To Prep for Successful Shipping in the 2024 Holiday Season
The 4th quarter of 2024 is on our doorstep which means it’s time to prepare your business for success during the busy holiday shopping season. Businesses typically earn a significant portion of their revenue during the holiday season, up to 20% or more, according to the National Retail Federation. For e-commerce businesses, opportunities to earn […]
Read More »Is it Time to Hire a Chief Logistics Officer? 3 Signs Your Business is Ready
During the life of your online retail business, you will ask yourself a lot of questions around timing: Is it time to hire my first employee? Is it time for a bigger space? Is it time for me to raise prices? We have worked with established brands and new businesses since 2009, and we have […]
Read More »Is it a Business or a Hobby? How to Plan for Success With Your Ecommerce Site
It is estimated that by 2025, the ecommerce industry will reach over $7 trillion in sales across the globe. That’s a huge number. Many economists term this rightfully – if not curelly – as “grow or die.” Although many ecommerce startups want to believe that they are in it for the long-run, the reality is […]
Read More »Using Digital Tools To Maximize Your Customer Experience & Increase Your Sales Leads
Digital marketing touches everything we touch. From the moment we unlock our smartphones, open our laptops or “check in” at our favorite restaurant, the vast internet universe is collecting data on us. Creepy? Maybe. Helpful? For business owners, yes. When you are an ecommerce store that survives on people’s online behavior, it’s important to maximize […]
Read More »6 Questions to Ask Yourself For Long-Term Success with a Logistics Partner
When your e-commerce business is growing rapidly, it often feels like you are trying to build the plane while you are flying it. Although this is a familiar feeling for many small to medium sized businesses, it can often lead to snap decision making – because when you need help, you need it, well, yesterday. […]
Read More »4 Ways to Reach Your Business Goals Using Last Year’s Data
It probably shouldn’t surprise you that most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions by February 1. In fact, according to research by OSU’s Fisher College of Business, 9% of people bail on their resolutions by the first week of January. But the good news is that in 2024 your business likely has a lot of […]
Read More »2024 Holiday Schedule
Please take note of the Holiday closures for Sweetwater Logistics in 2024: Monday, January 1 New Year’s Day Monday, January 15 Martin Luther King Jr. birthday Monday, February 19 Washington’s Birthday (observed) Monday, May 27 Memorial Day Thursday, July 4 & Friday, July 5 Independence Day Monday, September 2 Labor Day Monday, October 14 Columbus […]
Read More »2023 HOLIDAY SHIPPING DEADLINES
The following are the 2023 date and time shipping deadlines to observe to get your orders where they need to go prior to Christmas by carrier and service: 12/8, 3pm – last order in by for USPS APO/FPO/DPO 12/8, 3pm – last order in by for UPS SurePost / Fedex Smart Post (Ground Economy) 12/13, 3pm – last […]
Read More »5 Tips for Shipping Success this Holiday Season
Whether we want to believe it or not, Q4 begins in a few short weeks. Which means if you haven’t been thinking about your shipping strategy for the holiday season, it’s probably a good time to start. With federal holiday closings, a looming winter season, and an unpredictable market, it may seem overwhelming to say […]
Read More »Surviving the Summer Slump: Four Ideas to Keep Your Business Moving Forward
Summer in the United States is historically slow for most industries. With kids out of school and families taking extended time off to get out of town, most online behavior begins to dwindle – especially online sales. So how can you make the most of the “slower season” between Memorial Day (end of May) and […]
Read More »Planning for the Unexpected: Three Parts of Your Delivery Process You Can Control
As negotiations loom closer to their July 31 deadline, Teamsters and UPS are struggling to come to an agreement for some 340,000 Union workers. Not to mention, FedEx will also experience delays as they try to handle the massive volume of both carriers on their own. Although a strike hasn’t happened since 1997, it’s still […]
Read More »Tips for Choosing the Perfect Product Packaging for Your Ecommerce
As an ecommerce business, you know that getting your product to your clients efficiently and safely is key. However, receiving a package in the mail (even if it’s expected) has become an experience for many customers. This has created the opportunity for some businesses to further connect with their clients and develop a long-lasting relationship […]
Read More »5 Tax Savings Tips for Those Selling Online
*Disclaimer: This blog applies to U.S. taxes and should be used for informational purposes only. Although selling online can be more cost-effective than needing to pay overhead for a brick and mortar store, it doesn’t come without its tax requirements. Especially when you begin selling products across multiple states in the U.S., it’s important to […]
Read More »Preparing to Enter the U.S. Market? Follow our Checklist to Get Started
If you are hoping to bring your product to the U.S., you may feel as though it’s an overwhelming task. You know there are buyers here, but how do you effectively reach them while still making a profit? The good news is also the bad news: there are a ton of options when it comes […]
Read More »Tips for Cutting Costs in Your Supply Chain
Let’s face it: getting your product from point A to point B can come with a lot of fees (both obvious and hidden). We’re breaking down the four key areas of your supply chain where we recommend reviewing your costs: Operations & Shipping OK, this one is a no-brainer. Shipping product is not free. Our […]
Read More »Building an Ecommerce Business Success System from Previous Year Data
How was 2022 for your business? Did you struggle with shipping charges? Were you spending unnecessary money for your packaging? You’re not alone. It was a busy year for a lot of us, with many retailers ramping up their logistics efforts. With an ever-increasing demand for superior service, it’s imperative every business takes the time […]
Read More »2023 Holiday Schedule
Please take note of the Holiday closures for Sweetwater Logistics in 2023: Monday, January 1 New Years Eve
Read More »2022 HOLIDAY SHIPPING DEADLINES
<<UPDATED>> The following are the 2022 date and time shipping deadlines to observe to get your orders where they need to go prior to Christmas by carrier and service: NOTE – THESE ARE PRELIMNARY, ONCE CARRIERS CONFIRM (USUALLY MID-OCTOBER) THIS WILL BE UPDATED. SERVICES IN BOLD HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED 12/7, 3pm – last order in […]
Read More »You Need Barcodes, But Maybe Not UPC Codes
Every large retailer uses, “Do you have barcodes?” as a question to weed out vendors. If you don’t have them, they won’t put you into their system. But barcodes are not UPC codes. And UPC codes are something you might not even need. A barcode is a machine-readable number. These include UPC and ISBN codes, […]
Read More »What is Dim Weight – and Why Do I Care?
Dim weight is the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight. For each shipment, you are charged based on the dimensional weight or actual weight of the package—whichever is greater. This ensures that a truckload of feathers provides the carrier with an equivalent revenue as a truckload of lead ingots. […]
Read More »FedEx to Launch Picture Proof of Delivery in Time for Busy Holiday Shipping Season
FedEx will soon be offering Picture Proof of Delivery for express and ground residential deliveries in the U.S. and Canada that are released without a signature. Customers will receive a photo showing the exact location of their package once it’s delivered to their doorstep, by simply tracking their package. FedEx Express and FedEx Ground are the first nationwide carriers […]
Read More »2022 Holiday Schedule
Please take note of the Holiday closures for Sweetwater Logistics in 2022 MONDAY January 17 – Martin Luther King Jr. birthday MONDAY February 21 – Presidents’ Day MONDAY May 30 – Memorial Day MONDAY July 4 – Independence Day MONDAY September 5 – Labor Day MONDAY October 10 – Columbus Day FRIDAY November 11 – Veterans Day THURSDAY November 24 – Thanksgiving Day […]
Read More »2021 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
The following are the 2021 date and time shipping deadlines to observe to get your orders where they need to go prior to Christmas by carrier and service: 12/8, 3pm – last order in by for USPS APO/FPO/DPO 12/8, 3pm – last order in by for UPS SurePost / Fedex Smart Post 12/14, 3pm – […]
Read More »2021 Holiday Schedule
Please take note of the Holiday closures for Sweetwater Logistics in 2021 Friday, January 1 New Year’s Day Monday, January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. birthday Monday, February 15 Washington’s Birthday (observed) Monday, May 31 Memorial Day Monday, July 5 Independence Day Monday, September 6 Labor Day Monday, October 11 Columbus Day Thursday, November 11 […]
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