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The first P4Markets warehouse goes live

Hardly ended the successful year 2022, we can already announce the first success story of the new year. Because on 01.01.2023 we took over a warehouse of our former partner. This is synonymous with the first milestone on the way to becoming a fully-fledged distributor. We know that our first warehouse seems to be a small step, but this does not cloud our joy about what we have achieved. A lot of manpower and long working days were necessary to implement this project.

In the future, we would like to further expand our own logistics - many exciting projects are planned for this. Below you can read more about our beginnings and our plans for the future.

About fullfilment and distribution

The fashion industry is a complex and ever-evolving field that requires a great deal of coordination and planning in order to be successful. One of the most critical areas of focus within the fashion industry is fulfillment and distribution, as this is what allows brands and retailers to get their products into the hands of consumers.

Fulfillment refers to the process of getting products from the manufacturer to the retailer or customer. This can include everything from sourcing raw materials and designing the product, to manufacturing and packaging the final product. Distribution, on the other hand, refers to the logistics of getting the product from the manufacturer or warehouse to the customer.

Both fulfillment and distribution are critical components of the fashion industry, and they are closely intertwined. For example, if a fashion brand is unable to fulfill orders in a timely manner, it can lead to stock outs and lost sales. Similarly, if a brand is unable to distribute its products effectively, it can lead to poor customer service and alack of brand loyalty.

One of the most important trends in the fashion industry today is the move towards faster fulfillment and distribution. With the rise of e-commerce and the ability to purchase products online, customers are becoming increasingly impatient and expect to receive their orders as quickly as possible. To meet these demands, fashion brands and retailers are looking for ways to streamline their fulfillment and distribution processes to get products to customers faster.

One of the ways that fashion brands are achieving faster fulfillment and distribution is through the use of advanced technologies such as automation and robotics. These technologies can help to speed up the manufacturing process and make it more efficient, which can help to reduce lead times and get products to customers faster.

Another trend that is gaining popularity in the fashion industry is the use of third-party logistics providers (3PLs) for fulfillment and distribution. These companies specialize in logistics and can help fashion brands and retailers to manage their inventory, ship products to customers, and handle returns more efficiently.

This is exactly what we are doing now!

What are ZFS and FbAY?

Quick reminder - another option for logistics in the online marketplace business are the logistics solutions from Zalando and About You. More specifically, these are Zalando ZFS and About You FbAY. Although there are different models, the basic idea is always the same - as a partner of one of the two online marketplaces, you ship your goods to their warehouse. In addition to storing and shipping the goods, they also take care of accepting and processing returns. This makes the online marketplace connection as well as the online platform integration much easier, so that you can already present your goods on the Zalando marketplace as well as the About You marketplace after a few weeks. You can read more about this in our articles about Zalando ZFS and About You FbAY.

What were our beginnings like?

Initially, the basic idea was to sell goods on e-commerce platforms. Online marketplaces have enjoyed great popularity for years - they offer goods from different merchants compressed on one sales platform and thus a large selection. We didn't want to miss out on this trend. Initially, we concentrated accordingly on presenting our goods and those of our partners on the online sales platforms. Without our own logistics, we were forced to use services. This resulted in a partnership with our logistics service provider, who took over the storage, shipping of goods and acceptance of returns for us until the end of last year.

Ultimately, the fashion industry is a complex and ever-changing field, and fulfillment and distribution are critical components of its success. By understanding the trends and utilizing advanced technologies, fashion brands and retailers can better fulfill and distribute their products, which can ultimately lead to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

What are the advantages of having our own logistics?

There are several advantages to giving the logistics to a third-party service provider (3PL) in the fashion industry. Some of these include:

1. Cost savings: 3PLs often have economies of scale, which means they can offer lower shipping rates and other logistics services than a business would be able to negotiate on its         own.     This can lead to significant cost savings for the business.

2. Increased efficiency: 3PLs specialize in logistics and have the expertise and resources to handle a wide range of logistics tasks, such as shipping, warehousing, and inventory     management. This can lead to increased efficiency and a reduction in lead times.

3. Greater flexibility: by outsourcing logistics to a 3PL, businesses have the flexibility to scale up or down their logistics operations as needed, without having to invest in additional          resources or infrastructure.

4. Improved customer service: 3PLs can help to improve customer service by handling tasks such as order fulfillment and returns management. This can help to increase customer     satisfaction and loyalty.

5. Focus on core business: By outsourcing logistics to a 3PL, businesses can focus on their core competencies, such as product development and marketing, rather than having to         devote     resources to logistics tasks.

6. Access to technology: 3PLs often have access to advanced technology and systems that can help to streamline logistics operations and provide real-time tracking and visibility     of shipments.

Overall, outsourcing logistics to a 3PL can help fashion businesses to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve customer service, which can lead to increased sales and profitability.

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What does our own logistics mean and how exactly does it benefit us and our partners?
Having our own logistics definitely offers some advantages:
- Our own ERP system
- Better warehouse management
- Detailed reports and comprehensive control
- Complete solution from incoming goods to returns management
- High flexibility and savings potential

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In short: everything from one source - centralized and better organized processes!

Our way from online marketplace business to distributor

You could already read a lot about our beginnings in e-commerce. After successful years in the online marketplace business, the idea matured to also offer our own logistics. But how did this decision come about? In addition to the advantages mentioned above, the keyword is all-in-one. We wanted to be the all-in-one solution for us as well as for our partners, which means a unique selling proposition in the e-commerce market. Not only do we present our goods and those of our partners on all major online marketplaces, we also offer a suitable logistics solution. Everything from one source - this is the goal we want to realize for ourselves and our partners.

We have taken the first step towards this goal with our warehouse. We want to design a logistics process in which the acceptance, storage and shipping of goods as well as the processing of returns is smooth and uncomplicated. Smart - reliable - good is the motto.
Before this could happen, many hours of work and manpower were required over the past few months. After all, taking over the warehouse proved to be quite difficult. Bit by bit, we were able to get an overview, restructure the warehouse, find new motivated employees and thus optimize the logistics processes.

Online marketplaces and the e-commerce market remain our passion

With the latest developments, we are pursuing the goal of becoming a fully-fledged online distributor in addition to our core business. Of course, we will not neglect our bread and butter business. Our main activity remains the online marketplace business, accordingly presenting and selling goods on online sales platforms. With the takeover of the warehouse, we are diversifying our areas of activity and would like to achieve a unique selling proposition in the e-commerce industry. Our all-in-one solution therefore no longer consists only of the online marketplace connection as well as integration, maintenance and support of the articles, but also of the online marketplace logistics.

We continue to work on our next goals

We have set ourselves ambitious goals for 2023. In the area of distribution, we were already able to take an important step at the beginning of the year. However, we do not want to rest on our laurels. On the way to becoming a fully-fledged online distributor, we want to further expand our logistics and have set ourselves a lot of goals for this year. Of course we will keep you informed about new developments and plans.

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German Version

Das erste P4Markets Lager geht live

Kaum endete das erfolgreiche Jahr 2022, so können wir bereits die erste Erfolgsmeldung des neuen Jahres verkünden. Denn zum 01.01.2023 übernahmen wir ein Lager unseres ehemaligen Partners. Das ist gleichbedeutend mit dem ersten Meilenstein auf demWeg zum vollwertigen Distributor. Wir wissen, dass unser erstes Lager lediglich ein kleiner Schritt ist, jedoch trübt dies nicht unsere Freude über das Erreichte. Viel Manpower und lange Arbeitstage waren nötig, um dieses Projekt umzusetzen. In Zukunft möchten wir unsere eigene Logistik weiter ausbauen - dafür sind viele spannende Projekte geplant. Im Folgenden erfährst du mehr über unsere Anfänge und unsere Pläne für die Zukunft.

Wie waren unsere Anfänge?

Zunächst war die Grundidee, Waren auf E-Commerce Plattformen zu verkaufen. Online Marktplätze erfreuen sich seit Jahren großer Beliebtheit - sie bieten auf einer Verkaufsplattform komprimiert Waren von unterschiedlichen Händlern und somit eine große Auswahl an. Diesen Trend wollten wir nicht verpassen. Zunächst konzentrierten wir uns dementsprechend darauf, unsere Waren und die unserer Partner auf den Online Verkaufsplattformen zu präsentieren. Ohne eigene Logistik waren wir dabei gezwungen, Dienstleistungen in Anspruch zu nehmen. Daraus entstand eine Partnerschaft zu unserem Logistikdienstleister, der bis Ende letzten Jahres die Lagerung, das Verschicken der Waren sowie die Annahme der Retouren für uns übernahm.

Was sind ZFS und FbAY?

Kurzer Reminder - eine weitere Möglichkeit der Logistik im Online Marktplatz Business sind die Logistik Lösungen von Zalando und About You. Konkreter handelt es sich hierbei um Zalando ZFS und About You FbAY. Zwar gibt es unterschiedliche Modelle, allerdings ist die Grundidee immer die Gleiche - als Partner einer der beiden Online Marktplätze verschickst du deine Ware an deren Lager. Sie übernehmen neben der Lagerung und dem Verschicken der Ware auch die Annahme und Bearbeitung der Retouren. Somit gestaltet sich die Online Marktplatz Anbindung als auch die Online Plattform Integration deutlich leichter, sodass du bereits nach wenigen Wochen deine Waren auf dem Zalando Marktplatz sowie dem About You Marktplatz präsentieren kannst. Mehr darüber kannst du in unseren Beiträgen über Zalando ZFS und About You FbAY erfahren.

Welche Vorteile bietet eine eigene Logistik?

Was bedeutet eine eigene Logistik und wie genau nützt diese uns und unsere Partnern?
Eine eigene Logistik bietet definitiv einige Vorteile:

·      Eigenes ERP-System

·      Bessere Lagerverwaltung 

·      Detaillierte Berichte und umfängliche Kontrolle

·      Gesamtlösung vom Wareneingang bis zum Retourenmanagement

·      Hohe Flexibilität und Einsparpotentiale

Kurz gesagt: alles aus einer Hand - zentralisierte und besser organisierte Prozesse!

Unser Weg vom Online Marktplatz Business zum Distributor

Du konntest bereits viel über unsere Anfänge im E-Commerce lesen. Nach erfolgreichen Jahren im Online Marktplatz Business reifte die Idee, auch eine eigene Logistik anzubieten. Doch wie kam es zu dieser Entscheidung? Neben den oben genannten Vorteilen heißt das Stichwort All-in-One. Wir wollten für uns sowie für unsere Partner die All-in-One Lösung sein, die ein Alleinstellungsmerkmal im E-Commerce Markt bedeutet. Wir präsentieren somit nicht nur unsere Waren sowie die unserer Partner auf allen großen Online Marktplätzen, wir bieten dazu auch eine passende Logistik-Lösung an. Alles aus einer Hand - dieses Ziel möchten wir für uns und unsere Partner realisieren.

Dafür haben wir mit unserem Lager den ersten Schritt getan. Wir möchten einen Logistikprozess gestalten, in dem die Annahme, die Lagerung und das Verschicken der Ware sowie die Bearbeitung der Retouren reibungslos und unkompliziert abläuft. Smart - zuverlässig - gut heißt die Devise. Bevor es dazu kam, waren in den letzten Monaten viele Arbeitsstunden und Manpower nötig. Denn die Übernahme des Lagers gestaltete sich durchaus schwierig. Nach und nach konnten wir uns einen Überblick verschaffen, das Lager umstrukturieren, neue motivierte Arbeitnehmer finden und damit die Logistik-Prozesse optimieren.

Unser Steckenpferd bleiben die Online Marktplätze und der E-Commerce Markt

Mit den jüngsten Entwicklungen verfolgen wir das Ziel, neben unserem Kerngeschäft, ein vollwertiger Online Distributor zu werden. Dabei werden wir selbst verständlich unser Brot und Butter Geschäft nicht vernachlässigen. Unsere Haupttätigkeit bleibt das Online Marktplatz Business, dementsprechend das Präsentieren und Verkaufen von Waren auf Online Verkaufsplattformen. Mit der Übernahme des Lagers diversifizieren wir unsere Tätigkeitsbereiche und möchten somit ein Alleinstellungsmerkmal in der E-Commerce Branche erreichen. Unsere All-in-One Lösung besteht daher nicht mehr nur aus der Online Marktplatz Anbindung sowie Integration, dem Pflegen und Betreuen der Artikel, sondern auch aus der Online Marktplatz Logistik.

Wir arbeiten weiter an unseren nächsten Zielen

Wir haben uns für das Jahr 2023 viel vorgenommen. Im Bereich Distribution konnten wir bereits zum Anfang des Jahres einen wichtigen Schritt machen. Darauf möchten wir uns allerdings nicht ausruhen. Auf dem Weg zum vollwertigen Online Distributor möchten wir unsere Logistik weiter ausbauen und haben uns für dieses Jahr viel vorgenommen. Selbstverständlich halten wir dich hier über neue Entwicklungen und Pläne auf dem Laufenden.

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