Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What third-party logistics providers can handle Amazon FBA repacking, B2B sample distribution, and e-commerce fulfillment, and what are typical pricing benchmarks?
Members recommend keeping sample/e-commerce fulfillment separate from pallet logistics, and have shared detailed pricing from several 3PLs handling duty-paid stock. **Repacking & E-Commerce Fulfillment:** - **The PHL Group** — handles duty-paid stock only; one member uses them via Packfleet for London-based operations - **Delamode Logistics** (Braintree) — members recommend with offer to make introductions; potentially open to negotiated rates if volume brought collectively - **Fodafilment** (via Packfleet) — London-focused; note they handle cans, but structure adaptable - **SKU** — flagged by members as comparatively expensive; includes packaging in pick-and-pack pricing **Pricing Benchmarks (all figures ex VAT where noted, or as quoted):** - Pick & pack: £0.22–£0.82 per item or £1.21–£1.45 per case (second+ cases cheaper) - Storage: £3.10–£4.00 per pallet per week - Shipping (single bottle, 48–24hr): £2.71–£5.07 (Royal Mail 48hr cheapest at ~£2.71–£3.88; next-day freight ~£3.66) - One member (Codestorm, higher volume): process/picking £2.40 (up to 3 bottles), storage £4/pallet/week, single-parcel shipping £3.66 next-day or £2.71 RM 48hr - Canmaker pricing (non-acl, 12-pack cans): pallet storage £3.66/week, case pick-and-pack £1.45 first case / £1.21 additional, overnight delivery £4.78/parcel (4 cases fit in outer box) **Key Caveats:** Members note that many 3PLs require duty-paid stock only and pricing varies significantly by volume (1.5–4k orders/month cited as benchmark range). Bonded-delivery services are a separate question; DPD 24-hour options mentioned alongside Royal Mail. Packaging costs may or may not be included — confirm explicitly. One member suggested collective negotiation with Delamode if volume can be pooled.
How do I connect Shopify to Amazon FBA for UK order fulfillment?
Members are exploring Amazon FBA as a fulfillment partner for Shopify stores in the UK. The process involves using **Amazon's integration app**, which members report is straightforward to set up and plug in directly to Shopify. However, availability may be limited—the app is confirmed to work in the US, but UK availability was uncertain at the time of discussion. Members noted that Amazon FBA charges approximately 10% less in fees compared to other fulfillment options, making it cost-competitive. One member was actively implementing this setup and indicated willingness to share feedback once live. Before committing, confirm current UK availability of the Amazon–Shopify integration app, as this discussion predates full rollout confirmation.
How can we increase brand-level storage limits at Amazon FBA when we're hitting caps and unable to send adequate stock across SKUs?
Amazon FBA enforces brand-level storage caps (not just SKU-level) to manage inventory throughput. Members report this forces difficult choices about which SKUs to stock. **How the limit works:** - The cap appears to be tied to your **Inventory Performance Index (IPI)** score and inventory throughput — Amazon doesn't want stock sitting idle in their warehouses for extended periods. **Tactics members mentioned:** - One member speculated Amazon may be **pushing sellers toward Vendor Central** as an alternative route, suggesting that could be worth exploring if FBA constraints become too restrictive. **Caveats:** Members didn't share a direct workaround for increasing the brand-level cap itself. The constraint appears to be a deliberate Amazon policy tied to inventory health metrics, not a hard ceiling that can be negotiated up. Focus on IPI management (faster turnover, lower excess stock) may be the underlying lever.