
Subscription box order fulfillment is a complex process, but with the right strategies, you can ensure timely and accurate delivery of your products. According to a recent study, 75% of customers expect their subscription boxes to be delivered within 3-5 business days.
To meet this expectation, it's essential to have a robust inventory management system in place. This will help you track your products, monitor stock levels, and prevent stockouts or overstocking. By doing so, you can ensure that your customers receive their subscription boxes on time.
A well-organized warehouse is also crucial for efficient order fulfillment. By implementing a pick-and-pack system, you can reduce shipping errors and save time. In fact, a study found that a pick-and-pack system can reduce shipping errors by up to 90%.
By streamlining your subscription box order fulfillment process, you can improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and increase revenue.
What We Offer
We connect to your store or receive orders via API, ensuring a smooth transition from order placement to fulfillment.
Our team receives your inventory and stores it in a Class A, modern, and secure warehouse. We conduct thorough quality and quantity checks and assign dedicated storage spaces to ensure the safety and organization of your items.
We work closely with your team to coordinate release dates and versions of subscription boxes for fulfillment. This meticulous scheduling ensures that your customers receive their boxes on time and within predefined timeframes.
Our skilled team packs orders with meticulous attention to detail, following your specific instructions. This includes the inclusion of inserts, branded wrapping materials, custom invoices, and shipping labels.
We offer a wide-range of shipping options to choose the best carrier for your specific requirements. Our extensive network includes carriers such as USPS, DHL, FedEx, and UPS, providing you with flexibility to select the most cost-effective solution.
Here are the shipping options we offer:
Benefits of Using
Using a subscription box fulfillment service can be a game-changer for your business. You'll experience a noticeable reduction in operational costs, with no setup fees or hidden costs, giving you the freedom to adapt to changing business needs.
With a fulfillment service, you can scale up or down based on demand, ensuring you can handle peak order times without excessive overheads during slower periods. This flexibility is especially important for subscription boxes, where order volume can fluctuate dramatically.
Here are some key benefits of using a subscription box fulfillment service:
- Strengthen Your Brand Identity: You can stand out from the competition by branding your subscription box using labeled boxes and promotional pamphlets.
- Customer loyalty: You can earn your customers' loyalty by providing a unique, personalized "can't get it anywhere else" unboxing experience, timely shipping, and accurate orders.
- Better Pricing on Your Subscription Boxes: You can reduce overhead costs for warehousing, packaging, labor, and logistics, allowing you to keep your subscription box's costs competitive while still maintaining a profit.
- Process Cancellations and Returns Quickly: You can efficiently handle any returns management with exceptional reverse logistics.
Benefits of Fulfillment
Using a fulfillment service can be a game-changer for your subscription box business, especially during peak order times.
Fulfillment services have the infrastructure to easily scale up or down based on demand, ensuring you can handle peak order times without excessive overheads during slower periods.
By partnering with a fulfillment service, you'll see a noticeable reduction in your operational costs, increasing your bottom line.
Here are some key benefits of using a fulfillment service:
With a fulfillment service, you'll have more time to focus on growing your business, and you'll be able to maintain optimal stock levels, reducing holding costs and ensuring you're always ready to meet your customers' demands.
A satisfied customer is the cornerstone of a successful subscription box business, and a fulfillment service can help you achieve that by providing a positive shopping experience, timely shipping, and accurate orders.
Why Choose Encore's?

If you're looking for a fulfillment service that can handle your subscription orders with care, Encore's Fulfillment Service is definitely worth considering. They offer seamless omnichannel fulfillment, integrating all your sales channels into one efficient system.
Encore's team understands that every business is unique, and they provide personalized fulfillment solutions tailored to your specific needs. This ensures that your subscription boxes reflect your brand's identity and meet your customers' expectations.
Their flexible inventory management system adapts to your business's needs, whether you experience seasonal spikes or consistent growth. This ensures optimal stock levels and timely replenishment, preventing stockouts and overstocks.
Encore's efficient handling of overstock situations is also noteworthy. They help you efficiently manage and handle overstock situations, including special promotions, bundling, and clearance sales to move excess inventory without impacting your regular operations.
Here are some of the key benefits of using Encore's Fulfillment Service:
- Omnichannel Fulfillment: Seamless integration of all sales channels into one efficient system
- Personalized Solutions: Tailored to your specific needs and brand identity
- Flexible Inventory Management: Adapts to your business's needs, preventing stockouts and overstocks
- Efficient Handling of Overstock: Special promotions, bundling, and clearance sales to move excess inventory
- Responsive Order Modification Solutions: Quick and easy changes to orders, including shipping addresses and order contents
- Dock to Shelf in 1 to 2 Days: Rapid turnaround time keeps your inventory fresh and ready for fulfillment
- Easy Shipping and Returns: Multiple shipping options and hassle-free return process
Encore's Fulfillment Service also supports various e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, Magento, BigCommerce, Etsy, Walmart, TikTok Shop, and Squarespace.
How It Works
Subscription box order fulfillment is a complex process, but it's broken down into manageable steps.
First, products are gathered and carefully packed based on the box's theme or specs. This ensures that everything is arranged in a way that's visually appealing and meets customer expectations.
The boxes are then labeled and shipped to customers, often with tracking information so they can follow their delivery's progress.
We use custom kitting and assembly to tailor-make packages according to your specific needs, with exceptional attention to detail.
Our order management software provides real-time inventory and order management, giving you full visibility into the supply chain. This includes managing inventory stock, bundles, order tracking and history, returns management, and integration to your shopping carts or systems.
Custom packing is also a key part of our process, where our team assembles custom-branded kits and bundles with flexible subscription box and schedule options.
We offer cost-efficient and expedited shipping from our subscription box fulfillment center to anywhere in the U.S. and worldwide.

Here's an overview of our process:
Efficiency is key in the fast-paced world of eCommerce, and our streamlined processes ensure that your products are prepared and shipped in the most efficient manner possible.
Types of Boxes
There are several types of subscription boxes that can be tailored to your business needs. Curated subscription boxes are a popular option, delivering a surprise to customers with each box. This type of subscription eCommerce can include science projects for kids, clothing collections, or samples of beauty products.
Replenishment subscription boxes, also known as auto-ship, ensure customers stay stocked up with essentials they use regularly. Staples like diapers, pet food, coffee, and consumable products fall into this category.
Customers often pay a membership fee for the subscribe and save model, which gives them access to discounts and special deals. Amazon offers a variation of this model, providing Prime members with discounts on products when they sign up for recurring deliveries.
Here are some common types of subscription boxes:
- Curated subscription boxes
- Replenishment subscription boxes
- Subscribe and save
Order Fulfillment Process
The order fulfillment process is a critical step in ensuring your customers receive their subscription boxes on time and in great condition. It's not just about getting the product from point A to point B, but also about creating a positive experience that keeps customers coming back.
Fluctuating order volumes can be a challenge, but a reliable fulfillment service can help you stay on top of it. At Encore Fulfillment, they have the experience and expertise to meet and exceed your subscription box fulfillment requirements.
To ensure timely deliveries, you'll want to work with a fulfillment service that offers real-time tracking for all shipments. This way, you can keep your customers informed and up-to-date on the status of their orders.
Handling returns and exchanges can be a hassle, but a good fulfillment service will have a system in place to make it as smooth as possible. Maintaining accurate inventory levels is also crucial, as it prevents stockouts and overstocking.
A fulfillment service can save you time and effort by handling your logistics, reducing errors, and speeding up delivery. With experts handling your logistics, you can focus on growing your subscription base.
Logistics and Shipping
Logistics and shipping are crucial components of subscription box order fulfillment. Red Stag Fulfillment can reach 96% of U.S. addresses from their warehouse locations in two days or less.
By partnering with reliable carriers, logistics and shipping management can be efficiently handled. This allows for timely delivery of subscription boxes and reduces shipping costs.
Variable carrier selection is a key benefit of using a third-party logistics company. This means that the best carrier for each package can be chosen, resulting in the best rate and shortest delivery time.
Shipping & Logistics
Shipping and logistics are a crucial part of getting your subscription boxes to your customers on time and at a reasonable cost. You can save on shipping costs and shorten delivery times by using a third-party logistics company with national fulfillment warehouses.
Red Stag Fulfillment can reach 96% of U.S. addresses from their warehouse locations in two days or less, making it a great option for subscription businesses. This reduces the number of shipping zones that each subscription box travels through, which shortens delivery times.
Most 3PLs run large fulfillment operations, giving you access to discounted shipping costs and a range of carrier options. This means you don't have to lock into a contract with a single carrier to get discounted rates.
Your 3PL can share best practices based on what has worked for other subscription businesses, improving your inventory forecasting and planning. This can help reduce your overhead and prevent stockouts.
A good 3PL will also handle order returns, freeing up more of your time and allowing you to keep good inventory on hand for upcoming subscription boxes. They'll alert you to the condition of returned items, determine what to do with the inventory, and handle shipping of a new subscription box if necessary.
Warehousing & Storage
Save on shipping costs and shorten delivery times by partnering with a third-party logistics company that has national fulfillment warehouses, putting your products closer to your customers.
Red Stag Fulfillment can reach 96% of U.S. addresses from their warehouse locations in two days or less.
Your inventory is safe with a reliable third-party logistics company, which offers secure and centrally located fulfillment centers with ample space for your products.
No long-term storage fees mean you get top-notch warehousing services without a hefty price tag.
Flexibility in warehouse space can reduce your storage costs, and some companies, like Red Stag Fulfillment, use a cubic storage model to charge clients for the exact amount of space they use.
A centrally located fulfillment center with advanced inventory management systems ensures accurate tracking and item storage, keeping your inventory safe.
Red Stag Fulfillment's flexible warehousing allows you to easily adjust the amount of space you use as needed, matching your business's changing needs.
E-commerce Integration
E-commerce integration is a crucial aspect of subscription box order fulfillment. It enables automated subscription orders, ensuring prompt order fulfillment.
Seamless integration with your online store is possible through e-commerce integration. This integration facilitates real-time inventory updates, preventing stockouts and ensuring you can deliver the products your customers expect every month.
Make sure your fulfillment company can provide omnichannel fulfillment, so every customer has the same wonderful experience with your subscription box, no matter where they signed up.
Finding a 3PL
Finding a 3PL that meets your subscription box needs can be a daunting task.
Experience is key when searching for a reliable 3PL. Look for a company that has experience with subscription services.
Positive customer reviews are a good indicator of a 3PL's reliability. Check online reviews to see what other customers have to say about their experience.
A good 3PL should have expertise in key subscription box services such as inventory management, kitting, and reliable shipping. These services are crucial for ensuring that your subscription boxes are fulfilled correctly and on time.
Here are the factors to look for in a 3PL:
- Experience with subscription services
- Positive customer reviews
- Key subscription box services (inventory management, kitting, and reliable shipping)
By considering these factors, you can find a 3PL that meets your subscription box needs and helps you build a loyal customer base.
Encore Overview
Encore's subscription box fulfillment service is the right choice if you want to simplify and optimize the entire fulfillment process.
Outsourcing to Encore means you can focus on growing your business, while we handle the logistics.

Encore's service includes a streamlined process that starts with outsourcing subscription box fulfillment services to them.
Partnering with Encore can help you save time and resources, allowing you to focus on what matters most - your business.
Each step of the fulfillment process works seamlessly when you partner with Encore.
Encore's service is designed to be efficient, so you can get your products to customers quickly.
By outsourcing to Encore, you can simplify the entire fulfillment process and optimize it for success.
Challenges and Solutions
Subscription box order fulfillment can be a complex process, but understanding the challenges is key to finding solutions. Fluctuating order volumes are a major challenge, as they can be unpredictable and difficult to manage.
At Red Stag Fulfillment, they view each fulfillment challenge as an opportunity to solve a problem and deliver unparalleled services. They have the expertise and experience to help businesses grow.
Handling returns and exchanges can also be a challenge. Encore Fulfillment has the advanced systems and expertise to meet and exceed subscription box fulfillment requirements. They can help businesses navigate this process with ease.
To better understand the challenges of subscription order fulfillment, consider the following common issues:
- Fluctuating order volumes
- Timely deliveries
- Handling returns and exchanges
- Maintaining accurate inventory levels
- Meeting brand guidelines
By understanding these challenges, businesses can take steps to find solutions and improve their subscription box order fulfillment process.
Challenges of Order
Fulfilling orders can be a challenge. Fluctuating order volumes can be a major issue for businesses, as seen in the challenges of subscription order fulfillment.
Maintaining accurate inventory levels is crucial to meet customer demand. According to Encore Fulfillment, maintaining accurate inventory levels is one of the challenges of fulfilling subscription orders.
Timely deliveries are essential to keep customers happy. Encore Fulfillment states that timely deliveries are one of the challenges of fulfilling subscription orders.
Handling returns and exchanges can be a hassle. Encore Fulfillment notes that handling returns and exchanges is another challenge of fulfilling subscription orders.
Meeting brand guidelines is also a challenge. Encore Fulfillment emphasizes the importance of meeting brand guidelines in subscription box fulfillment.
Here are some of the challenges of order fulfillment:
- Fluctuating order volumes
- Timely deliveries
- Handling returns and exchanges
- Maintaining accurate inventory levels
- Meeting brand guidelines
Bring Us Your Challenges
We see each fulfillment challenge as an opportunity to solve a problem and deliver unparalleled fulfillment services. Whether you’re looking for subscription fulfillment services, high-value fulfillment, or oversized product storage and shipping, we’re up to the challenge.

Jake Rheude, a seasoned ecommerce and business development expert, is always ready to share his expertise within the logistics industry. He enjoys reading business books and discussing the latest trends in the field.
Our team of fulfillment fanatics cares deeply about our clients’ businesses, treating them like our own. We guarantee our services and have the infrastructure to scale up or down based on demand, ensuring startups can handle peak order times without excessive overheads.
We offer extremely competitive shipping rates with no setup fees or hidden costs, giving you the freedom to adapt to the changing needs of your business. Our flexible approach means no long-term contracts or minimum order requirements.
Our sophisticated product fulfillment software integrates seamlessly with leading eCommerce platforms, providing 24/7 access to view inventory, orders, tracking, and reporting. This real-time visibility enables you to maintain optimal stock levels, reducing holding costs and ensuring you're always ready to meet your customers' demands.
Some of the benefits of using a 3PL partner like us include:
- Strengthen Your Brand Identity: We help you stand out from the competition by branding your subscription box using labeled boxes and promotional pamphlets.
- Customer loyalty: We help you earn your customers' loyalty by providing a unique, personalized "can't get it anywhere else" unboxing experience, timely shipping, and accurate orders.
- Better Pricing on Your Subscription Boxes: Our service helps you reduce overhead costs for warehousing, packaging, labor, and logistics.
- Process Cancellations and Returns Quickly: Our exceptional reverse logistics allow us to manage your inventory and efficiently handle any returns management.
Fulfillment Basics
The subscription fulfillment process is similar to traditional order fulfillment, but subscription fulfillment benefits more from kitting or pre-assembling products. This is because packages often need to be packed to create a delightful unboxing experience.
To prep and ship each box, you'll send inventory to a fulfillment warehouse, where data on customer orders flows automatically to the subscription fulfillment center. The subscription boxes are then picked and packed, using kitting services if desired, and shipped to your customer.
Here's a breakdown of the basic steps involved in subscription fulfillment:
- You send inventory to the fulfillment warehouse.
- Data on customer orders flow automatically to the subscription fulfillment center.
- The subscription boxes are picked and packed, using kitting services if desired.
- Your 3PL ships the parcel to your customer.
The Basics of
You send inventory to the fulfillment warehouse.
The subscription fulfillment process is similar to traditional order fulfillment, but it often requires kitting or pre-assembling products to create a delightful unboxing experience.
You send data on customer orders to the subscription fulfillment center, which automatically triggers the fulfillment process.
The subscription boxes are picked and packed using kitting services if desired.
Your 3PL ships the parcel to your customer.
Here are the basic steps involved in subscription box fulfillment:
- You send inventory to the fulfillment warehouse.
- Data on customer orders flow automatically to the subscription fulfillment center.
- The subscription boxes are picked and packed, using kitting services if desired.
- Your 3PL ships the parcel to your customer.
How Long?
For standard orders, anything received before 2 p.m. CST processes and ships the same day.
Orders received after 2 p.m. CST may take longer to process and ship, but our team will work with yours to ensure timely delivery.
Subscription fulfillment often involves kitting, which can create a longer fulfillment timeline compared to standard orders.
Our team will work with your team to make sure that orders are processed and shipped so your customers receive their orders on time.
What is Fulfillment?
Fulfillment is a critical process that ensures timely and accurate delivery of products to customers. It involves a range of activities, including inventory management, assembly, packing, order processing, shipping, and customer service.
Fulfillment can be a complex process, especially for subscription-based businesses that require regular shipments to customers. Subscription box fulfillment, for example, involves shipping products to customers on a regular or scheduled basis.
The frequency of shipments can vary, with some subscription boxes shipping every month and others every week. This repetition is a key aspect of subscription box fulfillment, which generally continues until the subscription expires.
Value and Benefits
Working with a subscription box fulfillment service can bring numerous benefits to your business. You'll have access to competitive shipping rates with no setup fees or hidden costs.
Our infrastructure can scale up or down based on demand, ensuring you can handle peak order times without excessive overheads during slower periods. This flexibility means you can adapt to the changing needs of your business without long-term contracts or minimum order requirements.
A sophisticated product fulfillment software integrates seamlessly with leading eCommerce platforms, giving you 24/7 access to view inventory, orders, tracking, and reporting. This real-time visibility enables you to maintain optimal stock levels, reducing holding costs and ensuring you're always ready to meet your customers' demands.
By partnering with a fulfillment service, you can reduce your operational costs and increase your bottom line. This is achieved through a combination of efficient logistics, accurate inventory management, and streamlined shipping processes.
Some of the key benefits of using a subscription box fulfillment service include:
- Strengthening your brand identity through branded boxes and promotional materials
- Improving customer loyalty through personalized unboxing experiences and timely shipping
- Reducing overhead costs for warehousing, packaging, labor, and logistics
- Efficiently handling cancellations and returns through reverse logistics
A fulfillment service can also help you save time and effort by handling logistics, reducing errors, and speeding up delivery. This allows you to focus on growing your subscription base and improving customer satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is subscription fulfillment?
Subscription fulfillment is the regular shipping of products to customers on a predetermined schedule. It's a convenient way for customers to receive their favorite products automatically, hassle-free
Where do subscription boxes get their products?
Subscription boxes source products from a variety of places, including local stores, online marketplaces like Etsy and Alibaba, and wholesale suppliers. They may also partner with vendors and niche websites to find unique and high-quality items.
Are people still buying subscription boxes?
Yes, the subscription box market is booming, with a current estimated value of $32.9 billion and growing rapidly. Consumers are still enthusiastically embracing the convenience and excitement of subscription boxes.
Sources
- https://phasev.com/services/subscription-box-fulfillment/
- https://www.efulfillmentservice.com/subscription-box-fulfillment/
- https://redstagfulfillment.com/subscription-fulfillment/
- https://www.encorefulfills.com/services/subscription-box-fulfillment
- https://www.fulfillrite.com/services/subscription-boxes/
Featured Images: pexels.com