Problem

Having been let down before, Adam need a reliable 3PL to handle launch-day demand for compliance-heavy grooming stock without eating into his margins or his charity commitment.

Solution

We took on Kick The Stigma's fulfilment operation from launch, introducing batch-tracked, FIFO stock control, reliable courier partnerships, and low-cost bundle fulfilment for The Confidence Kit.

Results

Orders go out smoothly, giving Adam the headspace to grow the product range and expand his charity partnerships, all while protecting the margins behind his 5% donation commitment.

The Brand

A male grooming brand that helps men feel as good as they look, Adam is giving men simple, effective hair care that also does something bigger...

Logistics Insibnbnder Assets

Before founding Kick The Stigma, Adam spent years running a barbershop which, if you've never done it, actually involves a whole lot more than just cutting hair.

As well as giving their clients haircuts, Adam and the team at Raisa’s Barbers were creating a safe space for anyone and everyone to talk. About their good week, their rubbish week, and everything else in-between.

But a haircut only happens once a month, and whatever's going on in a man's head doesn't run on the same schedule. Adam wanted a way to be there for these men daily, not just every few weeks in the chair. That's where the idea for Kick The Stigma began.

With each product’s packaging sharing motivational messages, Adam is giving guys an opportunity to stop, every morning, and remind themselves it’s okay to talk.

As well as offering men some morning affirmations, Kick The Stigma is pushing to destigmatise mental health struggles on an even bigger scale by supporting national charities – with 5% of every sale supporting the men’s mental health support group Andy’s Man Club.

“Every man has a daily grooming routine to look and feel more confident to start the day, and KTS serves as a reminder that mental health matters too."

- Adam, Founder of Kick The Stigma

The Problem

Kick The Stigma Had Big Things On The Horizon, And Couldn't Afford To Let Fulfilment Hold Him Back

Most of the founders who come through our doors have only reached out to a 3PL once things have already started to go wrong – a rocky peak season, or a launch that went pear-shaped.

Adam didn’t want to wait around until something broke before he outsourced his fulfilment. He could see exactly where a brand like his was heading and wanted the operational side to be fully functioning when things took off.

“I 'd never done ecommerce before, and so it's been a baptism of fire. You never know when sales are going to come in, and how much customers are buying in one go, and so forecasting has been tricky [...] I also didn't have space in my flat for a bigger inventory order!"

- Adam, Founder of Kick The Stigma

That unpredictability (and an ever-shrinking living space) was exactly what worried Adam. He knew a brand with such a strong message has potential to catch on fast, and didn’t want to get caught out when it did.

A fast-growing ecommerce brand is every founder’s dream, but without the fulfilment structure in place to support you, it can be hard to keep the momentum sustainable. So, while outsourcing as a startup isn’t the most conventional route, for Adam and Kick The Stigma, it’s proved worthwhile.

Reliable Delivery Guarenteed

First impressions matter, and a successful first order can be the difference between a one-off customer and a lifelong fan. Adam needed shipping to be the one part of the journey that never let him down. Through our trusted courier partnerships, we ship Kick The Stigma's parcels safely and on time, every time, helping Adam build a reputation customers can rely on. When deadlines get tight, our long-standing courier relationships mean we can negotiate later cut-off times for next-day delivery, keeping Adam's customers stocked up without the wait.

Kits and Bundles Made Easy

After realising customers wanted a full routine rather than a single product, Adam launched The Confidence Kit, a three-stage grooming bundle built from his bestsellers. Bundles aren't actually complicated to fulfil, but some 3PLs charge as if they are, treating multi-item orders as a novelty and passing that cost straight to the customer. We don't think expert fulfilment needs to cost the earth, so we've kept The Confidence Kit at the lowest possible fulfilment price, letting Adam protect his margins and keep his 5% charity donation intact on every single order.

Compliant Beauty Fulfilment

Skincare and grooming products come with their own rulebook: shelf lives, batch numbers and compliance rules that catch out anyone without the right protocols in place. Adam put real care into creating the perfect product, so every unit of Kick The Stigma stock is tracked by batch on our digital system, letting us pick on a FIFO basis to keep inventory fresh. If a batch issue ever came up, we'd be able to trace exactly where that stock came from and where it went, rather than playing a guessing game.

Why Kick The Stigma Chose GNOC

After being let down by another 3PL provider, Adam decided he needed to do more due diligence around 3PL - wanting to properly vet his next supplier before taking the leap again, and inbounding stock somewhere new.

With Kick The Stigma’s launch date fast approaching, GNOC came onto Adam’s radar. With 10+ years of our own ecommerce experience under our belt, Adam knew that we could take good care of his brand – and that’s exactly what we did.

“From the tone of our discussion, I felt an instant rapport, and I loved the fact they actually get behind the brands they are fulfilling. I knew then that GNOC would be the company I chose.

The team have been really supportive on how to use the platform, because I had zero understanding of 3PL, so they were able to walk me through it in a way that made sense to me.”

- Adam, Founder of Kick The Stigma

Get your free quote

Get in touch to set up a free, no obligation call with our experts to learn about our services and how they can support your operation. Our team will review your requirements and send your unique quote back same day.

ADDRESS:

Unit 10 Sunflag Park, Belmont, Durham, DH1 1TN

PHONE:

0191 500 6000

EMAIL:

info@gnoc.co.uk

WEB:

www.gnoc.co.uk

Why A Male Grooming Brand Didn't Wait For Fulfilment To Go Wrong, Before Getting It Right

Kick The Stigma