Small business ownership is an exciting venture. Watching your idea take shape and begin to grow is one of the most rewarding experiences an entrepreneur can have.
However, as your business starts to evolve, small issues with big impact on your brand can begin to crawl out of the woodwork. Exacerbated by a lack of experience, issues around unpredictable order volumes and logistical hiccups can wreak havoc with your small business and quickly spiral into unmanageable chaos.
Ecommerce is far from simple, and small logistical issues are inevitable within the early years of any ecommerce brand. In the UK, 60% of small businesses fail within their first three years – not due to a lack of passion or hard work, but because of poor preparation.
But don’t let these (albeit depressing) figures discourage you from starting, or continuing, your small business journey. While running a small business brings unique challenges, these pitfalls can be avoided with smart inventory management, and a suitable fulfilment strategy.
The secret weapon to managing your fulfilment? It could be a partnership with a 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) provider. Specialising in the efficient picking, packing and shipping of your inventory, a 3Pl provider like GNOC can manage your logistics, allowing you to focus wholly on developing your business strategies.
The benefits a 3PL partnership can offer a small business are monumental, and yet many businesses still ponder the question…
Is My Business Too Small For a 3PL Partner
The short answer? Almost definitely not.
3PL providers like GNOC are increasingly geared towards supporting small and scaling businesses offering an opportunity to access specialised expertise and resources, without the price tag of integrating it in-house.
Not sure if your brand is ready to take the leap? It’s crucial to assess your businesses’ current operations; what’s working well, and what’s holding you back? If you’re running out of space, struggling with unpredictable order volumes, dealing with frustrated customers because of delays and errors, or simply wishing you could take logistics off your plate so you can focus on growing your brand - a 3PL partnership could be the right move.
Beyond streamlining your fulfilment and making it more sustainable, partnering with a 3PL unlocks a host of benefits tailored for small businesses. From scalability and cost efficiency to improved customer experience and the freedom to focus on what you do best, the right 3PL can help you transform your operations and set the stage for growth.
Benefits of 3PL For Small Businesses:
- Low overhead warehousing costs.
- Access to specialist expertise and resources.
- Increased ability to scale.
- Access to established courier networks.
- Expert reverse logistics management.
Low Warehousing Costs
It’s not uncommon for small ecommerce brands to grow from humble beginnings – a spare room, a garage or even the corner of your bedroom. However, once boxes of inventory start to multiply and creep into every corner of your home, it’s a sure sign that outsourced fulfilment is a crucial move.
While renting warehouse space may seem like the obvious next step, it might not necessarily be the best strategy for your small business. On the surface, it feels like a natural progression however once the excitement of having a space to grow your brand dies down, cracks in the system start to show. The overheads on rented warehouse spaces can be sky high, not to mention the long contracts that leave you burdened with monthly expenses – a major strain on your cash flow, especially if things slow down.
If you’re desperate to outsource your storage but concerned about fluctuation in your order volume - a 3PL partnership could give you the best of both worlds. With access to professional warehouse facilities, without the burden of fixed costs, you’re able to experience the same logistics frameworks as your professional competitors even while you’re still finding your footing.
At GNOC, our fully flexible pricing model is designed to champion scalability and support your brand’s growth. We understand that you have big goals for your brand, that’s why we offer fully scalable pricing models that help you aim high, without the price tag. We price our storage by the cubic metre, meaning you’re only every paying for what you use. This means we can keep your overheads low, while still giving you room to scale based on your current and expected demand.
Expertise and Resources
Technology is important, not least because it is, fundamentally, the backbone of ecommerce. Technology is crucial for managing and fulfilling your orders with none of the guesswork. The catch? The technology necessary to manage flawless ecommerce fulfilment comes with a price tag that, more often than not, makes it unattainable for newly established brands.
That’s where a 3PL partnership changes the game - by helping you leverage this level of technology, without the upfront investment. Access to advanced digital inventory management systems that give you a real-time view of your stock levels can be a gamechanger for your ecommerce brand. This transparency means you can plan restocks with confidence and avoid the guesswork that often leads to costly mistakes.
In a recent study, 42% of small businesses admitted to mishandling their inventory, leading to order cancellations, profit loss and stockouts of popular products. Of this 42%, most confessed that these errors had cost them up to 10% in lost revenue. With a digital stock management system, these errors can be a problem of the past. With this tech, you gain the tools to stay ahead of demand and keep your shelves stocked, all without the stress of manual tracking.
Courier Connections
Deciding how to ship your orders (and who to trust to do it) can be one of the trickiest aspects of ecommerce to navigate, especially as a newly established brand with very few industry connections.
Add to that, the overwhelming number of delivery options - each with their own pros and cons - and it’s easy to see why so many brands struggle to find the perfect logistics solution . Express delivery is often too costly, but the cheapest shipping solutions usually end up fraught with errors. Since carrier pigeons are also out the question, it can be difficult to decide where to cut corners. Thankfully, with a 3PL partnership, you don’t have to make any sacrifices for reliable, low-cost delivery.
At GNOC, we’ve spent years building strong, long-term relationships with the UK’s most trusted courier networks, giving you access to premium logistics services at the lowest possible rates. And where we save, you save too – our delivery costs sit well below the industry average, offering you top quality courier services, at their best prices.
Plus, with reliable shipping under your belt, you can open your business up to opportunities to sell on Amazon, safe in the knowledge that we can help you fulfil the next-day delivery quotas that award you the lucrative Prime badge.
Expert Reverse Logistics Management
Unfortunately, the rates of returns amongst ecommerce brands are rising, with no signs of slowing down. The average returns rate for digital retailers now sits at 30% - a sharp 13.1% increase from 2024.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. When handled correctly, reverse logistics can actually work to strengthen your reputation and customer loyalty – plus, mitigate any damage to your profit margins.
Poorly managed returns, on the other hand, can do more than dent your bottom line -they can damage your brand image and customer trust. This is especially true during peak season. Mismanaging returns during these high-volume periods can unravel all the hard work you’ve put into making the most of the lucrative season.
To make matters worse, (sorry, we really are back to the doom and gloom now) customers are becoming increasingly less tolerant to poor experiences with ecommerce brands. One bad experience is often all it takes for them to jump ship, and returns are frequently the culprit. 40% of ecommerce customers are willing to abandon a brand after experiencing a frustrating returns experience and are unafraid to share this experience with their peers.
As a result, reverse logistics is no longer just a backend operational concern, it’s a critical touchpoint in the customer journey – how you handle it can make or break your brand reputation.
A reputable 3PL like GNOC will take care of the entire reverse logistics process, so you don’t have to worry about the details.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, partnering with a 3PL provider removes the biggest risks from small business ownership. We handle the complexities of scaling and fulfilment, so you can focus on what matters most: growing your brand.
At GNOC, we’ve been where you are. We started as small ecommerce business owners and scaled our brands into global successes. That experience means we know exactly what small businesses need to become the next key players in their respective market.
That’s why we offer flexible pricing, a dedicated support team, and expert guidance at every step of your journey. Whether you’re looking to streamline operations, improve customer experience, or scale sustainably, we’re here to make it happen.
If you’re ready to take the leap, and grow your small business into the next big deal – let’s talk, our friendly UK team are always happy to talk through your requirements and help you find the perfect fulfilment solution.
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Jan 27, 2026 8:49:12 AM