25 | The One With the Logistics Wake-Up Call (Part 1)

Shipping isn’t “set it and forget it.” It’s the bloodstream of your brand and when it clogs, margins bleed.In this episode of Supply Chain Moves, host Lara Guevara answers 10 core questions to demystify DTC logistics—from what “logistics” actually covers to the real-world mistakes that turn containers into cash drains. She breaks down how goods move factory → port → customs → warehouse → doorstep, why forwarders aren’t a magic switch, and the fees that blindside founders who don’t plan buffers.You’ll learn:✅ What logistics really means for a DTC brand (end-to-end flow, borders to doorstep)✅ The biggest misunderstanding: hiring a forwarder ≠ you can stop worrying✅ Hidden costs that crush margin (demurrage, detention) and how preventable paperwork delays trigger them✅ Air vs. sea vs. express: speed-cost tradeoffs + when LCL beats per-kilo express✅ Why the playbook moved from Just-In-Time to Just-In-Case—and how added days of inventory can protect revenueReal examples include a brand that missed BFCM by assuming transit times, a furniture company eaten by port fees over paperwork, a jewelry brand that cut landed cost ~35% by switching from all-express to LCL sea, and a home goods team that increased on-hand inventory to keep shelves full.Explore more and plug in:Supply Chain Moves podcast hub: movesupplychain.com/supply-chain-moves Vendor Visits (China & Vietnam): vendorvisits.movesupplychain.com Lara’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/@supplychainlara Supply Chain Lounge: tinyurl.com/move-supplychain-lounge If logistics has felt like a black box, this episode gives you the vocabulary, the gotchas, and the practical moves to run it on purpose—not by accident.