32 | The One With Warehouse & 3PL Basics: What Founders Need to Know (Part 1)

In this first part of the Warehouse & 3PL series, Lara breaks down what founders really need to know before outsourcing fulfillment. From the moment to stop self-fulfilling, to choosing the right 3PL partner, to spotting hidden costs that quietly drain margin, this episode helps you get logistics in order before BFCM chaos arrives. If you are still packing boxes yourself, consider this your sanity check.What You’ll Learn- The real role of your warehouse or 3PL: It is not just storage. It is the foundation of your customer experience.- When to move from self-fulfillment to a 3PL: If you are packing 200 to 400 orders a month, start evaluating your options.- What founders often get wrong about 3PLs: 3PLs specialize. A generalist partner can be the wrong fit for apparel, cosmetics, or oversized goods.- Hidden costs to watch for: Watch storage models, minimum pick and pack fees, and returns handling so you do not bleed margin.- How to check if your warehouse is healthy: Track these KPIs: order accuracy > 98%, on-time shipping > 95%, storage < 15% of logistics spend.Real Brand Wins- A $3M skincare brand switched from self-fulfillment to a 3PL and doubled revenue in 12 months after focusing on growth instead of packing boxes.- Another brand cut storage costs by 50% by moving from pallet-based pricing to cubic-foot pricing.Key TakeawayThe right warehouse setup does more than move boxes. It protects margin, improves customer trust, and gives you back the time to grow your brand.If this episode helped make your supply chain a little less painful, share it with another founder because nobody deserves to learn these lessons the hard way. Follow Supply Chain Moves wherever you get your podcasts.Connect with Lara & Move Supply ChainWant to keep learning and connect with Lara and the Move Supply Chain community? Follow & Subscribe:LinkedIn – MoveLinkedIn – LaraX – MoveX – LaraFacebookInstagramYouTubeGet more insights:Unboxed Weekly – Lara’s newsletter on DTC supply chain movesLara’s AI Brain – Ask Lara’s AI anything about supply chainSC Lounge – Join the private founder community