Red Stag Fulfillment and Barrett Distribution serve different segments of the ecommerce market. Red Stag specializes in big, heavy, and bulky products with financially-backed guarantees, while Barrett has built 85+ years of expertise in apparel, health and beauty, and consumer packaged goods. Your ideal partner depends on what you ship, where your customers are, and which value-added services matter most.
Quick comparison
| Red Stag vs Barrett Distribution | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimension | Red Stag Fulfillment | Barrett Distribution |
| Best For | Enterprise and fast-growing brands with big, heavy, or high-value products | Apparel, health and beauty, and CPG brands needing extensive value-added services |
| Specialties | Big, heavy, bulky products; parcel and freight; omnichannel | Apparel, footwear, health and beauty, CPG; personalization and kitting |
| Guarantees | Four financially-backed: receiving accuracy, zero shrinkage, order accuracy, on-time shipping | Industry-standard service commitments |
| Warehouse Locations | Sweetwater, TN and Salt Lake City, UT (1.2M sq ft; 96% of US within 2 days ground) | 25+ locations across 9 states (7M+ sq ft; East Coast, Memphis, Dallas, California) |
| Fulfillment Channels | DTC parcels, DTC pallets, retail (Walmart/Target), Amazon (FBA prep, SFP, FBM) | DTC ecommerce, B2B omnichannel, retail compliance, Amazon (FBA) |
| Technology & Integrations | Real-time inventory visibility, 70+ platform connections via middleware, EDI via SPS Commerce, direct API | Synapse WMS; Shopify, Magento, NetSuite, SAP; EDI via SPS Commerce |
| Onboarding & Support | Dedicated onboarding team at no extra cost; U.S.-based client success with direct line to warehouse | Client management teams; implementation support |
The bottom line
Choose Red Stag if you ship big, heavy, or high-value products and want guarantees that pay when mistakes happen. Choose Barrett if you’re an apparel, beauty, or CPG brand that needs value-added personalization services, retail compliance expertise, and an extensive East Coast warehouse network.
Red Stag Fulfillment overview
Red Stag Fulfillment serves enterprise and fast-growing brands. Founded and owned by ecommerce operators, Red Stag was built on the belief that fulfillment delivers your brand. While the company’s history and DNA are in big, heavy, and bulky products—with both parcel and freight shipping capabilities—Red Stag also excels at high-volume fulfillment for smaller products with low SKU counts, plus accessories that accompany larger products.
Key strengths
Financially-backed guarantees: Four guarantees including receiving accuracy, zero shrinkage, order accuracy, and on-time shipping. If Red Stag misses a guarantee, they pay clients for the mistake.
Strategic warehouse coverage: Two facilities in Sweetwater, TN and Salt Lake City, UT totaling 1.2 million square feet. This allows brands to reach 96% of the U.S. within 2 days via ground shipping.
True omnichannel fulfillment: DTC parcels, DTC pallets, full retail compliance capabilities (via SPS Commerce and Dropstream) including distribution to Walmart and Target, plus Amazon solutions including FBA prep, Seller Fulfilled Prime, and FBM.
Dedicated support: U.S.-based client success team with direct line to the warehouse floor. Dedicated onboarding team ensures a seamless transition at no extra cost.
Considerations
Two warehouse locations vs. Barrett’s 25+ facilities—though Red Stag’s central positioning often delivers comparable transit times to most of the U.S.
Less specialized in apparel and beauty-specific handling requirements like embroidery or monogramming
Best for: Enterprise and fast-growing brands shipping big, heavy, or high-value products, as well as high-volume operations with smaller products and low SKU counts, who need guarantees that pay when mistakes happen.
Barrett Distribution overview
Barrett Distribution Centers has operated for over 85 years, building deep expertise in apparel, footwear, health and beauty, and consumer packaged goods fulfillment. With 25+ warehouse and distribution centers spanning 9 states and over 7 million square feet, Barrett has established itself as a go-to provider for brands needing extensive value-added services and retail compliance capabilities.
Key strengths
85+ years of industry experience: One of the longest-operating 3PLs in the country, recognized consecutively on Inc. 5000 and Inbound Logistics Top 100 3PL lists
Extensive value-added services: Monogramming, embroidery, UV printing, laser engraving, debossing, gift wrapping, handwritten notes, custom packaging, and kitting
Large warehouse network: 25+ facilities across 9 states with key logistics hubs in Greater Boston, New Jersey, New York, Baltimore, Memphis, Dallas, and California
Strong technology infrastructure: Synapse WMS with 150+ client integrations; connects to Shopify, Magento, NetSuite, SAP, and EDI providers like SPS Commerce
Considerations
No published financially-backed guarantees that pay clients for errors
Network is concentrated on the East Coast; less central U.S. coverage than some alternatives
Personalization services may add complexity and cost for brands that don’t need them
Best for: Apparel, health and beauty, and CPG brands that need extensive personalization services, retail compliance expertise, and an established partner with decades of industry experience.
Head-to-head comparison
Product types and handling
The clearest difference between these two 3PLs is product specialization.
Red Stag built its infrastructure around big, heavy, and bulky products. The company handles items that require freight shipping alongside standard parcels, with warehouse layouts and equipment designed for larger SKUs. This extends to high-value products where accuracy and shrinkage prevention directly impact profitability.
Barrett optimized for apparel, health and beauty, and consumer packaged goods. The company excels at personalization—embroidery, monogramming, engraving, and custom packaging that premium apparel and beauty brands require. Their value-added services reflect the specific needs of these industries.
If you’re shipping fitness equipment, furniture, or automotive parts, Red Stag’s infrastructure fits. If you’re shipping clothing with monogramming, beauty products with gift sets, or CPG items requiring custom assembly, Barrett’s specialization makes sense.
Fulfillment channels
Both companies support omnichannel fulfillment, but with different emphases.
Red Stag covers DTC parcels, DTC pallets (direct-to-consumer freight shipping), retail distribution to Walmart and Target, and comprehensive Amazon solutions. The Amazon capabilities include FBA prep, Seller Fulfilled Prime certification, and FBM fulfillment. The DTC pallet capability is notable for brands shipping large items directly to consumers.
Barrett handles DTC ecommerce, B2B omnichannel distribution, retail compliance, and Amazon FBA fulfillment. Their retail compliance strength centers on established relationships with major retailers and EDI capabilities through partners like SPS Commerce and TrueCommerce.
For brands selling big, heavy products across DTC, Amazon, and big-box retail, Red Stag offers the specialized handling needed. For apparel and beauty brands focused on retail relationships with personalization requirements, Barrett’s value-added services add genuine value.
Service guarantees
This is where the companies diverge significantly.
Red Stag offers four financially-backed guarantees: receiving accuracy, zero shrinkage, order accuracy, and on-time shipping. These aren’t just service-level commitments. If Red Stag misses a guarantee, they pay clients for the mistake. This shifts fulfillment risk from the brand to the 3PL.
Barrett provides industry-standard service commitments and has built its reputation on 85+ years of consistent service rather than performance-based payments. Their longevity and recognition on industry lists speaks to operational reliability, though without the financial accountability structure.
For brands where fulfillment errors directly impact margin or customer lifetime value, Red Stag’s guarantee structure provides financial protection. For brands comfortable with reputation-based accountability, Barrett’s 85-year track record demonstrates consistent execution.
Technology and integrations
Red Stag provides real-time inventory visibility through a client portal, connections to 70+ marketplaces and platforms via DropStream middleware, EDI compliance through SPS Commerce for retail orders, and direct API integration for enterprise customization. The infrastructure supports reliable data flow across omnichannel operations.
Barrett operates on the Synapse WMS platform with over 150 client integrations. They connect to major ecommerce platforms including Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, and QuickBooks Online (via Pipe17 partnership). For ERP systems, Barrett integrates with NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, and others. Their EDI capabilities through SPS Commerce and TrueCommerce support retail compliance requirements.
Both companies provide robust integration options, including full retail compliance capabilities through EDI providers like SPS Commerce. Barrett connects to major ERPs and ecommerce platforms through their Synapse WMS. Red Stag offers 70+ platform connections via Dropstream, EDI compliance through SPS Commerce, and direct API flexibility for enterprise needs.
Which should you choose?
Choose Red Stag if:
You ship big, heavy, or bulky products
You need parcel and pallet/freight capabilities
You want financially-backed guarantees that pay when mistakes happen
You sell across DTC, Amazon, and big-box retail like Walmart and Target
You’re an enterprise or fast-growing brand prioritizing fulfillment accountability
You value a dedicated onboarding team at no extra cost
Choose Barrett Distribution if:
You sell apparel, health and beauty, or consumer packaged goods
You need value-added services like embroidery, monogramming, or custom packaging
You want extensive East Coast warehouse coverage
You require retail compliance with complex EDI requirements
You’re looking for a 3PL with 85+ years of industry experience
You need personalization services that add value to your products
Get a quote from Red Stag
Choosing a 3PL is a major decision that affects your customer experience, your margins, and your ability to scale. If you’re shipping big, heavy, or high-value products and want a fulfillment partner that puts skin in the game with financially-backed guarantees, Red Stag is worth a conversation.
The dedicated onboarding team makes transitions seamless at no extra cost, and you’ll work with a U.S.-based client success team that has a direct line to the warehouse floor.
Ready to compare your options? Contact Red Stag for a free fulfillment consultation.
