Looking for a San Diego 3PL for order fulfillment and logistics?
At Red Stag, we help brands in San Diego (and beyond) efficiently fulfill to California (and beyond).
But there’s a twist: for most ecommerce brands, San Diego (and really all of California) is a less-than-optimal place for a 3PL.
Scroll down and we’ll show you why.
You probably shouldn’t have a 3PL in San Diego.
That might sound strange.
After all, if you’re like most brands:
You’re probably importing through the LA or Long Beach ports, and shorter port-to-warehouse distance = lower drayage costs
Your customer spread roughly matches the U.S. population, putting ~11.7% in California. Local inventory should mean faster and less expensive deliveries.
Score 2 points for a San Diego 3PL, right?
Maybe. But consider total cost of fulfillment.
Port proximity and customer location are just two pieces of a much bigger puzzle.
Here are some other important factors:
Real estate costs (sky-high in California)
Labor rates (ditto)
Complex state tax implications
(“one of the worst business competitiveness climates in the country“)
Slow and expensive outbound shipping
to the majority of the U.S. far from California (check the zone maps)
Even if it’s not your warehouse,
your 3PL is paying these costs, and passes them straight to you.
At Red Stag, we don’t have a San Diego location.
Instead, we’re a 3PL laser-focused on two things:
minimizing your total fulfillment costs and delivering exceptional customer experiences nationwide.
There are exceptions to our you shouldn’t be in California statement, of course.
We recently spoke with a furniture brand getting free transport from their California manufacturers to their local warehouse. For them, a California 3PL made sense.
But for most brands looking to optimize costs while hitting 2-day delivery nationwide, our two strategic inland locations in Salt Lake City and Knoxville deliver better results.
But we find for many brands who want to optimize for total cost of fulfillment and 2-day delivery, our 2-location, inland locations model works extremely well.
We’ve done the math. Multiple times. And each time we run the numbers on California, the same truth emerges: a San Diego location would actually increase total fulfillment costs for our clients. Our founders are also commercial real estate developers, so we’re pretty good with location analysis.
Tony Runyan
Chief Client Officer
Red Stag Fulfillment
You also don’t need to take our word for it
So you think you need more that 1 warehouse…
Here’s the cost of a 1lb package using an economy service from the best location and combination.
$5.32 – Springfield MO
$5.12 – Rancho CA + Charlotte NC
$5.05 – Rancho, Springfield, and Philly
YOU DON’T.
Chad Carleton
@chadcarleton
My wholesale 3pl went bankrupt in q3.
Their client list included:
– a dtc hemp drink company
– a mattress company
– a chocolate company
All shipping from San Francisco, the most expensive real estate in the world…
I wonder why they went bankrupt????
Sean Frank
@SeanEcom
The propaganda machine of the larger 3PLs has consultants and supply chain professionals brainwashed.
If you’re an e-commerce founder and you’re not producing close to 5 million in GMV, or you only ship 50-100 orders per day, you don’t need to worry about how many locations your 3PL has.
You also don’t need to be in Texas either. Here’s why:
You will pay more. This is not up for debate.
Freight, storage, management, split shipments—I’ve heard brands need to carry 30% more inventory. You’re chasing a ghost.
Even Amazon barley cares if you get your product in 2-days anymore.
Rich Patterson
See post
Our Locations
Select one (or both) of our strategically placed warehouse locations to see our reach.
Red Stag intentionally has only two locations.
See why that could be better for your brand.
The Red Stag difference
3PL San Diego and nationwide
2-day shipping
Reach 96% of U.S. homes within two days.
100% accuracy
Fulfillment done right. Backed by guarantees.
0% shrinkage allowance
Because any loss is unacceptable.
San Diego fulfillment center services
Warehousing
Keep product availability and turnover high with “dock-to-stock” receiving in two days or less. With the right locations and our inventory accuracy guarantees, you can lower storage costs.
Order fulfillment
Fulfill orders accurately and efficiently from any sales channel. Consolidated inventory streamlines fulfillment for fast processing that meets customer expectations.
Shipping
Ship packages across fewer zones for lower costs. Shorter distances reduce the opportunities for costly delays, too. At scale, the savings can free up enough cash for you to invest in growth.
Kitting & assembly
Increase opportunities for sales and customer loyalty. With the right inventory in the right location, you can offer subscription boxes, bundles, upsells, and other promotions.
Inventory planning
Focus on growth with sales and transportation insights. Optimized inventory planning helps you place precise orders, maximize pricing, and keep cash flow healthy.
Amazon fulfillment
Get the support you need for Amazon’s Seller-fulfilled Prime program. We’ll help you stay compliant with the marketplace’s rules and capture the opportunities it offers.
What customers say about
Red Stag fulfillment services
Building your
fulfillment networks
Strategically located warehouses lead to faster fulfillment services for more customers without straining your resources. From Red Stag’s warehouse locations, you can reach 96% of U.S. homes within two days. Partner with us to efficiently route your products from any U.S. factory or port to our fulfillment center locations and onto your customers.
A client portal, with integrations available for any online retail platform, provides full visibility and digital control. View inventory, sales, and transportation data in one place for a clear picture of your business in real time. With additional insights from the Red Stag team, you can make the most of every opportunity and create a foundation for long-term business growth.
Get ready to grow
with the right 3PL
Outsourcing to a 3PL lets you turn your attention to other priorities, like identifying new customers, developing new products, optimizing your website, and building your brand.
But what if your 3PL could help you grow?
With Red Stag Fulfillment, your business can benefit from hands-on support. Our US-based team of supply chain experts offer guidance that goes far beyond pick, pack, and ship.
Get help with things like inventory management and supply chain logistics so you can better optimize order quantities, prepare for peak seasons, and manage SKUs for faster turnover. With all of your data in one place, we can help you cut costs and increase profits.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a warehouse in San Diego?
Maybe not. Many companies find that it’s better to have fulfillment warehouses strategically located in other places for faster delivery to more customers.
That’s why Red Stag has fulfillment centers in Knoxville, TN and Salt Lake City, UT. From these central locations, you can reach 96% of U.S. homes within two days. Depending on transportation networks and customer locations, delivery from San Diego, CA could take longer.
How many fulfillment centers do I need?
An ecommerce business that sells nationwide probably needs more than one warehouse, but too many can stretch your resources and leave you without the right stock in the right place at the right time.
Two strategically located fulfillment warehouses could be ideal for many businesses, even large ones. The right locations connect you to the geographic infrastructure you need, leading to lower storage costs and more reliable transportation.
How do Red Stag guarantees work?
Red Stag Fulfillment has guarantees you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the industry.
We guarantee 100% of your orders will be shipped on time or we’ll cover the cost of the shipment and give you an extra $50.
We also guarantee 100% order accuracy. If we ship the wrong item or wrong number of items, we will fix the mistake, pay the shipment cost, and give you an extra $50.
Why do we pay $50? Because fulfillment mistakes hurt your business. And as your partner, we believe they should hurt ours too. This keeps our incentives aligned and makes sure we’re always working toward the same goals.
What should I consider before choosing a San Diego 3PL for my fulfillment?
There’s a lot more than just location to consider. When evaluating 3PLs in San Diego, CA for your fulfillment operations, consider these crucial factors:
- How are accuracy and errors handled by the 3PL?
- Does the 3PL integrate with your store’s platform?
- Do they have expertise in handling your specific products?
- Are they capable of growing alongside your business?
You’ll love having Red Stag as your
3PL fulfillment solution
Find out how Red Stag can help your ecommerce business.
Get started by scheduling a quick chat.
Let’s talk