You’ve got merchandise to ship to customers, but how do you make sure everything arrives in one piece? And if you’re dealing with bigger items, how do you avoid paying an arm and a leg in shipping costs?  ShipMonk offers 3PL services that are efficient and cost-effective for some retailers. But it may not be … Read more

Contract warehousing is a long-term agreement where a third-party logistics (3PL) provider dedicates facility space, labor, and technology to a single client. Unlike public warehousing, costs and SOPs are customized, giving you predictable pricing, tailored processes, and full control of KPIs without owning the building. This model works best for businesses shipping 50,000+ units annually … Read more

Inventory shortages drain billions from retail operations annually, making stockouts one of the most critical challenges facing businesses today. An inventory shortage occurs when available inventory levels fall below the quantity needed to fulfill customer orders. In simple terms, you’ve sold more units than you physically have on hand. When inventory shortage occurs, it triggers … Read more

Joint shipments can slash your shipping costs by 20-40% while boosting customer satisfaction—but only if you implement them correctly. Picture this: A customer places two separate orders from your store on Monday and Tuesday. Instead of shipping each order individually (and paying double the shipping costs), your system automatically combines both orders into one package … Read more

Your warehouse has inventory in stock. You’ve sold more units to customers than you can fulfill. The math is brutal: angry customers waiting for products you can’t ship. This inventory backlog scenario plays out daily across ecommerce operations, turning profitable sales into operational nightmares. But here’s what successful companies know: inventory backlog isn’t just a … Read more

Seeing “tendered to delivery service provider” on your tracking update? Don’t worry—your package isn’t lost. This status simply means your original carrier (UPS, FedEx, or DHL) handed your package to a local delivery service for final delivery. It’s a completely normal part of the shipping process that happens millions of times daily. Your package should … Read more

Picture this: You’re shipping high-value electronics from Canada to Mexico through the U.S. Using traditional shipping, you’ll pay Canadian duties, then U.S. duties at the border, then Mexican duties at the final destination. That’s three separate duty payments on the same cargo—and a massive hit to your cash flow. There’s a better way. A bonded … Read more

The ecommerce fulfillment solution you choose plays a critical role in your business’s ability to scale, grow profits, and satisfy customer expectations. When deciding between ShipMonk and Amazon FBA, the right choice depends on several key factors, such as order volume, sales channels, product type, and control requirements. There’s no right or wrong answer across … Read more

What is the average order value for purchases on Amazon? Amazon’s marketplace data shows average order value (AOV) typically ranges in the mid-$50s, with recent Prime Day events pushing baskets to about $58–$60 per order. AOV is calculated by dividing total revenue by number of orders and is a key profit indicator for sellers looking … Read more

What share of US e-commerce spending goes to Amazon? Amazon captures 37.6% of all U.S. retail e-commerce spending as of 2024, according to the latest verified market data from Forbes Advisor and Analyzify. With total U.S. e-commerce sales reaching $1.19 trillion in 2024, Amazon’s share represents approximately $447.4 billion in online retail revenue. This figure … Read more

How long is the average selling lifespan of an Amazon marketplace listing? The average Amazon marketplace listing generates peak sales for about 12–24 months before noticeable decline. A typical life cycle follows four phases—launch, growth, maturity, decline—each defined by BSR trends, traffic, and conversion data. Regular refreshes, variation launches, and review management can extend profitability … Read more

How many BigCommerce stores are there? (2025 data) BigCommerce has powered over 130,000 merchants worldwide across more than 150 countries throughout its history. However, the number of currently live and active stores is significantly lower at 41,221 globally according to Store Leads’ real-time tracking. This distinction between total historical merchants and currently active storefronts reflects … Read more