Surfboard & Paddleboard 3PL & Fulfillment Services
Reliable third party logistics provider for surfboards & paddleboards
Our logistics experts take on the complex challenges of fulfilling your surfboard and paddleboard orders with precision and care.
We specialize in these big, heavy & bulky items, relieving your fulfillment headaches while offering substantial savings through our exclusive shipping discounts with national carriers.
Streamline your surfboard & paddleboard fulfillment with the industry leader in big, heavy, and bulky fulfillment
Trust our seasoned professionals to manage your surfboard & paddleboard fulfillment with unparalleled precision. Our team can handle a wide range of surfboard & paddleboard products:
Shortboard surfboards
Longboard surfboards
Fish surfboards
Gun surfboards
Foam surfboards
Inflatable paddleboards
Rigid paddleboards
Race paddleboards
Standup paddleboards (with pumps)
Body boards & boogie boards
One of the reasons we moved to Red Stag is because they had secured big discounts with their carriers. If you’re a brand with large products, high surcharges for big and heavy items can really kill you.
Red Stag went really aggressive on cutting down those costs with the carriers, and they could pass the savings on to us.
Jon Blair
Former CFO/COO at Guardian Bikes | Founder at FreeToGrowCFO.com
Why partnering with a 3PL built for large items like surfboards & paddleboards benefits your brand:
Specialized shipping expertise
Transporting surfboards and paddleboards is challenging due to their length and fragility. Our negotiated carrier relationships provide substantial savings on oversized shipments that typically incur excessive dimensional weight charges, protecting your margins while ensuring safe delivery.
Purpose-built facilities
Our facilities feature vertical racking systems and specialized handling equipment designed specifically for long, awkward items like surfboards. Our team is trained in proper techniques to prevent dings, pressure dents, and fin damage that can render premium boards unsellable.
Protection through guarantees
With high-value boards often exceeding $1,000, you can’t risk inventory damage or shipping errors. Our zero-damage guarantee ensures we’ll fully reimburse any board damaged in our care, plus pay compensation fees to acknowledge the disruption to your business.
Tailored fulfillment approach
Unlike conventional 3PLs that treat all items the same, we combine board-specific handling procedures with strategic automation. Our team understands the nuances of board packaging, orientation, and support points needed to maintain the integrity of your premium water sports equipment.
Common challenges of surfboard & paddleboard fulfillment & shipping to customers
01
Surfboards and paddleboards are oversized, fragile items requiring extensive protective packaging and specialized handling equipment to prevent damage during storage and transit.
02
Their awkward dimensions and non-standard shapes make them difficult to stack efficiently, resulting in higher storage costs and specialized shelving requirements.
03
Surfboards often contain sensitive materials like foam cores and fiberglass that require climate-controlled storage to prevent warping and delamination.
04
Precise shipping helps to avoid costly returns from customers with damage through the shipping process, particularly crucial for high-value boards with custom designs.
The Red Stag Story
Focusing on big, heavy and bulky fulfillment since 2012
In 2011, our co-founders were on their third 3PL and at their wit’s end.
Their sporting goods e-commerce company was growing rapidly. But fulfillment was a major problem— late deliveries to customers, lost inventory, and package mixups were costing them dearly—in both money and customer loyalty.
One of the problems? Their inventory was heavy and bulky. And the 3PLs were struggling with the (literal) heavy lifting.
This was the moment Red Stag was born.
And since our very first client was our owners’ sporting goods company, we purpose-built our operations to handle big, heavy, and bulky fulfillment from day 1.
Surfboards & paddleboards fulfillment isn’t the only thing we have going for us…
US support team with dedicated account managers
You never get lost in the shuffle at Red Stag Fulfillment. Need to pick up the phone and talk to someone today? You got it. We aren’t going to send you down a support ticket rabbit hole with an outsourced rep.
Clean and organized warehouses
This should be a given for any 3PL, right? Sadly, it’s not. Cleanliness and organization are two of the best leading indicators of a successful operation. We’re proud of our warehouses and welcome you to come see for yourself, anytime.
Privately owned
12 years later, our co-founders still own 100% of Red Stag. They’re in it for the long haul. No venture capital pushing for growth at all costs. No 4PL shenanigans. We value a reliable and consistent fulfillment experience that brings peace of mind to operators.
Not convinced?
We get it, this is a difficult decision.
Your products are the life of your brand, and having them at the mercy of an outsourced partner requires a lot of trust. That’s why we have one of the most in-depth consultative sales processes in the industry to make sure you find the very best fit—even if it’s not us (we turn away over 95% of companies, helping them find better fits instead!). Send us some info and we will help point you in the right direction.
Red Stag Surfboards & Paddleboards Fulfillment FAQs
What are Red Stag Fulfillment’s guarantees?
We have 4 guarantees: 1) All inventory is received and ready to ship within 2 business days, 2) ZERO inventory shrinkage, 3) 100% on-time shipping, and 4) 100% order accuracy.
If we ship your surfboards or paddleboards late, we’ll pay you $50 directly. If we miss our receiving guarantee, we’ll pay you $50 per late delivery. If an order is inaccurate, we’ll pay you $50 and cover the shipping costs to fix the mistake. And if we ever lose one of your items, we’ll reimburse you for your cost.
These guarantees aren’t just promises—they’re our commitment to ensuring your water sports equipment reaches your customers in perfect condition and on time, every time.
Where are Red Stag Fulfillment’s warehouses?
Red Stag Fulfillment strategically operates two warehouse hubs, one in Sweetwater, Tennessee (Knoxville) and one in Salt Lake City, Utah. We’ve determined that two warehouses—one located central to each coast—provides optimal shipping times while minimizing costly inventory balancing between facilities.
This strategic placement is particularly beneficial for surfboards and paddleboards, which require careful handling and can be expensive to ship due to their size. Our bi-coastal approach ensures that your water sports equipment can reach most U.S. destinations quickly and efficiently, maximizing customer satisfaction.
What is Red Stag Fulfillment’s pricing?
Pricing is custom to each client, as no two surfboard or paddleboard businesses have identical needs. We strive to secure the best rates possible and are proud to have negotiated excellent shipping discounts for oversized items like surfboards and paddleboards, which require special handling and dimensional considerations.
Will Red Stag Fulfillment integrate with my store?
Yes, your store will integrate seamlessly with Red Stag. Regardless of which online retail platform you use to sell your surfboards and paddleboards, we’ll sync it with our system. We provide APIs for all major ecommerce platforms and can develop custom integrations for unique circumstances or specialized water sports equipment stores.
