Number One Reason Why Trade Shows Matter in the Logistics World

Scott Hothem • July 24, 2013

In the modern e-commerce world where smart phones and tablets enable the end consumer to order anything from anywhere, at anytime, fulfillment and logistics companies are all forced to adapt to the ever-increasing demand of the consumer. The “instant gratification” revolution taking place today is affecting every sector of the supply chain. This revolution is certainly not biased, as it places escalating pressure on manufacturers, retailers, distribution centers, and logistics companies alike.

As technology improves and streamlined processes are continuously put in place, the consumer’s expectations will only become greater. Today, consumers are not only expecting next-day delivery as a preferred option, but are quickly demanding delivery on the same day. With this knowledge in hand, how can retailers, manufacturers, and logistics companies adapt to become more relevant and effective in this fast-paced world of change?

With the complex dimensions involved in supply chain relationships, taking a singular or siloed approach may seem to be the best method to embrace the changing landscape. However, not everything can or should be done alone. In the logistics world, our success is dependent upon the development of different relationships with outside partners. At Barrett Distribution Centers, our current relationships with our retailers and manufacturers come first. Our mission is to create a high level of service and satisfaction with our partners, and our success is contingent upon the health of these relationships.

What is the best way to establish relationships? Nearly any and every resource created on the topic of building relationships will discuss the importance of establishing a connection in person Despite the explosive growth of social networking, there is still nothing that can replace the power of networking in person.

In less than two weeks, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will take place in Salt Lake City. Last year, members of the Barrett Distribution Management staff attended the event and found it to be an all-around invaluable resource in discovering the latest trends in the outdoor retail world. Whether it’s discovering brand new industry developments or participating in product demonstrations, attendees can unearth everything fresh in the outdoor retail world for a few days in Salt Lake City.

The Outdoor Retailer Summer Event is also a great place to speak one on one with various manufacturers and retailers in the outdoor industry. With many industry experts and thought leaders concentrated in once place, the venue provides a valuable forum for relevant conversations in person. With the growth in technology, it is possible to have many of these discussions online or over the phone. However, we do still believe that nothing builds trust in a relationship like meeting personally with a partner.

For Barrett Distribution Centers, our expertise in the outdoor and apparel industries makes this a special event for us. With our ability to establish separate order processing and management locations for retail and web orders and improve forecasting capabilities; the Outdoor Retailer Sports Show is the ideal venue for us to showcase our 3PL services. Just as important, we are able to discover the latest strategy and offerings by current and prospective partners in attendance. By meeting in person at the event, we can develop a deeper understanding of the goals and initiatives of other companies and partners. Events like this one are certainly hard to measure in value. However, building trustworthy and solid relationships are a critical factor in the logistics world, and there is no better way to solidify these potential or current relationships than through a handshake and a smile.

A trusted relationship between retailers, manufacturers, fulfillment centers, and logistic companies is vital to the success of the entire supply chain process. There will always be issues and challenges that arise in any business relationship. In the supply-chain world, disruptions can occur unexpectedly. The best weapon of defense for these disruptions is the relationship your company has built with your service partners. Relationships inside of the supply chain built on trust and confidence are the ones that will make it through any possible adaptation or unplanned change in business. And, it is the events like the Outdoor Summer Retailer Program that give birth to these relationships.

With an open-air demo day, dozens of seminars and events, the largest gathering of outdoor retailers and manufacturers, Outdoor Retail Summer Market 2013 promises to be another event to have marked on your calendar. Barrett Distribution Centers will be in attendance and can’t wait to see you in beautiful Salt Lake City. We’ll be at booth #PV722 , so please drop by to introduce yourself. If you are interested in connecting with one of our team members in attendance.

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What Is Omnichannel Fulfillment?

By Faith Artieda • July 9, 2026

Your ecommerce business is thriving. Orders are flowing in through your Shopify store, Amazon sales continue to climb, and then it happens—you land your biggest opportunity yet: a purchase order from a major retailer like Walmart, Target, or Costco. It's the kind of milestone every growing brand works toward. But for many businesses, it's also where fulfillment becomes significantly more complicated. Suddenly, you're managing multiple sales channels, each with its own shipping requirements, inventory demands, compliance standards, and customer expectations. What worked when you were shipping directly to consumers may no longer be enough to support retail distribution. This is where omnichannel fulfillment becomes essential. In the first episode of Inside Barrett with Faith Artieda , Barrett's Senior Vice President of Customer Solutions, Scott Hothem , explained that omnichannel fulfillment isn't simply about shipping products through multiple channels—it's about having the operational expertise to manage every channel successfully while maintaining a consistent customer experience. More Than Shipping Orders Many people assume omnichannel fulfillment simply means offering multiple ways for customers to buy products. While that's true from the consumer's perspective, the logistics behind those purchases are entirely different. A customer placing an order on your website expects fast, accurate delivery to their front door. That order may include just one or two items that need to be individually picked, packed, and shipped. A retailer, on the other hand, might place a purchase order for thousands of units. Those shipments often require palletization, retailer-specific labels, advance shipment notifications (ASNs), routing guide compliance, scheduled delivery appointments, and strict packaging requirements. Missing even one requirement can result in costly chargebacks or delayed deliveries. "The channels are very, very different," Scott explained during the interview. "How you manage inventory is different. Those retailers often want unique SKUs that you don't sell on your primary direct-to-consumer website." Although both orders originate from the same inventory, they require completely different operational workflows. Growth Creates Complexity For many brands, expanding into retail feels like the natural next step—but it also introduces new challenges. Inventory must remain synchronized across every sales channel. Technology systems need to communicate seamlessly. Customer expectations continue to rise, and retailers demand near-perfect compliance. Without the right fulfillment strategy, brands can quickly become overwhelmed. That's why Scott believes the role of a 3PL extends far beyond storing inventory and shipping packages. At Barrett, the goal is to help brands navigate these transitions before they become problems. Whether a company is launching its first retail partnership or rapidly scaling its ecommerce business, Barrett works alongside customers to build fulfillment solutions that evolve with their growth—not solutions they'll outgrow in a year or two. As Scott put it during the interview, Barrett strives to become a brand's " forever 3PL " by supporting customers through every stage of their journey. Omnichannel Is About Visibility, Flexibility, and Partnership Successful omnichannel fulfillment requires much more than warehouse capacity. It depends on real-time inventory visibility, seamless technology integrations, retail compliance expertise, transportation management, and a fulfillment operation capable of adapting as customer demand changes. It also requires a logistics partner that understands your business well enough to anticipate challenges before they impact your customers. That's the approach Barrett has taken for more than 80 years. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all fulfillment model, Barrett designs customized omnichannel solutions that allow brands to manage direct-to-consumer, wholesale, marketplace, and retail fulfillment through a single, integrated operation. With expertise in retail compliance, transportation management, value-added services, and advanced warehouse technology, Barrett helps brands simplify complex supply chains while preparing for future growth. Looking Ahead Today's consumers don't think about fulfillment channels—they simply expect their orders to arrive on time, regardless of where they made the purchase. For brands, meeting those expectations requires more than great products. It requires a fulfillment strategy built to support every channel, every customer, and every stage of growth. As Scott shared in Inside Barrett , the right 3PL doesn't just help you fulfill today's orders. It helps prepare your business for tomorrow's opportunities. And that's what omnichannel fulfillment is really all about.

How Do I Know If It's Time to Switch 3PLs?

By Faith Artieda • July 7, 2026

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Should a 3PL Give You a Quote Before Learning About Your Business?

By Faith Artieda • July 6, 2026

When companies begin searching for a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, one of the first questions they ask is, "How much does it cost?" It's a fair question. Every business wants to understand pricing before making a significant investment in its supply chain. But if a 3PL is willing to send over a quote after only a brief conversation—or without asking any questions at all—it may be worth taking a closer look. The reality is that no two brands operate the same way. Even companies selling similar products can have completely different fulfillment needs. One brand may ship a handful of SKUs directly to consumers, while another manages thousands of products across ecommerce, retail, and wholesale channels. Those differences affect everything from warehouse space and labor to transportation, technology, inventory management. That's why the best 3PL partnerships don't begin with pricing—they begin with discovery. A strong logistics partner wants to understand your business before recommending a solution. They'll ask about your products, order volumes, growth plans, customer expectations, and sales channels. They'll want to know whether you're shipping directly to consumers, supplying major retailers, or managing both. More importantly, they'll take the time to understand where your business is today—and where you want it to be tomorrow. At Barrett Distribution Centers, that's exactly how every partnership begins. Rather than relying on standardized pricing sheets, our team takes a consultative approach. We work closely with prospective customers to understand their operational requirements, fulfillment profiles, technology needs, and long-term goals before developing a customized solution. It's a process that allows our engineering, operations, and customer solutions teams to design a fulfillment strategy that's built specifically for each brand—not a one-size-fits-all model. That extra time upfront often makes all the difference. Over the past eight decades, Barrett has helped brands navigate rapid growth, expand into new retail channels, and scale from startup operations into nationally recognized businesses. Those long-term relationships are built on understanding each customer's unique challenges before recommending the right solution. It's one of the reasons many of our customers stay with Barrett as they grow, rather than outgrowing their logistics provider. Barrett's focus on customized omnichannel fulfillment, retail compliance, technology, and continuous improvement enables us to support brands through every stage of growth. Choosing a fulfillment provider is about more than comparing prices. It's about finding a partner that's invested in your success and willing to learn your business before offering a solution. While discovery may take a little more time upfront, it often leads to a stronger partnership, a more efficient operation, and a fulfillment strategy designed to grow alongside your brand. Because in logistics, the best solutions aren't the fastest to quote—they're the ones built specifically for you.