How To Reduce Logistic Cost For Your Fashion Brand?

It is not that easy to manage a Fashion business. Apart from the investment, a person also needs to consider the overall logistic costs. Logistic costs credit to the overall cost one will spend on the product availability to reach an end consumer. 

Fashion brand owners are facing many challenges today, such as increased competition, managing customized orders, new material availability, introducing innovative designs, raw material availability, more sustainability, etc. However, supply-chain access has become the biggest challenge in the fashion industry today. People need to spend more money on a product to deliver it. Some supply-chain problems include in-time delivery, transportation charges, product storage management, carrier facilities, technological challenges, and shipment visibility. Due to the lack of knowledge on managing supply chains, many fashion business owners fail to make their business profitable and efficient.

It is crucial to know all these things before an individual starts their business. Are there any ways to reduce these logistic costs? Yes, here we’ve discussed some factors by which a person can reduce the fashion business logistic costs.

1. Adequate packaging:

Do not leave any space while packing a product as it might make the carrier services charge more rates. Use the less-cushioned materials instead of the bulky cushioned and recycled plastics to wrap the product. Not all products need to be packed with airbags, bubble straps and bracing. Make sure which product requires heavy packaging to lower the risk of damage. People should always mind the distance between the pick-up and delivery location, and if it is a long-distance ride, ensure to pack the product accordingly. In this way, adequate packaging of the product cuts the box weight and makes space for other products.

2. Quick and Efficient Load-Up: 

After knowing their pick-up locations, the shippers load up the cargo after checking in with the airlines, which takes less time than the accepted time. For the sake of avoiding the extra charges on delivering the package, choose the correct shipment and carrier services that charge based on the efficient time needed to load the cargo.

3. Long-term contracts with carrier services: 

If an individual  wants to establish a long-term relationship with the supply carrier services, they need to keep in mind all the payments. This aids in building a more sustainable relationship with the carrier service. Later on, one can pay them less as they would work efficiently. Their shipment services would even offer some discounts.

4. Tie-up with Local Vendors: 

Not all products require an extensive carrier service, they can be sourced locally or from places that are not too far. In such cases, a person does not have to spend more money on the supply carrier services, and can, instead, tie-up with the city’s local vendors and seek their help getting the product delivered in time. These local vendors do not demand more service charges as the supply carriers in providing a product.

5. Avoid shipping on weekend days: 

Most shipping companies charge different rates for shipping during the weekend, as they will have to deliver more packages on these two days. A few other shipping companies work only five or six days a week. So, try to ship the product before the weekend to cut down the extra charges. Shipping during the weekend has got another disadvantage .i.e., 'The Monday Effect,' which makes the workers take more time than usual to adjust to their work again after the weekend. It even interrupts the assumed delivery time of the package.

6. Improve the Shipment Visibility: 

Track the overall record of pick-up locations, loading delivery packages, time performance, and package delivery delays. It is essential to monitor the whole carrier's performance at regular intervals. There are various technologies to track real-time shipment visibility. For instance, Project44, a logistics technology company, helps to track every location of the carrier and even find its current location. Such a technology is termed as “end-to-end visibility.”

7. Develop a Routing Guide: 

Developing a routing guide is necessary to list all the primary and secondary carrier services involved in delivering a package. It gives a detailed description of the package’s location from pick-up to delivery. An individual can provide the supply carriers with all the instructions to be followed while delivering the order. It would help if there is a clear description of the package information, billing, and customer attributes. Ensure that the routes are shorter and flexible so that it decreases the possibility of any damage to the package. In case any instruction is not followed, an individual can hold the carrier service accountable. 

8. Collaboration with various supply tiers: 

Collaborating with various supply carrier services helps the company and meets the demand for sustainable package delivery. However, it would be best to choose delivery partners after conducting in-depth market research. Maintain good and healthy relationships through regular communication with them. Choose the right companies keeping in mind their ability to provide the right tools for their business. People can wisely opt for a supply carrier service accordingly as per their need.

9. Set Sales Goals: 

Setting Goals is one of the main objectives to overcome the competition. Individuals should always prioritize the higher value sales. It satisfies the customer interests and, in turn, increases the profits. In a comprehensive list of all the orders, priority instructions are listed so that they are of higher value and easy to deliver. Try engaging with customers who demand express delivery, which helps individuals to charge higher rates thus, covering the supply chain expenses within the profits gained.

10. Improve speed to market: 

Introducing new and trendy products in any market helps attract customers. As individuals reach their target customers, a person can provide more straightforward and affordable modes of transport to deliver the product, reducing wastage. People can also have a fixed volume of space to load their packages daily or weekly. It also improves the growth of their business in a heavily competitive world.

11. Data quality management: 

Many advanced database management systems help to reduce manual work and store the data effectively. Keeping all the information regarding the products, their prices, orders placed for them, customer needs, customer attributes, and delivery locations and delivery locations makes it easier to access all the essential details. With all these essential details, people can take care of planning and delivering the package by listing specific instructions. Individuals would be able to choose an affordable transportation mode suitable for that order wisely. Packaging measures can also be planned accordingly.

12. Pro-active import and export management: 

Pre-planned import and export management of the products helps obtain long-term connections with the various supply carrier services around the country. It benefits one in many ways, such as reducing delivery charges, the fastest reach to the end consumer, strengthening relationships with various companies, etc. It helps in bringing huge profits to a particular product while also reducing its transportation cost. 

Other factors like decision-making, minimizing time performance, using a postage meter, consolidation, etc., are also involved in the logistic processes. But the factors mentioned above are the ones that will help reduce logistic costs and improve the fashion brand business. 

Final words

There are many essential factors provided in this content to reduce the logistic costs in the fashion industry. The clothing business includes many difficulties, and an individual must know how to face all of them with effective measures.  One has to be highly creative to achieve the goals set. Several factors in several domains lead to a broader expansion of the business. Try to explore new ideas and take a step forward with a wiser decision. Consider all the possibilities and accordingly plan everything. Maintenance and Management play a crucial role in achieving the long-term goals.  
In today's world, we are surrounded by various technological ideas that are helping us to reduce manual work and relieve stress. Implement those technical ideas in the fashion business and develop multiple tools that improve the market growth. Customer satisfaction is the priority. Hence, if a person is looking for a brand/company that can source material for a fashion brand, choose Fashinza.