Headlines

Study: More Retailers Turning to Third Party Fulfillment Services

Additionally, retailers are decreasing in-store staff fulfillment services.

Published

1 year ago

January 29, 2024

INSTORE Staff

Study: More Retailers Turning to Third Party Fulfillment Services

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO

In the recently released 2023 Omnichannel and Fulfillment Benchmark Report, more than half (53 percent) of retailers surveyed use third-party services for fulfillment such as Instacart, DoorDash and Uber Eats. This marked an increase from 2022, in which 45 percent of retailers used third party fulfillment service.

Other findings released from the report include:

56 percent of retailers surveyed assigned in-store staff to handle fulfillment services. This is down from 65 percent in 2022.
43 percent of retailers surveyed provide dedicated space for order prep. This is down from 60 percent in 2022.
54 percent of retailers surveyed said active physical stores are the final locations for inventory prior to delivery.

Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.