Who Does Mugsy Jeans Use for Warehousing & Fulfillment?

Mugsy Jeans uses Ryder as their primary third-party logistics (3PL) and fulfillment partner.

Introduction to Mugsy Jeans

Founded in 2016 by Leo Tropeano, Mugsy Jeans has rapidly established itself as a leading men's clothing brand specializing in ultra-comfortable denim and apparel. The Chicago-based company was born from Tropeano's frustration with the men's jean market—he couldn't find options that were both stylish and comfortable for athletic builds. After years of development and testing thousands of fabric combinations, Mugsy created a proprietary stretch denim blend that combines style with extraordinary comfort.

The brand has experienced explosive growth since its founding, approaching $10 million in revenue with a staff of just nine people. Mugsy was even ranked #69 on Inc.'s list of 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America, emerging as the top-ranked jeans company on the list and #3 in retail overall. Their product lineup has expanded beyond jeans to include:

• Chinos and pants
• Shirts and button-downs
• Hoodies and jackets
• Shorts and swimwear
• Accessories

Why Mugsy Needed to Optimize Fulfillment

As Mugsy experienced rapid growth, they encountered significant challenges with their previous 3PL provider that threatened to undermine their business success:

• Consistent SLA failures - Their previous 3PL hadn't met the Service Level Agreement (SLA) once in the last six months
• High SKU complexity - Their expanding product line required sophisticated inventory management
• Lack of value-added apparel services - As a premium clothing brand, Mugsy needed specialized handling
• Shipping cost management issues - Rising residential delivery fees were impacting their bottom line
• Onboarding complications - Their previous 3PL didn't move inventory on the promised date during transition

According to Scott Dulany, Chief Operations Officer at Mugsy: "We made an effort to ask for recommendations from different brands and our advisory group to see which providers came out on top. Ryder E-commerce was the name that kept cropping up in those discussions."

The Ryder E-commerce Solution

After careful evaluation, Mugsy chose Ryder E-commerce as their fulfillment partner, implementing several key solutions:

1. Strategic location - Ryder provided a Columbus Ohio fulfillment facility close to Mugsy's Chicago headquarters, enabling two-day shipping to a large percentage of customers
2. Flexible onboarding - When faced with abrupt transition challenges, Ryder demonstrated exceptional adaptability
3. Advanced technology integration - Ryder's SmartRate Selection tool allows Mugsy to adjust parcel service levels in real-time based on business needs
4. Value-added services - Support for promotional packaging and rapid sale launches critical for apparel e-commerce
5. Multi-carrier partnerships - Access to multiple parcel carriers for optimizing shipping costs and delivery speeds
6. Transparent inventory reporting - Accurate real-time inventory visibility for better business planning

Partnership Results and Impact

The partnership between Mugsy Jeans and Ryder E-commerce has delivered remarkable results:

• 99.5% customer satisfaction with order and delivery experiences
• 100% SLA compliance from day one, compared to their previous 3PL's consistent failures
• Over 1,000 on-time orders dispatched in the first week after launch
• Improved shipping economics through better carrier selection and rate optimization
• Enhanced business agility with the ability to make dynamic decisions based on daily trends

Scott Dulany described the change as "night and day" compared to their previous 3PL experience, calling the partnership "transformational" for both Mugsy and their customers.

Key Lessons for Other E-commerce Brands

The Mugsy-Ryder partnership offers valuable lessons for other growing e-commerce brands:

1. Partner selection is critical - Seek references from industry peers and don't rush the vetting process
2. SLA compliance should be non-negotiable - Consistent delivery performance directly impacts customer satisfaction
3. Location matters for fast shipping - Strategic fulfillment center placement enables competitive delivery times
4. Technology integration drives efficiency - Look for 3PLs with systems that can optimize shipping costs and delivery times

Is Ryder the Right 3PL for Your Business?

While Ryder proved ideal for Mugsy, every e-commerce business has unique needs. Consider these factors when evaluating if Ryder might be right for your business:

• Order volume - Ryder can handle significant volumes for growing brands
• Product complexity - They excel with high SKU counts and apparel-specific requirements
• Growth trajectory - Ryder offers scalable solutions for rapidly expanding businesses
• Value-added service needs - Consider if you require specialized packaging or handling
• Geographic focus - Their network is optimized for nationwide distribution, particularly in the Midwest and East Coast

You can use Fulfill.com's 3PL matchmaking service to determine if Ryder or another provider best meets your specific needs.

Final Thoughts

The partnership between Mugsy Jeans and Ryder E-commerce demonstrates how the right 3PL relationship can transform an e-commerce business. For Mugsy, moving from a problematic fulfillment situation to a reliable, flexible partner has enabled them to focus on what they do best—creating comfortable, stylish apparel for men—while Ryder handles the complex logistics behind the scenes.

This case study illustrates that in today's competitive e-commerce landscape, logistics excellence isn't just about warehousing and shipping—it's about creating a seamless customer experience that strengthens brand loyalty and drives growth. For brands experiencing fulfillment challenges or planning for significant scaling, finding the right 3PL partner should be considered a strategic priority.

Looking to optimize your own e-commerce fulfillment? Get matched with pre-vetted 3PL providers that meet your specific business requirements.