Who Does The Beachwaver Use for Warehousing & Fulfillment?

The Beachwaver uses ShipBob as their primary third-party logistics (3PL) and fulfillment partner.

Introduction to The Beachwaver

Founded by celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa, The Beachwaver Co. has revolutionized the beauty industry with their patented rotating curling irons. Their flagship product, the Beachwaver Pro, is an innovative professional styling tool that has garnered over 60 beauty awards and become the #1 tool used backstage at major fashion and entertainment events. The company has expanded beyond their signature curling irons to offer a comprehensive range of vegan hair care products, including paraben-free and cruelty-free formulations, alongside styling accessories and subscription kits.

As a leader in the premium beauty tools sector, The Beachwaver has experienced remarkable growth, evolving from a small startup to a globally recognized brand with millions of customers. Their success on platforms like TikTok Shop, where they've sold over one million items, demonstrates their strong market position and continued trajectory of expansion.

Why The Beachwaver Needed to Optimize Fulfillment

The Beachwaver's journey to finding the right fulfillment solution was marked by several significant challenges that threatened to limit their growth potential:

• Humble beginnings with manual fulfillment: Initially, the team self-fulfilled orders from an apartment, physically transporting packages to the post office themselves—a system that quickly became unsustainable as demand grew.
• Problematic initial 3PL experience: As they expanded, they switched to a third-party logistics provider that began "nickel and diming" them with mounting charges, making costs unpredictable and difficult to manage.
• In-house limitations: After bringing fulfillment in-house in 2019, they struggled with various platforms that "left a lot to be desired" in terms of functionality and integration capabilities.
• Seasonal capacity constraints: The brand faced significant difficulties managing peak season volume, particularly during the crucial Black Friday to Christmas period, and had previously been forced to "stop selling when we reached our warehouse's capacity"—a devastating limitation for an e-commerce business.
• International expansion barriers: Their Illinois warehouse-centered operation limited their ability to efficiently serve international customers, creating barriers to global growth.

These challenges collectively created a fulfillment bottleneck that was preventing The Beachwaver from capitalizing on their market success and meeting customer demand during critical selling periods.

Partnership Details and Results with ShipBob

The Beachwaver's partnership with ShipBob has delivered transformative results across multiple aspects of their operations:

• Dramatic efficiency improvements: The implementation of ShipBob's warehouse management system (WMS) has enabled a single employee to pick nearly 100 orders per hour—a remarkable increase in operational efficiency.
• Elimination of capacity constraints: The brand no longer faces the growth-limiting scenario of having to pause sales during peak periods, as the flexible fulfillment network can scale to accommodate any volume.
• Seamless peak season management: The Beachwaver can now process all holiday orders on time and focus on capturing last-minute shoppers, significantly extending their selling window during the most profitable time of year.
• E-commerce platform expansion: With ShipBob's customized solutions for TikTok Shop, featuring special shortcuts and filters, The Beachwaver has successfully sold over 1 million items on this emerging platform.
• Global reach without barriers: International sales are no longer limited by what they can ship from Illinois, allowing true global market penetration.
• Optimized logistics costs: The partnership has resulted in reduced shipping costs through strategic inventory placement and efficient fulfillment processes.

These quantifiable results demonstrate how the right ecommerce fulfillment partnership can remove operational barriers and enable a brand to fully leverage its market position.

The ShipBob 3PL Solution

ShipBob implemented a comprehensive and flexible fulfillment solution customized to address The Beachwaver's specific challenges:

1. Phased implementation approach: The partnership began with ShipBob handling international fulfillment for Canada and Australia, allowing The Beachwaver to test the service before broader implementation.
2. Hybrid fulfillment model: ShipBob deployed a unique solution that combines:
   • Implementation of ShipBob's WMS in The Beachwaver's own Illinois warehouse, maintaining their existing infrastructure
   • Access to ShipBob's extensive network of fulfillment centers for additional capacity and geographic coverage
3. Strategic facility network: The current setup leverages 1 Beachwaver-operated warehouse plus 8 ShipBob fulfillment centers (4 domestic US, 4 international), creating an optimized network for both domestic and global fulfillment.
4. Platform-specific customization: ShipBob created tailored solutions for TikTok Shop orders with special shortcuts and filters to accommodate this growing sales channel.
5. Scalable overflow capacity: The solution enables The Beachwaver to handle overflow orders through ShipBob's network during peak periods, eliminating previous capacity constraints.
6. Technology integration: ShipBob's advanced fulfillment technology integrates seamlessly with The Beachwaver's systems, providing real-time visibility and control.

This multifaceted approach demonstrates ShipBob's ability to create customized e-fulfillment solutions that address the unique needs of growing brands rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all model.

Lessons for Other eCommerce Brands

The Beachwaver's successful partnership with ShipBob offers valuable insights for other eCommerce brands seeking to optimize their fulfillment operations:

1. Consider a hybrid approach: The success of combining in-house fulfillment with 3PL services demonstrates that fulfillment doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing decision. Brands can maintain control of certain aspects while leveraging external expertise for others. This inventory management flexibility can provide the best of both worlds.
2. Prioritize scalability in partnership decisions: The ability to handle unexpected growth and seasonal spikes is perhaps the most critical factor in choosing a fulfillment partner. Brands should evaluate potential partners based on their capacity to scale operations quickly without compromising service quality.
3. Leverage technology for efficiency: The dramatic improvement in order picking efficiency highlights the importance of advanced warehouse management systems. Brands should seek partners with robust technological capabilities that can drive operational improvements.
4. Test before full commitment: The Beachwaver's approach of starting with international fulfillment before expanding the partnership provides a blueprint for testing compatibility with minimal risk. This phased implementation allows brands to verify service quality before deeper integration.

These lessons underscore the strategic importance of fulfillment decisions in enabling sustainable growth and maintaining customer satisfaction during periods of expansion.

Is ShipBob Right for Your Business?

While The Beachwaver's experience with ShipBob has been overwhelmingly positive, every business has unique requirements. Consider these factors when evaluating if ShipBob might be the right partner for your brand:

• Growth stage considerations: ShipBob's solutions are particularly well-suited for brands experiencing rapid growth or those anticipating significant scaling. If you're consistently hitting fulfillment capacity limits or struggling with seasonal spikes, their flexible model could be ideal.
• International expansion plans: If global growth is on your roadmap, ShipBob's international fulfillment network spanning multiple continents offers significant advantages for California-based and other US businesses looking to expand globally.
• Technology integration needs: Brands with complex tech stacks or multiple sales channels should evaluate ShipBob's integration capabilities with their specific platforms and the level of customization available.
• Inventory control preferences: The hybrid model that worked for The Beachwaver may appeal to brands that want to maintain some direct control over fulfillment while outsourcing other aspects. If maintaining your own warehouse is important, ShipBob's WMS implementation option provides this flexibility.
• Product characteristics: Consider whether your products have special handling requirements, dimensions, or storage needs that align with ShipBob's capabilities.

To determine if ShipBob is the right fit, businesses should conduct a thorough analysis of their current fulfillment costs, service levels, and growth projections against ShipBob's offering. You can explore options through the 3PL matchmaking service to find the perfect logistics partner.

Final Thoughts: The Impact of Strategic Fulfillment Partnerships

The Beachwaver's partnership with ShipBob exemplifies how the right fulfillment strategy can transform from a potential business constraint into a powerful growth enabler. By implementing a customized hybrid approach that combines the best of in-house and outsourced fulfillment, The Beachwaver has eliminated previous capacity limitations and positioned itself for continued global expansion.

The most significant insight from this case study is the importance of viewing fulfillment not merely as a cost center but as a strategic function that directly impacts customer experience, revenue potential, and growth trajectory. For The Beachwaver, the decision to partner with ShipBob removed the ceiling on their sales potential during peak periods and opened new international markets.

As e-commerce continues to evolve with new sales channels like TikTok Shop emerging rapidly, the ability to adapt fulfillment operations quickly becomes increasingly crucial. The brands that succeed will be those that establish flexible fulfillment networks capable of pivoting to meet changing market demands and customer expectations.

If your business is experiencing fulfillment challenges similar to those The Beachwaver faced, consider exploring how a strategic partnership with the right 3PL provider could unlock your next phase of growth. From reverse logistics to fulfillment center operations, the right partner can transform your supply chain operations.

Ready to find your ideal fulfillment partner? Use our matchmaking service to connect with pre-vetted 3PLs that meet your specific business needs.