Who Does The Wooden Wick Use for Warehousing & Fulfillment?

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

Introduction to Makesy

Formerly known as The Wooden Wick, Makesy has established itself as the world's largest supplier and community for elevated, innovative, and creative makers. The company started with their patented wooden wicks that create a signature crackling sound when burning and has since expanded to offer over 5,000 unique products across home fragrance and personal care categories. Today, Makesy provides premium supplies for candle making, soap making, skincare formulation, and home fragrance creation, with an emphasis on eco-friendly and sustainable materials.

With 150 patents on their wooden wicks alone, Makesy has positioned itself as a premium brand in the DIY maker space, serving both hobbyists and small business owners looking to create high-quality, luxurious products. The company's growth trajectory has been impressive, now fulfilling over 10,000 orders per month to customers who value quality, innovation, and sustainability in their creative pursuits.

Why Makesy Needed to Optimize Fulfillment

As Makesy experienced significant growth, they encountered several challenges with their fulfillment operations that threatened to limit their expansion:

• Resource allocation issues - Their team was so focused on picking and packing orders that they couldn't dedicate enough resources to growing their production and manufacturing capabilities
• Subpar 3PL performance - Their previous third-party logistics provider had significant problems with order packing time, inadequate care levels, and inconsistent adherence to best practices
• Financial transparency concerns - Hidden fees from their previous fulfillment partner made it difficult to forecast costs accurately
• Brand reputation risks - As a premium brand, Makesy needed to maintain high standards for packaging and presentation, which their previous fulfillment solution couldn't consistently deliver
• Scaling challenges - With rapidly increasing order volume, their in-house fulfillment operations were becoming unsustainable

These challenges created a critical inflection point for Makesy—they needed a fulfillment partner who could handle their volume while maintaining their premium brand standards and allowing their internal team to refocus on product innovation and growth.

Partnership Details and Results

Makesy's partnership with ShipBob has delivered remarkable results, transforming their fulfillment operations and enabling continued business growth. The quantifiable improvements include:

• 67% reduction in average shipping time - dramatically improving customer satisfaction and reducing service inquiries
• Error rate reduction from 2% to approximately 0% - virtually eliminating costly mistakes and customer disappointment
• Operational efficiency - Makesy reduced their fulfillment team to one-third of its original size, allowing them to reallocate resources to core business functions
• Cost predictability - ShipBob's transparent pricing model eliminated surprise fees and provided more competitive rates
• Scalability - The partnership enabled Makesy to handle increased order volume (over 10,000 monthly orders) with a leaner team

These impressive metrics demonstrate how the right 3PL partnership can transform operations beyond simply outsourcing shipping—it can fundamentally improve a brand's efficiency, customer experience, and bottom line.

The ShipBob Solution

ShipBob implemented several key solutions to address Makesy's specific challenges:

1. Seamless transition management - ShipBob's freight team handled inventory transfers between warehouses, minimizing disruption during the switch from Makesy's previous fulfillment setup
2. Premium packaging implementation - Understanding the importance of presentation for Makesy's brand, ShipBob established proper protocols to maintain consistent packaging quality
3. Integrated technology platform - ShipBob's fulfillment system integrated with Makesy's existing operations, providing visibility and control over the fulfillment process
4. Scalable infrastructure - With the ability to handle Makesy's high volume of orders (10,000+ monthly), ShipBob provided the infrastructure necessary for continued growth
5. Quality control processes - The near-zero error rate reflects ShipBob's commitment to accuracy and attention to detail in order fulfillment

By implementing these solutions, ShipBob enabled Makesy to maintain their premium brand experience while offloading the operational burden of fulfillment, allowing the company to focus on product innovation and business growth.

Lessons for Other eCommerce Brands

Makesy's experience with ShipBob offers valuable insights for other eCommerce brands considering 3PL partnerships:

1. Focus on core competencies - By outsourcing fulfillment, Makesy could redirect internal resources toward product development and manufacturing—their true competitive advantages
2. Don't compromise on brand experience - The right 3PL partner should enhance, not detract from, your brand standards and customer experience
3. Transparency matters - Clear pricing structures and absence of hidden fees are crucial for building a sustainable logistics partnership
4. Error reduction impacts the bottom line - Decreasing errors from 2% to nearly 0% doesn't just improve customer satisfaction—it significantly reduces the costs associated with returns, replacements, and customer service

These lessons highlight how strategic fulfillment partnerships can serve as growth enablers rather than merely cost centers when implemented correctly.

Is ShipBob Right for Your Business?

While ShipBob proved to be an excellent match for Makesy, businesses should consider several factors when evaluating whether this 3PL is right for their needs:

• Order volume - ShipBob is well-suited for businesses shipping 1,000+ orders per month, though they can accommodate growing brands with lower volumes
• Product characteristics - Consider whether your products have special handling requirements like Makesy's premium packaging needs
• Growth trajectory - ShipBob's scalable infrastructure makes them ideal for rapidly growing brands that need flexibility
• Technology integration - Evaluate how ShipBob's systems will integrate with your existing eCommerce platform and order management processes
• Budget considerations - While premium service often comes at a premium price, the efficiency gains and error reduction can offset the investment

For businesses unsure about which 3PL provider best matches their specific needs, Fulfill.com's matchmaking service can help identify the ideal logistics partner based on your unique requirements.

Final Thoughts

Makesy's partnership with ShipBob demonstrates how the right fulfillment partner can become a strategic asset rather than just a service provider. By addressing Makesy's specific challenges with tailored solutions, ShipBob helped transform their operations and enable sustainable growth.

The impressive metrics—67% faster shipping, near-zero error rates, and significant team reduction—illustrate the potential impact of optimized fulfillment on an eCommerce business's performance and customer experience.

For growing eCommerce brands facing similar challenges, this case study provides a blueprint for how strategic outsourcing can free up internal resources to focus on product innovation and market expansion while improving customer satisfaction. Whether you're considering ShipBob or exploring other options, the key is finding a 3PL partner whose capabilities align with your specific business needs and growth objectives.

Ready to find the right fulfillment partner for your business? Start your search today and discover how the right 3PL can transform your operations just as ShipBob did for Makesy.