Subscription Box Order Fulfilment

The subscription box industry has taken the e-commerce market by storm over the last few years.

More and more businesses are using subscription box services, meaning the demand for high-quality, reliable, and efficient order fulfilment services is at an all-time high.

We’re here to ensure your subscription box service thrives while leaving a lasting impression on your customers.

TSP Fulfilment is setting the standard, reinventing fulfilment and leveraging the playing field for all ambitious brands looking to scale.

What is Subscription Box Fulfilment?

Customers sign up with brands to get a regular shipment of goods. The fulfilment is the operational process of getting these orders to customers.

It incorporates all aspects of the operation from receiving the goods in the warehouse, storing ready for the orders, pick, pack and shipping as well as making up the subscription boxes in bulk.

To keep customers on your service, having a great fulfilment service is imperative.

Subscription Boxes; Exploring the growing market

As the e-commerce industry continues to adapt and evolve, we have seen a huge influx in companies offering subscription boxes to their customers.

During the pandemic, subscription box sales soared, Royal Mail estimated the UK market at £1.4bn, a 135% increase from 2017. It forecasts a further rise to £1.8bn by 2025.

In 2022, it was reported that at least 81% of UK households had signed up for at-least one Subscription box service, highlighting the demand and appeal for subscription boxes. The chart shows the most popular sectors for subscription boxes.

Food

52%

Shaving products

24%

Clothing

22%

Perfume and cosmetics

18%

Pet supplies

14%

Common fulfilment challenges

When managing subscription box fulfilment, timing, coordination, and accuracy are critical. With recurring orders and fixed dispatch cycles, even minor disruptions can have a knock-on effect across your entire operation. Without clear processes and reliable partners in place, these challenges can impact delivery performance, costs, and long-term customer retention:

Inventory
Management

Balancing stock levels is essential for maintaining efficiency and controlling costs. Ordering too late can result in delays and rushed shipments, while over-ordering leads to excess stock and higher storage costs. Without accurate forecasting and inventory control, these issues can reduce margins and create unnecessary operational strain.

Product changes and
supplier coordination

For subscription boxes that change regularly, managing product timelines becomes more complex. Suppliers and manufacturers need sufficient lead time to produce and deliver items ahead of fulfilment. Without careful planning and coordination, delays at this stage can affect the entire schedule, putting pressure on picking, packing, and shipping deadlines.

Shipping and delivery performance

Subscription models rely on consistent, predictable dispatch schedules. Delays from suppliers, production, or couriers can quickly disrupt this cycle. Without a dependable and well-coordinated supply chain, missed dispatch dates and late deliveries become more likely, which can lead to customer dissatisfaction and increased churn over time.

Outsourcing vs In-House Fulfilment

It can be hard to decide whether or not you should outsource your subscription box fulfilment, or keep it in house. There are two main things to take into consideration when it comes to making your decision: the level of kitting and assembly required, and the volume of orders you are sending. Let’s consider two different scenarios to help better understand why these are important factors.

Company A

You are a skincare brand. The same products are shipped directly to your customer every month on the same day in a branded box with some promotional inserts, and a thank you card.

Your products are pre-packaged but you require that they are placed in the box in a certain order as the products must be used in a specific order by the customer. Each month you ship over 1000 subscription boxes.

Company B

You are a luxury, high end jewellery brand. You just launched a few months ago and you are still trying to establish yourself in the market. Each month you send out different products as your customers can pick and choose which products they want in their box that month.

Your products are shipped in custom boxes, and each box must be packed with custom tissue paper, and a hand-written thank you note that personally addresses the recipient. Each month you ship 20 boxes.

Exploring the options

Now that we have outlined two scenarios, let’s consider what the best option would be for each of these companies based on the above information.

Due to the low level of kitting and assembly required, and due to the high volume of orders shipped every month, company A may find that the best solution for them is outsourcing.

Partnering with a 3PL would provide cost, and time effective solutions for the company since they can provide reduced rates on shipping and storage, as well as eliminating the time it takes you to pick, pack, and ship orders. This will allow you to put more time and money back into growing the business.

If your subscription box fulfilment requires something similar to the needs of Company A, outsourcing can be a great option for you.

Due to the high level of kitting and assembly required, and the low volume of monthly orders shipped, company B may find that it is more beneficial to remain in-house.

Though most 3PLs offer kitting and assembly, as well as the ability to use custom packaging, most deal with a large volume of orders across their fulfilment centres and therefore may not be able to pay attention to detail in the way you require.

Not only this, but depending on the 3PL, it usually isn’t as cost effective either and you will probably find that it is more cost effective to remain in-house. If your subscription box requires something similar to the needs of Company B, out-sourcing may not be the best option for you. But it is still something you could enquire about as each 3PL is different

Our fulfilment services

Storage, Pick & Pack

We understand the importance of storing, picking, and packing your products with care, and offer a range of packaging solutions to ensure your orders reach your customers in a safe manner.

We serve a range of markets so we have experience storing, picking, and packing a variety of different products, so we’ve got you covered regardless of what you sell.

Shipping & Logistics

After we pick and pack your orders, we ship them too.

Certain products, need to be shipped with care, which is why we work with reliable couriers.

We ensure you get better deals on shipping and by letting you leverage our buying power, meaning you can save money and put it back into growing your business.

Fulfilling subscription boxes from a range of industries

At TSP Fulfilment, we’re able to serve a range of markets within the e-commerce industry, demonstrating our flexibility when it comes to your subscription box fulfilment. It’s quick and easy to get going. With a dedicated account manager to help sync your stores and upload your product details, we’ll have you all set up and ready to go within five days.

What our customers say

”From fantastic communication to efficiency of stock management to seamless integration with marketplaces – all aspects of the service get a 10 out of 10 from me. I look forward to the months and years ahead!”

Richard

UK Sports Brand

”It’s surprisingly difficult to find an order fulfilment centre who are experts in B2C, Amazon and Retail. Our business relies on all aspects, and exceptional service levels. TSP Fulfilment has been nothing short of fantastic!”

Sam

US Cosmetics Brand