August 2022

Developments in the World of E-Commerce

Welcome to E-Comm Unboxed, our monthly newsletter!

Here we showcase major updates from the e-commerce world, our partners, and Soapbox.

If you have any feedback or would like to contribute, let us know.

In this edition of our newsletter, we recap August’s software updates, E-Comm Elevated Podcast episodes, blog posts, and more.

Now, let’s kick things off with a deep dive into pick, pack, and label.

The Front Page

In The News

Pick, Pack, & Label: A Deep Dive

When it comes to fulfilling e-commerce orders, three interconnected steps are vital: Pick, Pack, & Label. This is when the e-commerce seller selects the items needed for a particular order, packs them, and then labels the package for shipping.

While these steps might seem simple, they can become a significant pain point. However, there are ways to optimize these steps in order to save time and money. Head to our blog to read more, or check out our key takeaways below:

1. When picking products, organize them in a staging area by type.
2. As you’re packing orders, organize them by common order.
3. When packing orders, sort common orders by their carrier.

Soapbox Announcements

We're excited to announce that Soapbox is now available on the Shopify App Store. You can easily access our platform and manage your orders, inventory, shipping, warehousing, and returns from the Shopify 3rd-party app section. To learn more, head to the Shopify App Store.

Soapbox is elated to announce our official acceptance into the UPS Ready Program. As a certified vendor, we easily plug into small, medium, enterprise, and e-commerce businesses to streamline all processes. Simple, streamlined, and designed for scale - Soapbox is the one software for all of your fulfillment needs. Manage shipping, inventory, packaging, rates, and label printing all in one place.

Soapbox also provides WMS functionality to help manage warehouse operations as you continue to grow. All UPS customers are welcome to engage with Soapbox to discuss integrations and how Soapbox can help streamline your operations and help scale your business. Please contact Johnathan Tellez at Johnathan@soap-bx.com for additional information.

Tech Talk

We introduced new features, made enhancements, and applied a few bug fixes to our software in August.

Let’s take a look at the biggest updates:

New Features & Enhancements

• Editable product UPC field
• Packing slip refactor
• The invoice detail PDF is now attached to an email
• Company info is now added to invoice emails
• “Enable storefront shipping service requests” is now enabled by default

Bug Fixes

If you recently encountered any of the following bugs on the Soapbox platform, they have now been fixed:

• “Invoice period” not displayed on invoices
• Weight fields not populated when packaging with “actual packaging weight” data is selected
• Pagination issues on Bundles page and Batch Orders page
• Unable to scroll on Order Detail page
• Weight value doubled when custom package was selected in Custom Order modal
• Deactivated packaging was selectable in Import Order modal
• Order item total was not saved when user edits order, deletes item, and re-adds item with a dollar value
• Inventory Export CSV included inactive SKUs
• USPS EasyPost labels were not printing 4x6

Curious about how our software can help your business? You can create a free account or attend our Platform Demo Webinars every Monday from 10-10:30 AM PST.

Click here to add our webinar to your calendar.

Outside The Box Insights

E-Comm Elevated, our Soapbox-produced podcast, provides a platform for thought leadership and to share exciting, transformational ideas in the digital commerce space. In August, we had the pleasure of interviewing three entrepreneurs with a wealth of knowledge on logistics and analytics.

Fun Gal Snacks

Our first guest in August was Marilyn Yang, co-founder and CEO of Fun Gal Snacks. Marilyn shares the story of how her first product, Popadelics, was the result of finding a gap in the snack market, turning an unlikely vegetable into a flavorful chip.

If you’re ready to learn more about Marilyn’s approach to the CPG industry, how she handles feedback, getting her product to market, and so much more, tune in to our E-Comm Elevated Episode.

• Don’t be afraid to change course with your business. If your product or marketing can be improved upon but alters your original business plan, that’s okay.
• When choosing the right strategic partner for your brand, look for someone that understands your vision. Additionally, make sure you have a clear idea of what you want before looking for a partner.
• Feedback is best when it comes from as many sources as possible. Allow individuals outside of your circle to try your product and give their honest feedback.

Glasvin

Next, our host Pete interviewed David Kong, founder and CEO of Glasvin. By combining his love of wine with a practical need, David managed to land a spot on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Now, he's sharing his tips on reducing marketing costs and keeping an efficient supply chain.

If you’re ready to learn more, tune in to our latest episode.

• When creating a product to sell, consider selling something that can be purchased in recurrence. Also consider selling something that can be shown off in your home, getting others interested in your product.
• Marketing doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Old-fashioned methods like word-of-mouth advertisement can go a long way.
• In your first run of production, be conservative with what you order. Until you know what will sell well, you shouldn’t risk ordering too many items.

If you 1) know someone who would be a great guest on E-Comm Elevated or 2) want to share your own experience in e-commerce, fill out our Podcast Guest Form and we’ll be in touch!

Network News

Sharing is caring, and we love talking about the great customers and partners that are working with Soapbox. This space is dedicated to updates, announcements, and cool innovations coming from our partners and customers. Let’s dive in!

Customer Portal

Small Business Spotlight: Chimera Backcountry Snowboards & Pallas Snowboards

When it comes to snowboarding, two entrepreneurs are changing the game. Meet Alister Horn, founder of Chimera Backcountry Snowboards, and Steph Nitsch, founder of Pallas Snowboards. These sibling companies each put their own spin on splitboards, an innovative product that combines skiing and snowboarding.

To learn more about their intertwined origin stories, products, and how Soapbox helps with their fulfillment, check out our latest Small Business Spotlight.

Partner Portal

EcommerceTech

What's the best tool for X? Check out our partner EcommerceTech’s curated list of quality Shopify app and ecosystem partners that you can trust. Track tools in all major e-commerce categories, and make it easier to find the tools to grow your store.

A Look Ahead

We’re going to be staying busy at Soapbox HQ in September. Here’s a peek at some topics we’ll be tackling in our upcoming content:

• How To Optimize Your E-Commerce Fulfillment - Utilizing Shipping Carriers: Continuing our ongoing blog series, we discuss the ins and outs of shipping carriers. Learn more about what your options are and how to get shipping discounts.
• E-Comm Elevated Featured Guests:
• Jackson Weinreb, founder and CEO of Stikit Charge
• Zack Leonard, CPO, President, and co-founder of Gembah

Closing Thoughts

Thank you for reading E-Comm Unboxed. We’ll see you next month with more updates and inside scoops from the world of e-commerce.

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