May 16, 2012 – Fulfillment Strategies International (FSI) to showcase their unique combination of fulfillment and technology services at the upcoming Cobb B2B Expo.  Held at the Cobb Galleria Centre on Thursday, May 17^th, 2012, this event is known as the premier Chamber sponsored business to business exposition in the area. This annual event is held for the promotion of local businesses and corporate networking. More than 150 companies showcase their products and services to over 1,500 attendees. Open to the public, this event keeps participants on the competitive edge with networking, idea sharing, product introduction and service solutions attracting executives at every level.

The EXPO is FREE to attend. Come visit FSI from 3:00 – 7:00p.m. this Thursday, 5/17 at Booth 317. Meet the FSI team and leave a business card for your chance to win a Maggiano’s/Chili’s/On the Border gift card!

 

FSI continues with its charitable culture by participating in our 2nd Expedition Give. It’s a charitable scavenger hunt race in Atlanta put on by Giving101 (www.giving101.org) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of givers, civic leaders and philanthropists. The charity’s programs educate the public about charitable giving, inspire individuals to act, and provide people with tools, information, and resources to make a difference in the lives of others. Expedition Give is Giving101’s annual charity scavenger hunt where teams of 2 race all over Atlanta collecting items, taking pictures and completing charitable tasks to earn points. At the end of the 5-hour event, the teams with the most points win. FSI is a proud sponsor of Giving101 and we had 5 teams entered into this year’s race.

Can’t wait to do it again next year!



Check out our YouTube video featuring highlights of the event:

FSI is taking time out of our daily kit packing, pick/pack/ship, inventory management, receiving, shrink wrapping, etc. day to put together a team to participate in the 2012 Komen Atlanta Race for the Cure. Come join us and be a part of the team at www.komenatlanta.org. Here are some pictures from recent years:

That’s right, FSI has made it to the Sweet 16!  No, we didn’t put a basketball team together and we didn’t advance in a bracket tournament about who the best fulfillment companies were (although I’m sure FSI would do quite well if such a tournament existed).  But on April 1^st, FSI celebrated our 16^th birthday!  That’s no April Fool’s joke, we really did turn 16.  Thank you to all of our clients, employees, vendors and partners for helping make each birthday possible.  We couldn’t be successful without you.  You’ve helped us provide jobs and give back to the community.  Through those 16 years, we’ve made the Cobb Chamber’s Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year for the last 4 years, and Inc Magazine’s top 5000 fastest growing private companies the last 3.  We started in 1996 with 3 employees and 13,000 ft² of space, and today we’re stronger than ever with 32 employees and an average of 15 – 20 temps on any given day using almost 180,000 ft².  Here’s to the next 16 years.

We also took this time of celebration to give out our Ideas for Cash awards.  What’s that, you say?  FSI has a longstanding program to reward our employees to submitting ideas for improvements.  We’re always striving to be the best fulfillment company we can be, and our employees are the ones we count on the most for dynamic, new ideas.  No matter how good things are, there’s always room for improvement somewhere.  Even if our clients aren’t asking for improvements, we constantly look to make our fulfillment services better.  It’s a culture and way of thinking at FSI that has been one of the key reasons for our success, growth and longevity.  For the ideas submitted, we have quarterly awards, then an annual Idea of the Year award complete with cash, days off, trophies, prizes and bragging rights.  This year’s winner was our Inventory Control Coordinator, Kim Hairston (pictured below), who helped come up with a better way to automate some processes in kit packing.

Thank you Kim for the great idea and to all of our employees for all of their ideas.  Keep them coming!   

 

 

 

FSI Sponsors the 2012 AMY Awards

Honoring the Best BIG IDEAS in Marketing!

 

 

Atlanta (April 4, 2012) Fulfillment Strategies International – FSI sponsored the annual 2012 AMY Awards event.  For 55 years, the Atlanta Marketer of the Year Awards, presented by AMA Atlanta, have celebrated more than just great creative – they have rewarded companies that crafted innovative strategies, unforgettable creative and produced outstanding results. The AMY Awards recognize companies and individuals who’ve made their mark on the Atlanta marketing scene during the previous calendar year. This year’s theme was What’s the BIG IDEA? , awarding marketers that set themselves apart, whose BIG IDEAS truly inspire!

The AMY Awards were held Thursday, March 27^th at the fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga.  William Pate, CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.  Atlanta marketers were judged in 11 different categories and top winners received the coveted Red Pencil Award. 

FSI was proud to be a part of this prestigious event for the 5^th consecutive year!    FSI holds a vital support role within Atlanta’s marketing community.  We help companies deliver their “big ideas” to market via quality kit assembly and fulfillment services.  While attending and contributing to this event, we can cheer our clients on as they are recognized as Atlanta’s most innovative and creative teams. 

 

Information Contact:
Linda Williamson, Business Development Manager
678.391.5980
lindaw@fsifulfillment.com

 

It is no surprise that consumers want to receive their orders as fast and inexpensively as possible. Longer delivery times can result in unhappy customers and increased support calls. Merchants with chronic delivery issues can find themselves with negative reviews, and such a perception can take years to erase. So when considering transit times, is it true that there is a geographical advantage to using a fulfillment company located in one particular area of the country versus another? Let’s take a look at a few key issues. According to the US Census Bureau, 80% of the US population lives on the east coast, and 64% live east of the Mississippi. The Census Bureau’s map below shows the population density by county. The darker the color, the more densely populated that county is.





FSI is located just miles from Atlanta and is ideally situated to provide us with excellent efficiency in terms of transit times. Here is a UPS Ground transit map showing the transit times from our location. FSI can reach approximately 75% of the US population in 3 days via Ground.






Here is how those transit times compare to the west coast. Notice how the densely populated areas of the northeast take an additional 2 days.






And here is what the transit times look like coming out of New York.






Some companies claim that the middle of the country is the best way to go. The reality is that it is still 4 days to get to the west coast, and it actually adds another day of transit to the most densely populated northeast region. Moving your fulfillment base from Atlanta to the middle of the country only gains you some time with the most sparsely populated states while costing you valuable time in the states with the most population.






So what’s the bottom line? When you need to offer the minimum delivery time for the maximum percentage of Americans, a fulfillment base on the east coast is the only way to go.

We’ve established that Atlanta is a very strategically located shipping location, but being located relatively close to Atlanta isn’t enough. For example, going just 45 minutes outside of Atlanta will add an extra day to ship to most of Texas and California. It is simply based on the way carriers design their shipping network.






With FSI, you literally get the best of all worlds. We are strategically located in Atlanta, Georgia, which is the distribution center of the southeast. It is home not only to the busiest airport in the world, but also to the busiest and fastest growing port in the United States. We believe we are the best fulfillment center in Atlanta, so FSI becomes a natural choice when Clients are looking for a world-class provider of fulfillment services.

But we aren’t called Fulfillment Strategies International for nothing, as we ship to over 170 countries. Our international clients pass through Atlanta frequently and enjoy being able to stop in and see their inventory while they’re in town (one of our best clients from Holland found us out of the phone book he looked at while in the Atlanta airport and he drove straight to our location). Being close to the airport also makes it convenient for late package pickups from our small parcel carriers, UPS and FedEx, when needed. So that’s another bonus that can pay royal dividends from your customers.

What about fulfillment providers with warehouses in multiple parts of the country? Can they solve the entire transit time problem? Maybe, but while average transit times may drop, your storage and administration costs may skyrocket. Even worse, if the California-based location is out of a key product on a large order, it will have to do a partial shipment, and the New York-based location must ship the rest. So it is possible for a multi-location strategy to backfire and actually increase shipping and transit costs.

Wherever you live, FSI can handle all your fulfillment needs. Let us manage your pick/pack/ship, inventory management, kit packing, online catalog/e-commerce, online reporting, data entry and sweepstakes management, handwork, and more, so you can focus on what you do best – growing your business.

They say “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” FSI has seen countless changes over the years, but one constant has been our reliance on a core warehouse team that works to make sure every order is shipped correctly. Today we interview one of those team members. Let’s see what Shanda has to say about life at FSI.


How long have you worked at FSI, and what is your role?
I have been employed at FSI for 4 years as an order selector. As a part of the order picking and shipping department, I pull orders for our clients and help ensure they receive them promptly and accurately. My role here is to do my best and be a team player. I enjoy knowing that when I pull orders for our clients, they are picked, packed and shipped with care. It is my hope that every package delivered ends with a smile from that customer.

What did you do before FSI, and how in the world did you get roped in with these guys?
I was a barber, but I had to leave that profession due to an injury I suffered to my hands while breaking up a dog fight between a Rottweiler and a Boxer. My hand was damaged so severely that I spent twelve days in the hospital and had to give up cutting hair. I turned to a staffing agency and was placed at FSI, and was eventually hired full time. They say when God closes a door, He opens another. He certainly opened a wonderful door for me at FSI. I love my job!

What do you enjoy about the fulfillment business?
One of the things I admire most about this company is their participation in charitable events. The one that is most dear to me is the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure”. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 26. She had to have a mastectomy and back then they didn’t have the technology that they have today. So she was severely scarred and left with a lot of damage to her left arm. I have participated in this event for 8 years, and since I’ve been at FSI, I have had a growing and enthusiastic team join me. FSI is a big supporter of this event, and our team grows each year.

What have been some of your memorable moments from your time at FSI?
Wow! Honestly, every day is memorable and no two days are the same. I guess my favorites are the holiday events at Christmas and Thanksgiving. FSI’s 15th anniversary party was also a blast. We all share a lot with each other and memories are made every day. We are like family here. And every now and then, we enjoy pulling a good prank on one another.

What do you think separates FSI from other fulfillment companies? What makes FSI different?
We CARE! Everyone takes a great deal of pride in what they do. We treat our customers’ orders just like they were our orders. We are always trying to come up with better ways to serve our customers. Our motto is, “Customer Satisfaction Always Comes First”, and we never stop trying to improve.

We have the Ideas for Cash program where employees can submit their ideas for ways to do things even better. There are always great ideas submitted and many have really helped us become an even better fulfillment company.

What do you enjoy doing with your spare time outside of FSI?
I have a fifteen-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. I stay busy caring for them. We like to play outside and enjoy the pool, fishing and just hanging out with each other. I also spend a lot of time driving teenagers to and from their activities. I belong to an awesome church and enjoy hearing our pastor on Sundays.

Now a word just from me. I want to thank the owner of FSI, Ken Marbutt, for being such a sweet and kind man. Also, a word of appreciation for Forrest Marbutt, Ken’s son and company VP/GM, for always being receptive in the support of the Race for the Cure and our other events. A word of thanks to Bobby Bounds, our Director of Operations, for putting up with me and my crazy self. That alone is a full time job. Also, a word of thanks for Charlie Hayes for all the help he gives us in the warehouse, and to Kim Hairston for her endless help in Inventory Control. Thanks, FSI!

Shanda enjoys the latest walk for the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure"

Awhile back, Intel launched a TV commercial called “Our rock stars aren’t like your rock stars.” It featured the co- inventor of the USB port, which allows everything from keyboards to smart phones to be plugged into the same type of port on a PC or Mac. Let’s just say our IT department loves that commercial.

Maybe you don’t get too excited about a USB port, but we got to thinking about our clients. To them, their “rock stars” are the folks who get their products out the door, on time, and correct no matter how many pick/pack/ship orders hit or how complex the kit-pack job might be. Granted, FSI hasn’t made it to any rock star commercials, although Ken and Forrest were in fact featured on Heartbeat of America hosted by William Shatner. And whereas Intel brought in an actor for their commercial, FSI sent the real deal.

But because so many businesses rely on fulfillment providers such as FSI, the media is taking note. So as a follow up to our recent posting about the pilot episode of Move it!, we now go behind the scenes with the show’s host Steve Thomas and DC Velocity and Supply Chain Quarterly Group Editorial Director, Mitch Mac Donald. Here they discuss the development, purpose and mission of Move it!

Click here to watch the premiere episode of Move it!, which profiles operations at an Amway distribution center, the Port of Virginia, and iHerb's West Coast distribution facility. The episode also offers a look at how Old Dominion Freight Line keeps its customers' freight moving efficiently through its trucking network.



Click to watch the video clip of the making of Move it!

In the fulfillment and logistics industry, we often find ourselves explaining to people what exactly our industry does. You start explaining how all the things you order online come from a fulfillment company like ours or direct from a company who is handling the fulfillment themselves. You can point out all the things around us that we buy or that was produced and help people to understand that there is a supply chain that helped get that item from production to where it is today no matter where it was made.

The logistics industry now has its own TV show called Move It! It is hosted by Emmy Award winner Steve Thomas, former host of PBS’ “This Old House”. It can be viewed online at www.MoveItShow.com. The show helps answer those logistics questions about how items get to where they need to be through the supply chain. The premiere episode of Move It! showcases transportation and distribution operations at the Port of Virginia, the consumer products companies Amway and iHerb, and a brand-new Old Dominion Freight Line trucking terminal. Check it out!

On January 26th FSI had another opportunity to give back to our community. Whereas our days are filled with an amazing variety of pick/pack/ship and kit packing jobs, it’s a joy to reach out and lend a hand to the less fortunate. This opportunity was for Feed The Children (www.feedthechildren.org). Founded in 1979, their mission is “providing hope and resources for those without life’s essentials.” In 2010 they distributed about 133 million pounds of food to children and families throughout the United States and internationally.

This is where FSI came in. On the 26th they sent a trailer full of food and supplies to FSI. In the morning there were about 50 people lined up for assistance, and cars arrived periodically over the next few hours until the resources were distributed. FSI’s crew assisted in verifying the vouchers and loading the food for the families. Thanks to all the employees and family members who pitched in on that overcast January day. But be assured there were many smiling children!

Feed The Children is a nationally respected, 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, so we would be honored for anyone to visit their website and make a donation for future relief efforts.

Carleen, Forrest, and Beth prepare to donate at a local Red Cross.

We are thankful that there never seems to be a slow day at FSI.  There is a perpetual race against the clock to get countless thousands of pick/pack/ship orders and kit packing projects out the door.  But despite the ongoing scheduling challenges, we still know the importance of taking time out to give back to the community.

FSI employees recently participated in a local blood drive and in the Christmas Feed the Hungry with the AAAG (http://www.theaaag.org/AAAG_Official_Website/Welcome.html).  The food drive was held on Christmas weekend and helped to feed over 3,000 people. 

In regards to priceless blood donations, the human body is able to safely donate every 56 days.  We do our best to go as a group every 56 days, and we welcome you to join us.  Find a blood drive near you and donate today (http://www.redcrossblood.org/)! 

FSI employees are also encouraged to participate in community involvement activities throughout the year, both corporately and individually.  We appreciate the business our clients give to us, and we want to show that appreciation by giving back to the community with our time, talents, and treasures.  Thanks to our clients for helping make this possible, and to our amazing employees for their spirit of generosity!

Lots of people lined up to help feed the hungry...

...and lots of people lined up to receive. "We're all Americans"

So many members of the FSI team have a knack for blending into the background, and yet without them FSI just wouldn’t work.  That certainly is the case for today’s interview.  Let’s get Tchal’s perspective on life at FSI.

 

How long have you worked at FSI, and what is your role?
I have worked at FSI for 8 years.  I am the Line Leader in the warehouse at the Pick/Pack/Ship area.  When orders come to the warehouse, I oversee the pick ticket distribution to our pickers, to make sure the large volumes of pick tickets (packing slips) are processed quickly.  I also make sure all orders are packaged well.  You never know what type of item or combination of items will come down the line to be packed, and it is a bit of an art and a science in packing an order so it arrives securely at its destination.  Literature items such as brochures require one type of package, apparel requires another, ceramic mugs requires another, and so on.  At last count we have upwards of 22,000 items in our warehouses, so you can imagine our packaging approach isn’t one-size-fits-all.

When orders containing several types of items come down the line, such as apparel and food products, you have to make use of a combination of packaging techniques.  Depending on the requested shipping method there are weight limits to consider, but at the same time you want to use as few packages as possible to keep our customer’s costs low.  So packing a single 15-lb box usually is less expensive than packing three 5-lb boxes.  There’s a lot more to it than simply putting something in a box, and that doesn’t even take into consideration the custom and branded boxes some of our clients require.      

What did you do before FSI, and how in the world did you get roped in with these guys? Before coming to FSI, I was in the restaurant business. I grew tired of that industry and decided to try warehouse work. I called FSI's Warehouse Supervisor, Charlie Hayes, whom I have known for years, and he made arrangements for me to apply with FSI.


What do you enjoy about the fulfillment business?
I enjoy learning more about the different types of business that we handle, and I enjoy the fact that our industry is so unique.


What have been some of your memorable moments from your time at FSI?
The memorable moments would be the employee dinners and the quarterly meetings where the company comes together and reviews recent successes. After the annual FSI Fishing Trips, I also enjoy seeing the pictures and hearing about the great times everyone had. (I’ve been invited to go, but I do not like to be on the water). Also, it’s great seeing one of our founders, Hoyt Marbutt, visit on occasion even though he is retired.


What do you think separates FSI from other fulfillment companies?  What makes FSI different?
FSI is great. We are different because we act as one family. We love our “FSI Rocks!” tee shirts because so many people tell us how much we help their business. So it feels good to be part of all of these projects.


FSI has enjoyed some growth (13,000 ft² - 150,000+ ft²), longevity (15+ years), and won some awards along the way since the business began in 1996.  What do you think FSI must do in order to continue being successful?
Our success comes from Ken, Hoyt and Forrest taking the time to focus on the things they know best fits the company. They are fair, honest, and well respected by their employees.


It's safe to say you have your hands full here. What do you enjoy doing with your spare time outside of FSI when you’re not working with inventory, picking/packing/shipping orders, and so on?
I love spending time with my family.

Throughout our 15-year history, FSI has always been able to handle any size shrink wrapping job our clients have needed.  Depending on the size of the job, we might have had to put in some overtime, work double shifts, work weekends, whatever it takes to complete the job on time.  But just like any other job FSI takes on – we ALWAYS meet our deadlines.  Evolving client needs have prompted FSI to decide it was time to increase capacity again, this time in the area of shrink wrapping.  Our new shrink wrap machine, combined with our existing equipment has increased our capacity five-fold.

Ideal applications for shrink wrap include literature, books, retail products, and promotional items of all types.  Shrink wrapping the inner components of kit to be packed later is also popular, as is shrink wrapping the outer boxes or envelopes to be mailed.

Whatever your shrink wrapping needs, talk to FSI today, and be sure to check out FSI’s YouTube video of our newest shrink wrapping machine hard at work:

Up close with the latest in shrink wrap tech

All in a day's work - a long line of bins filled with freshly shrink wrapped products

The various inventory functions at FSI represent the core of our business, so as we wrap up 2011 it is fitting that the final blog post of the year highlight one of the individuals who helps make it all happen.  Let’s see what Kenneth Hayes has to say about life at FSI.

How long have you worked at FSI, and what is your role?

I have worked at FSI for a year now.  I work in the inventory department as a receiver, so my main role is to receive inventory as it enters the warehouse.

What did you do before FSI, and how in the world did you get roped in with these guys?

Before FSI, I worked in the quality control department for a poultry processing plant, and I wanted to change to a better job with more room for advancement.  I came across FSI and thought it would be a great fit for me.

What do you enjoy about the fulfillment business?

I enjoy the nature of the business and the service that we provide to the customers, and the fact that it’s always changing.  There’s never a dull moment.

What have been some of your memorable moments from your time at FSI?

The most memorable moment for me at FSI is a time we all got together on a Saturday morning for a 5k walk (see picture below).  It was great to see everyone have a great time and trying to compete.

What do you think separates FSI from other fulfillment companies?  What makes FSI different?

In spite of its size and growth, FSI remains a family-owned business and we tend to pull together like a family.  It is a great place to work.  All the people in the warehouse are like family in every sense of the word.  I think that’s what separates FSI, not to mention FSI’s superb customer service and IT team.

FSI has enjoyed some growth (13,000 ft² - 150,000+ ft²), longevity (15+ years), and won some awards along the way since the business began in 1996.  What do you think FSI must do in order to continue being successful?

FSI employees have a “get it done no matter what” attitude.  No job is too hard and we have to remember the reason we get many of the harder jobs is because other companies aren’t set up to do them that well.  All of the employees are proud of our accomplishments, and the various incentives and quality control plans we have keep us on our toes.

What do you enjoy doing with your spare time outside of FSI when you’re not receiving inventory, picking/packing/shipping orders, kitting, etc.?

Well, I love to work in the yard, play basketball, and shoot pool.  I guess you can say I’m an outdoor person.

 

Check out FSI’s latest video:  A Day in the Life of FSI.  It’s a time lapse video of our main order packing and shipping lines encompassing 1 full day’s work at FSI.  It condenses approximately 10 hours of video to 2 minutes 37 seconds.  It begins with us turning the lights on to start the morning and ends with us turning the lights off when we leave at the end of the day.  This is what takes place throughout the day, every day at FSI.  This is what systematic, strategic order fulfillment is all about. 

Fulfillment begins with orders arriving 24x7x365 from a dizzying and constantly growing variety of sources.  On the pick/pack/ship side, typically one or two thousand orders a day or more will be transmitted in real time via web service technology, straight from our client’s systems.  Then we have all the web sites FSI manages directly, followed by phone orders, fax orders, and EDI.  Then we have bulk kit-pack orders that usually come to us in file format, with each file containing anywhere from a few orders to a few thousand orders.

Whichever way the order arrives in our system, our award-winning CSR team handles the initial order processing and bring the pick tickets to the warehouse.  Order pickers retrieve these incoming pick tickets throughout the day and work their way throughout our warehouse on their order pickers, forklifts and carts.  As orders are picked they are bar code scanned for verification and then brought to the main lines for packing.  Verified orders are packed in packages of all types and sizes - small boxes, large boxes, 1 piece folders, tubes, full cases, broken cases, envelopes, padded mailers, and so on.  They are shipped small parcel and LTL to both B2C and B2B clients through UPS, FedEx, USPS, various trucking lines, courier, and customer pick up.  And we do all of this while following each of our 80+ clients’ various special packing and shipping requests.   Because of the technology and careful planning employed, all of this activity flows through the various stations seamlessly like a symphony orchestra.  Each section of the orchestra plays their part to ensure that our customers’ orders are sent out on time and correct.  It’s a total team effort!  Did we mention that we do all of this with a sustained track record of a 99.9% order accuracy rate?! 

In the video you’ll witness approximately 2500 orders, 4500 line items and over 15,000 pieces flowing through our warehouse.  Yes, all in the same day!  For our existing clients, we thank you for helping make this possible.  For our potential clients, we look forward to including your packages in these figures in the future.  Don’t let the volume scare you, as we work with clients of all sizes.  Many of our largest clients were once tiny start-ups who had a dream and needed FSI to fulfill their orders so they could focus on growing their business.  We’ve all grown together.  If you’re a business who thinks they might be too big for us, well let’s talk and we’ll see if it’s something we can’t handle.  In our 15 year history, there’s never been a job or any volume of pick/pack/ship orders that we couldn’t handle, and you’d recognize the names of some of our clients on the Fortune 500 list.  (We’re on the Inc. 5000 list ourselves!)   Our systems and processes are very scalable to be able to handle just about any sized growth.  In fact, we plan for and fully expect it.  FSI started out 15 years ago in 13,000 ft² of space and today is using 155,000 ft² of space.  You provide the order volume and we’ll provide the space, labor and resources to get them out the door.                  

And this is just part of what is taking place at FSI.  We’ve got other kit packing jobs being handled elsewhere in the warehouse.  There’s also shrink wrapping, receiving, inventory management, mailings, data entry, sweepstakes management, website building, and more going on.  All in a day’s work!       

Enough talk, let’s check out the video:

Atlanta is well-known as the distribution center of the southeast.  For anyone who has wondered what part of Atlanta FSI is located in, we are right in the shadow of one of Georgia’s biggest attractions: Six Flags over Georgia.  Most people around Atlanta know where Six Flags is, so that makes it even easier to find FSI.  Downtown Atlanta is just minutes away from FSI, as well as being conveniently located close to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  Being close to the airport makes it convenient for late package pickups from our small parcel carriers, UPS and FedEx, when needed. 

Our close proximity to the busiest airport in the world is one of the many reasons why our out-of-state and international clients use FSI.  They first selected Atlanta as the geographic region of choice for their fulfillment needs, and then they selected FSI out of the Atlanta area.   We even have some who fly their own planes to and from Fulton County Airport – Brown Field (see below).     

Here’s where Six Flags and FSI are in relation to Atlanta. Notice how
close Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is.

Here’s what Six Flag’s roller coaster, Goliath, looks like from FSI’s rooftop.
We're almost close enough to pick off one of the riders with a well-placed
roll of packing tape. (Employees are discouraged from doing so.)

Linda Williamson, Hope Hemmila, and Jan Stephenson are ready to brave Goliath.

We've come to respect this ride for having more twists and turns than a million-piece
kit pack job. Here’s what it looks like to ride Goliath at Cobb Chamber of
Commerce’s networking event FSI recently attended. Dizzy yet?

Whether you’re an Atlanta native, from out of town or out of the country, FSI can handle all your fulfillment needs.  Let us manage your pick/pack/ship, inventory management, kit packing, online catalog/e-commerce, custom online reporting, sweepstakes management, handwork, etc., so you can focus on what you do best – growing your business.  We’ll even take you to Six Flags if that’s what it takes!  

The more inventory that comes in, the more racking FSI needs to put up.  Keep those pallets coming in, and we’ll keep finding room for it.  FSI’s 155,000 ft² building is more than capable of handling whatever size kit packing or pick/pack/ship job our clients can throw at us.  If we ever run out of room, we’ll get more.  We’ve been growing since opening 15 years ago in our first 13,000 ft² building, and we don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. 

It’s nice to be in a position where we have to keep getting more racking to accommodate our growth.  Thank you to our clients for their business that have necessitated this growth, and we look forward to working with all future clients.  Let FSI handle your inventory management, order processing, pick/pack/ship, etc. so you can focus on what you do best - growing your business!  When our clients grow, we grow together.  

E-retailers book an 18% revenue increase for Q3

The increase points to a healthy holiday shopping season, MarketLive says.

Online revenue increased 18.14% year over year in the third quarter for more than 100 retailer clients of e-commerce technology provider MarketLive Inc. MarketLive did not provide actual revenue figures.

For the three months ending Sept. 30, visits to the e-commerce sites increased 15.95% year over year, which the company says bodes well for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

"Merchants are in a strong position to take advantage of holiday opportunities," the company writes in its analysis of the third quarter performance of clients included in the MarketLive Performance Index. The index compares only retailers that were a client of MarketLive in both the recent quarter and the same quarter a year earlier, and that agree to provide MarketLive with access to analytics data.

The index also revealed:

• The conversion rate improved by 13.18% year over year to 4.55%.
• The cart abandonment rate dropped to 61.48% in Q3 from 62.25% a year ago.
• The average order size during the quarter stood at $147.28. Year-over-year comparison data were not available.
• 35.69% of site traffic came from search engines, 30.01% from direct traffic and 2.88% from social networks. The remaining 31.42% of traffic came from other sources, but MarketLive did not provide details.
• The engagement rate-the percentage of site visitors who place items in a shopping cart-was 10.42%, up from 9.15% a year ago.

                                                                                Allison Enright, Senior Editor - Internet Retailer

 

What this means for FSI is that our halls will be decked with a variety of new product arrivals and lots of orders to process, pack and ship with our usual Holiday cheer.  We would love to help your business to deliver its 2011 Holiday merchandise or campaigns to market, so just give us a call!

It should come as no surprise that the folks at FSI are a bit competitive.  We sneer at the notion that anyone could top our 99.9% pick/pack/ship accuracy rate, and point to our steadily growing collection of achievements ranging from the Inc. 5000 List to the Top 25 Businesses as proof of how hard we like to work. But with the cool weather sending us an official memo that summer is gone, it seemed like a great idea to share a terrific fall meal together. And what better way to start off a great meal than to announce the winners from the 2011 FSI Chili Cook-Off?  So that’s exactly what we did today.

No beans about it, these guys can cook!  We had 9 entries, and each one was really good.  Ranging from a little on the sweet side to a bit on the fiery side, it was all good.  Forrest Marbutt, Carleen Blakes, Charlie Hayes, and Daryl Gramling were selected to judge the event, and the hardest part was figuring out who should claim the first prize.

But someone had to win, and as it turns out, Karen Cross walked away with the blue ribbon.  Not bad for someone who doesn’t even eat chili!  Second prize went to Drew Yarborough, with Bobby Stephenson right on his heels in third place.  There was tons of food, and the only thing missing was live music by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  (Sadly, they’re on tour in Ireland.)

We have always enjoyed our company gatherings.  Thanks to everyone who participated and congrats to the winners!

Karen Cross shows off her prize-winning entry.


Drew Yarborough just narrowly missed the top award, garnering Second Place.


Bobby Stephenson proves he can cook up a mean bowl of chili. Great job!

Today we continue with our employee interviews.  Let’s see what Caidena has to say about her time here at FSI.

 

How long have you worked at FSI, and what is your role?

I joined FSI in 2008, so that makes 3 years.  My role is to do receiving, pulling, picking and packing orders, and sometimes shipping. 

What did you do before FSI, and how in the world did you get roped in with these guys?

I came to FSI through a temp agency, and my last assignment was working for a food distributor building kits.  FSI had a need for additional warehouse help, so my temp agency sent me.  After a short while, FSI brought me on board full time and it has been a great ride.

What do you enjoy about the fulfillment business?

I like the fulfillment business because there are so many different things to do.  I like to see new clients come in with their new products, and every day seems to bring something different.

What have been some of your memorable moments from your time at FSI?

The most memorable moment was when we had a surprise 15 Year Anniversary party earlier this year.  While telling the employees how we act as superheroes for our clients pulling off incredible feats of getting their kits packed and orders out the door, the managers came out in superhero costumes.  What a sight to see!  If that wasn’t surprising enough, they revealed to us that the purpose of the wetsuit costumes was that they had a dunking booth set up for us to dunk the manager of our choice.  There were also carnival games set up, and everyone really enjoyed it.

What do you think separates FSI from other fulfillment companies?  What makes FSI different?

FSI is different because we do what it takes to make each client happy.  There are so many good people to work with who really care that the job is done right. 

FSI has enjoyed some growth (13,000 ft² - 150,000+ ft²), longevity (15+ years), and won some awards along the way since the business began in 1996.  What do you think FSI must do in order to continue being successful?

Keep doing what we’ve been doing.  Don’t fix what is not broken.

What do you enjoy doing with your spare time outside of FSI when you’re not receiving inventory, picking/packing/shipping orders, kitting, etc.?

I like to go out to the movies and hanging out with my family.

Got any good movie recommendations?

Hangover 2 and Toy Story 3 are a couple of good ones.  I can’t wait to see the new Transformers movie.

 

Every FSI employee has a great story to tell, and the guest of honor for today’s employee interview is no different.  If you had to take a guess as to who this is, one clue would be that he laid claim to the title of champion of the 2011 FSI fishing outing.  Let’s see what Joey has to say about his time at FSI.

 

How long have you worked at FSI?

I have been with FSI almost four and a half years.

 

What is your role at FSI?

After 20 successful years in third party warehouse operations FSI offered me a chance to work in sales. It is something I have always wanted to do but previously had very little experience in. In sales, I have the opportunity to put my operational knowledge and people skills to work with some of the most talented people in the industry.

 

What did you do before FSI, and how in the world did you get roped in with these guys?

I decided it was time for a change from operations, but I wanted to remain in the warehousing and fulfillment industry. Awhile back I had met Ken Marbutt at a social function and he invited me to take a tour of FSI. Long story short, the relationship worked out very well and he gave me the chance to work in sales. It has been a wild ride and I love it. 

 

What do you enjoy about the fulfillment business?

I enjoy connecting with new people who are chasing their dreams, often starting exciting, new businesses with little more than a spark in their eyes and a great product to offer. Knowing that superb product fulfillment can make or break their chase, I enjoy getting them set up with the various fulfillment programs at FSI, which are the best in the business. These tools give companies their best chance to be successful. Sometimes I run across a competitor who can offer a good program, but when you peel away the bark, they cannot begin to match FSI’s total package. That certainly makes my job easier!      

 

What do you enjoy about sales?

I get to meet creative people with a variety of interesting ideas. I find people’s passion is always the same no matter the size of the idea. There are large companies with big needs and small start-ups who just need someone to help them get their dream going. Watching those dreams come into fruition is very rewarding.  

 

What have been some of your memorable moments from your time at FSI?

Meeting people like Ted Turner, Leonard Rowe (formerly Michael Jackson’s concert promoter), Dewey Tomko (poker champion) and countless others. Then I talk to someone with a husband and 2 kids and a simple idea to organize her pocketbook. Meeting people like her is every bit as memorable as the celebrities, and in fact she is well on her way to becoming a celebrity herself. 

 

What do you think separates FSI from other fulfillment companies?  What makes FSI different?

Being a family owned operation. Not the huge mega corporation. You will find every customer service representative, warehouse worker, supervisor and manager has one goal, which is to do the job right the first time. And 99.98% of the time they do. Our customers always talk about the partnership they have with FSI and how we have been a part of their success. 

 

FSI has enjoyed some growth (13,000 ft² - 155,000+ ft²), longevity (15+ years), and won some awards along the way since the business began in 1996.  What would you attribute FSI’s success to?

FSI was created with one vision in mind. That was to be a top-notch fulfillment center. We have stayed the course for over 15 years and have not diluted that goal with other ventures. With that goal, we have worked diligently to grow and improve on that core philosophy.  Strong leadership, careful planning and great execution have given FSI countless success stories. Once a project is set in motion, there is a comfortable feeling that it will be a success. That confidence sets us apart. 

 

What do you enjoy doing with your spare time outside of FSI?

I enjoy family, friends, church work, fishing, a good movie, dining out and a road trip anywhere. I work hard on the farm and play harder when we get the chance. A road trip with my daughters to see their brother play college football is special as well.

 

Today we interview one of our longtime warehouse experts. Few people realize how much of a challenge and how much pressure it is dealing with upwards of 20,000 different products in multiple warehouses, but we have one person in particular who can tell you all about it. Let's see what she has to say.

How long have you worked at FSI?
I came on board in early 2006, so I’ve been with FSI for nearly five and a half years.

 

What is your role at FSI?

I am the Inventory Control Supervisor. Pretty much anything related to inventory is part of my job description.

 

What did you do before FSI, and how in the world did you get roped in with these guys?

For 18 years I was a warehouse manager for a printing company in Connecticut.  We eventually relocated to Georgia to grow my husband’s Pest control business. When I got settled in I looked through the phone book for companies in the fulfillment business, faxed in my resume, and the rest is history.

 

What do you enjoy about the fulfillment business?

I enjoy the demands of the business and the challenges of meeting deadlines. Believe me, there’s never a slow day at FSI.

 

What have been some of your memorable moments from your time at FSI?

Definitely our company gatherings.  They have all been memorable.  One that sticks out was playing “Deal or No Deal” at a Christmas party awhile back.

 

What do you think separates FSI from other fulfillment companies?  What makes FSI different?

I would have to say FSI’s Order accuracy and ability to offer customized online programs.  It’s definitely different than other fulfillment companies, and with 18 years at a different fulfillment house, I can say that from experience.

 

FSI has enjoyed some growth (13,000 ft² - 150,000+ ft²), longevity (14+ years), and won some awards along the way since the business began in 1996.  What would you attribute FSI’s success to?

Very simple, it is FSI’s determination to be the best in the business.

 

What do you enjoy doing with your spare time outside of FSI?

I enjoy spending time with my family, fishing, and playing football with my boys.

Today we interview another one of FSI’s terrific employees.  She is the first one to greet our fabulous customers and the last one to see them out the door each day.  What would we do without her?

 

How long have you worked at FSI?

I have been with FSI for almost three and a half years.

 

What is your role at FSI?

I am the receptionist.

 

What do you enjoy about your job at FSI?

I enjoy being able to see the different products that we ship for our customers. We have some great customers and so many of them have fascinating stories behind their products.

 

What did you do before FSI, and how in the world did you get roped in with these guys?

Where do I start?  My background includes payroll, production payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, customer service, administrative assistant, stock photography librarian (a boring job to be sure but I loved it), receptionist, and even real estate.  I came to FSI through a staffing agency.

 

What have been some of your memorable moments from your time at FSI?

One memory that sticks out was during the regional flooding Georgia experienced in September of 2009.  There basically was only one way to get to work.  Like so many who work in the Atlanta area I live on the west side and everyone that lived on the west side was afraid the Department of Transportation would close a key bridge in an area that was particularly hard hit.  If they had done that we would not have been able to get home.  So while I love working at FSI, I didn’t want to camp out here for three days!

 

FSI has enjoyed some growth (13,000 ft² - 150,000+ ft²), longevity (14+ years), and won some awards along the way since the business began in 1996.  What would you attribute FSI's success to?

That’s an easy one.  Very good customer service!

 

What do you enjoy doing with your spare time outside of FSI?

I don’t get to do it as often as I used to, but I love singing and dancing.

FSI recently expanded our warehouse capacity by opening up another 35,000 ft² within our existing 155,000 ft² building.  We outgrew our storage and staging needs for the often massive kit-packing projects we handle, and had to knock holes in the wall and expand into the suite next door.   Our visitors would agree that FSI certainly has come a long way since our first 13,000 ft² 15 years ago.  We must be doing something right by continually needing to secure more warehouse space.

So what does this mean?  Lots and lots of clean warehouse space that is just waiting for you to move your pick/pack/ship program into.  It means lots more room for FSI to handle your kit packing jobs.  As a welcome bonus for some of our clients, the space is already FDA approved and set up to handle your food handling needs.

We still have more office space than ever, far more server room capacity than in our previous building, and a greatly expanded infrastructure that makes it easy to plan for and execute a diverse array of ever-changing projects.  So when that pilot project of 1,000 kits unexpectedly balloons into 500,000, you know who can deliver.  Check FSI out today!

Think this will be enough for your next project?


Director of Operations Bobby Bounds oversees some construction work.



Just think: this racked space used to look nice and
clear like the space we just moved into.

The drought is over.  After 4 tries and 4 long years, Joey Harp – Captain of the fishing team, Strategic Fishing Partners, can finally lay claim to the title – CHAMPION!  Most men would give up after suffering such past defeats.  But not a member of FSI’s sales team – no sir!  Joey would not be denied leading his fishing team to victory this year.  Yes, you’ve read that correctly – Joey Harp was the captain of the winning fishing team in FSI’s 10^th annual fishing outing.

It’s an annual tradition for FSI to show our clients, partners and employees our appreciation for their business and for their commitment to FSI’s ongoing success.  Each year, we take a group of about 20 on a fishing trip to West Point Lake in LaGrange, Georgia.  We divide teams into 4 boats and have a great time of fellowship, smack talking and fishing.  Each boat has a team name and a captain.  There are winners for most fish, biggest fish, etc.  I head up Team Reel-Time Fishermen, and have only won the event twice.  President/Owner/Founder, Ken Marbutt, heads up Online Hookers and is the winningest (probably not a real word, I know) captain in FSI fishing history with 4 titles.  Team Catch-em/Pack-em/Ship-em usually has a captain rotation by a different FSI employee and has won 3 times under Co-Founder, Hoyt Marbutt, warehouse supervisor, Charlie Hayes and Director of IT, Daryl Gramling.

We’d like to think that all of our clients do business with us because of our exceptional fulfillment services, our commitment to getting their orders out on time and with more consistent accuracy than anyone in the industry, our custom IT online solutions, etc.  But we do have to be honest that there may be some who do business with us just so they can earn a spot on this coveted event.  No matter what your motivations are to do business with FSI, we can take care of your fulfillment needs. 

Thank you to all of our clients who were able to make it this year.  We look forward to next year where Joey will be handing the FSI Cup over to me.  Yep, I’m calling it now…Forrest Marbutt, Captain of the Reel-Time Fishermen wins the 2012 FSI Cup.  Might as well go ahead and get the trophy engraved.  For all you future clients out there, when you call us, go ahead and put in your request to be on my team for next year.  Great fulfillment service and being on the winning fishing team – what more could anyone ask for?