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!  

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?       

Have You Seen this Man?  He’s been nicknamed the SpongeBob Bandit.  Cobb County police are looking for a teenage bank robber who is apparently a fan of the popular children’s cartoon and allegedly robbed a local bank while sporting his “SpongBob SquarePants” hat.  If you’ve seen him, please contact Cobb County police at 770-499-3900 or call 911.  For more information about the story, check out the ACJ article here: http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/cobb-police-hunt-spongebob-991772.html.

Most of our clients know FSI for our kit packing and Pick/Pack/Ship capabilities.  Many of our clients also make use of another strength of ours which is handling sweepstakes promotions, rebate and redemption programs, check distribution, etc.  FSI can take in entries through mail-in (PO Box) and online.  We can validate entry requirements, perform data entry to build databases, perform drawings, handle winners’ affidavits, distribute prizes and mail checks, among other things.  With this service comes periodic check deposits to keep cash prize accounts stocked with money for the winners.  FSI’s Director of Administration, Carleen Blakes, found herself making a deposit for such an occasion yesterday.  The robbery occurred while Carleen was in the branch and before she could make her deposit.  No one was hurt in the incident.  The robber passed a note to the teller with instructions claiming to have a weapon, but never produced one.  He simply took the money he was given and walked out.  Of course, everyone freaked out immediately and the police showed up soon thereafter.  No one could leave while they were all being questioned by police about what they saw.  It all happened so quietly, and Carleen was so focused on the task at hand that she didn’t even notice the event happen. 

Most people might have gone home or left as soon as they could.  But Carleen’s dedication to the client came through and she still got the deposit made after the dust settled.  We jump through fires for our clients, and now we can say crime can’t even hold us up.  At FSI, we are dedicated to making sure your jobs are taken care of!

“Is there anything you guys just won’t do?”

I think we answered that question pretty well on May 15^th when Forrest and I arrived in Mountain City, Georgia for the 2011 Warrior Dash.  The Warrior Dash (www.warriordash.com) is a peaceful, relaxing event combining 3.2 miles of running in the mountains with 11 obstacle courses.  The obstacles ranged from scaling a 20-foot high wall to crawling through massive mud pits to jumping through fire to get to the finish line.  And if that weren’t enough, I had a chest-wracking respiratory infection that week and had been advised to take it easy.  But I was afraid Forrest would give me a wedgie if I chickened out on him, so I stuck to the plan.  We certainly had a blast though, and my doctor has assured me I will make a full recovery.

But when it comes to your packages, this is the kind of attitude you want your fulfillment partner to have. You want a partner with a vested interest in seeing every package shipped correctly, on time, and without hassle. Do we have to stay late? No problem.  Do we have to re-pack the entire job to fix the mistakes the previous fulfillment company made? Been there, done that. Do we have to design a custom database around an insane set of business rules? As we speak, we’re in fact working on the second such project in a month.

Every department at FSI knows we have to jump through the fire from time to time; it’s just what we do.  So how about you? What can FSI do for your next project?

FSI VP & General Manager Forrest Marbutt leads the way by
jumping over the last obstacles to cross the finish line.



I.T. Guy Daryl Gramling follows. He's a mess, isn't he?

If you haven't yet seen the post about FSI's 15-year anniversary, please do so. We added the videos after the post was completed so for those who haven't seen the videos, here they are!

I love Memorial Day, and had the opportunity to spend Memorial Day weekend doing something unique that I would highly recommend to everyone.  I had the chance to spend a couple of nights aboard an aircraft carrier - the USS Yorktown at Patriot’s Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, near Charleston. (Check out www.patriotspoint.org to learn more about this amazing place.)

Sure, we all know what Memorial Day is about.  We stop to remember those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  But do we really stop to remember, or do we simply look forward to a much needed 3-day holiday weekend?  Don’t get me wrong – there’s certainly nothing wrong with getting together with family and friends for barbeques, going to the lake, playing games, or just getting things done around the house.  But after experiencing in a small way life aboard an aircraft carrier, I have a new and profound appreciation for the enormous sacrifices that have been made to help ensure our freedom and way of life.  It’s fair to say that starting now, I will take Memorial Day much more seriously. 

At Patriot’s Point, you get to see up close just how massive and awe inspiring an aircraft carrier can be.  You see how sailors lived, slept, ate and fought during various combat engagements, mostly during World War II.  You learn about Navy aircraft, ships and submarines.  There’s also a Congressional Medal of Honor Museum, a Cold War Submarine Memorial and a replica Vietnam support base.  There’s a movie theater playing the Academy Award-winning documentary “The Fighting Lady” every hour, which was actually filmed aboard the Yorktown.

Pulling orders, packing kits, managing inventory, and offering great customer service are what we here at FSI focus the majority of our efforts on, but it helps to have a little perspective thrown into your life every now and then to stop and reflect on some of the other important factors of life.  Visiting Patriot’s Point was fun, educational, and most of all a reminder to say “Thank You.”

So from all of us at FSI, a heartfelt thank you to those who have fought to preserve our many freedoms, and thank you to those who continue to serve today.  If you haven’t done so, I strongly encourage you to visit places like Patriot’s Point to learn more about the history of our great country – you’ll be glad you did.

Below are some pictures of some of my children and friends

FSI “recently” participated in a charitable scavenger hunt race in Atlanta called Expedition Give.  Okay, we’re a little behind in posting this, but what can we say, we’ve been really busy fulfilling orders.  Anyway, Expedition Give is put on by Giving101 (www.giving101.org) – a nonprofit 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 4 teams entered into this year’s race.  While FSI didn’t have any of our teams to place in the overall competition, there was still quite a bit of bragging rights to be won internally: 

 

 

You might be wondering why the 2 sets of scores.  We went with 2 sets because for some reason the folks putting on the race had different scores than what we came up with on our own. No problem, I'm sure there's a good reason, and the order of everyone's finish didn't change, only the margin of victory. We can only assume that they either got some of our points mixed up seeing as we had similar team names (FSI Rocks - Teams 1, 2, 3, etc.), or maybe they didn't count some of our items that we did complete.  Maybe we didn’t do them right, oh well.  But as far as our internal jawwing back and forth, we know what we completed, and the order didn't change, and most importantly, it was for charity who was the ultimate winner. In fact, together all the race participants:

• Collected more than 1,000 lbs of food for the Atlanta Community Food Bank
• Made more than 25 fleece blankets for the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence
• Prepared over 200 sandwiches for the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless
• Wrote more than 150 letters of encouragement and thanks to the families of GA soldiers
• Donated over 500 articles of winter clothing to MUST Ministries
• Sorted over 1,200 items into care packages for our soldiers
• Etc, etc, etc...

 

Here are a couple of videos with highlights from the race and afterwards at FSI:

 

 

You are Invited to Join FSI at the 2011 Cobb Chamber B2B Expo

Thursday, May 19^th 4:00-7:00p.m.  at Cobb Galleria Centre

 

ATLANTA (May 9, 2011) – Fulfillment Strategies International (FSI) invites you to visit us at the 2011 Cobb Chamber Business to Business Expo at the Cobb Galleria Centre.  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 1,000 attendees at the Cobb Galleria Centre from 4 to 7 p.m. 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 and this year’s Expo is slated to be the LARGEST to date.

 

FSI is in Booth #317 to showcase examples of our work as well as a visual presentation of capabilities including custom kit assembly, product, literature and promotion item order fulfillment.  View our suite of on-line client support systems and meet the FSI team.  Come by between 4:00 – 7:00p.m. and register to win a night out with a restaurant gift card.  

 

There will also be an After Hours cash bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres on the Business Expo show floor beginning at 5 p.m.  

 

We hope to see you there!

Information Contact:
Linda Williamson, FSI

678.391.5980
lindaw@fsifulfillment.com

www.fsifulfillment.com

Ten provinces, three territories, and over 34 million inhabitants.  It is the world’s second largest country by total area, and the shared border between our two nations is the longest in the world. It sure sounds like a great business opportunity to market to these guys.  But professionals in the fulfillment industry could add a note of caution. The customers are there and their dollars can provide a much-needed boost in this economy. Problems can arise however when your product is ready for shipment, and since the root of the problem lies in a complex array of government regulations, asking if it’s worth it is good business sense.

Zappos, the shoe and accessory giant, should know.  This month it will close its online doors to Canadian customers due in part to the logistical challenges of getting products into Canadian hands. (See http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/03/25/zappos-closes-its-canadian-storefront for the full article).

What makes it so hard? You pack a box, slap a shipping label on it, and everyone’s happy.  Right?  But first the package must make it through Canadian Customs, who can slap the same package with hefty duties and taxes.  If that package is among the many that are opened for close inspection, your package can be seriously delayed and the result is an unsatisfied customer through no fault of your own. Customs also routinely disputes the reported value of the products, presumably to increase the amount of taxes that can be assessed. And if that isn’t enough, a mountain of complexity and cost can be incurred in the form of finding which of tens of thousands of harmonized trading codes (HTS) apply to your products. Telling Customs there’s a t-shirt in the box isn’t enough; they also want to know what it’s made out of, what kind of style it is, the country of manufacturer, the size, and more. Each of these pieces of data helps determine the amount of taxes that must be paid before the product can legally enter the country.  Invest in discovering the right codes and your product may slip through Customs smoothly; but pick the wrong one and the package is stopped in its tracks. Don’t want the hassle of finding out the HTS code? Customs is usually happy with that too, they’ll be glad to assess the product at a higher tax rate.

Then there’s the question of who pays duties and taxes – is it you or your customer?  Will they really pay $15 in duties and $20 on shipping for a $30 product? You could of course use a cheaper shipping option, but here at FSI we field constant complaints from customers whose USPS package was lost and there’s no tracking available. But the USPS provides guaranteed international tracking, right? Surprisingly the answer is no. A tracking number may be created, but once it leaves the United States, the visibility of that package often disappears. Using a major private carrier such as UPS all but eliminates that problem, but the full tracking capabilities can come at a steep shipping cost.

A great fulfillment provider is an essential component of your international sales strategies, and indeed FSI has invested in the systems to make international shipping (especially to Canada), as easy as possible. From supporting the HTS codes to using technologies that often reduce the amount of paperwork required for international shipments, we can be an even greater asset to your business. Even so, shipping-related labor costs to handle Customs requirements can have a detrimental impact on bottom lines.

Ultimately, each business must weigh the costs and benefits of offering products to our northerly neighbors. Just be sure to set realistic expectations when determining your strategy.

 

FSI is an Atlanta, Georgia based provider of quality fulfillment services. Founded in 1996, it has shipped millions of packages to nearly 160 countries worldwide.

Move over, Superman.  Pictured left to right: Daryl Gramling (Director of IT); Ken Marbutt (President); Forrest Marbutt (Vice President and General Manager); and Bobby Bounds (Director of Operations)

 

FSI has done some mighty crazy things since arriving on Atlanta’s fulfillment scene.  Starting with just two employees, a temp, and some serious caffeine we knocked out our first job of 200,000 kits in about 6 days.  We’ve run multiple shifts, worked into the ungodly hours of the morning; and packed just about every type of kit known to man.  So on April 1, 2011, it seemed perfectly natural to don some wetsuits, adjust our capes, and fly gallantly into FSI’s main warehouse to celebrate our most recent milestone.

Okay we actually walked into the warehouse (mainly to avoid flying into power lines, which isn't covered by insurance), but celebrate we did. Today is the fifteenth anniversary of Fulfillment Strategies International, certainly a perfect excuse to pull out all the stops.  Corporate Events catered the meal and provided outdoor games, including a dunking booth which would explain the wetsuits.  Wetsuits or not, the water was icy cold but it gave our tremendous team of employees the chance to dunk the manager of their choice for all the times they’ve been called upon to pull off some truly heroic feats.  (Attention employees: retribution will surely follow – you know who you are).

But as we dried off the water on this 51-degree April day, we warmed up to the incredible memories that are still being made.  FSI serves an amazing variety of clients, from small startups to globally-recognized leaders, and just about everything in between.  Some are getting started with just a few orders per day and others send us thousands of orders per day.  But there is one thing our clients have in common: they know FSI will do everything humanly possible to complete every job with a level of excellence befitting our favorite superheroes. They tell us all the time, “we couldn’t have done it without you.”

So on our 15-year anniversary, we’d like to say, “right back at ya.” We couldn’t be here without a dedicated staff and the clients that make it all possible.

There are some pictures below, and be sure to check out the video as well!

FSI Anniversary Video: Part 1
FSI Anniversary Video: Part 2
FSI Anniversary Video: Part 3



Fittingly, Ken takes the first dunking. We're pretty sure he was trying to use his superhero powers to fly out of the water and onto the relative safety of FSI's roof.




Cool sunglasses, $42. Wetsuit rentals, $95. The look on Forrest's face as he is
unceremonially introduced to the freezing water: priceless.




Forget those superpowers, Bobby took .000003 seconds to cry out to God for help.
(I think God was laughing too hard to do him much good.)




Daryl managed to be last in line, but his time has come.

For the fourth year in a row, FSI sponsors the 2011 AMY Awards event at the Fabulous Fox Theatre! This annual event, held on March 24^th, recognizes marketers who’ve made their mark on the Atlanta marketing scene during the past year.  The 2011 Atlanta Marketer of the Year Awards (AMY), presented by AMA Atlanta, is open to corporate and agency marketing professionals in Georgia.  For 54 years, the AMY’s have celebrated more than just creative – but have rewarded companies that have crafted innovative strategies, unforgettable creative and produced outstanding results. Twenty-two AMY Awards are presented across 10 different marketing categories, and two Marketer of the Year Awards recognize an agency and corporate individual for outstanding marketing achievement.

FSI sponsors the event and provides fulfillment services to support the night by kit packing 400 gift bags given to the “stars” that attend.   It is wonderful to work with the AMA to sponsor this event and celebrate our many clients who attend, recognized as finalists and who will win awards during the evening.  We love supporting their work and find our reward in their success.

 

At FSI, we strive to get every order shipped correctly and on time.  We’re not afraid of boasting that our order accuracy rates are 99.9% or higher every year, and when you’re dealing with high-end Clients with over 13,000 different items in over 19,000 bin locations, that’s saying something.  There are endless things that can potentially go wrong with an order.  For starts, each order must be entered correctly with the correct quantity of each item. The correct shipping method must be selected, and in many cases there are custom routing guides, custom packing slips, and custom processing requirements. 

Even before an order is entered, inventory has to be received correctly and stocked correctly.  And all inventory is not the same, even if the item looks the same.  Is the item sold in eaches, packs, kits, or cases?  Maybe it’s sold in all the above and the client needs 3 Cases of Packs of 3 shipped to 3 stores in 3 states.  Get’s very confusing, doesn’t it?  After all of that, the order still has to be shipped on time, along with thousands of others.  We count all of those categories to arrive at our 99.9% order accuracy rates.  For those clients who’ve been working with us, you’ve grown accustomed to counting on our high order accuracy rates, and our CSR Team has a significant hand in helping make sure this all happens.  Bar coding and other technology investments play a huge role in helping meet these high order accuracy rates, but another big reason (other than our top notch CSR Team) is that our employees are incentivized to meet these rates each month.   Which brings us to our announcement.    

FSI’s CSR Team met their order accuracy incentive each month for the entire years of both 2009 AND 2010!

After pulling this off again, we felt that we needed to celebrate a little more than the usual monthly cash incentive.  The 2010 banner will be put up in the warehouse to match the 2009 version commemorating this feat.  Since the CSR Team was taken out to lunch last year when they accomplished this, they’ve been asking where they were going to get to eat this year.  The CSR Team was treated to a special lunch at 6 Feet Under and also made time to tour Historic Oakland Cemetery across the street (see picture below).  Thank you Beth, Hope, Sandi, Mary, Tammy, Tora and Karen for your ongoing contributions to FSI’s success.  Our CSR’s truly are special and they make up a key component of why many of our clients do business with us.  They’ve been with FSI an average of 7 years with the longest tenure being Karen who has been with FSI all 15 years we’ve been in business.  It won’t be long before we’re celebrating 3 years in a row!

Today we interview another long-time employee of FSI, Linda Williamson. Let’s see what Linda has to say about life at FSI.

How long have you worked at FSI?

I have been at FSI for a little over five years.

What is your role at FSI?

My position at FSI is Business Development Manager, which allows me to do what I love. I get to work with prospective customers and help them find just the right match of FSI services.  As a bonus, I get to manage a team of great people! 

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

I have been in the fulfillment industry for about 15 years, working for a competitor before coming to FSI.  Seeing the need for a positive change, I actually approached Forrest and Ken about a position with FSI (what was I thinking?)  It was not long before I had found my new home at FSI and it was the best career move I’ve ever made.

What do you enjoy about the fulfillment business?

Fulfillment is unique. Managing fulfillment means there are many different goals and objectives that can vary significantly from client to client. What works great for one client might not be useful for another, and tailoring our approach for a “best fit” rather than a “one size fits all” helps ensure success for everyone.  Between all the different kit packing projects we work on, to new types of fulfillment programs, e-commerce system integrations, EDI, sweepstakes management, and so on, it is something new each day.

What do you enjoy about sales?

Solving tough problems and helping customers is what I like the most.  If you are confident you have a solid service offering and believe in the company you are selling for, the sales process becomes easy.  I really enjoy identifying the unique set of challenges that every program presents and helping to develop solutions.  It builds a partnership that starts strong and stays strong over time.

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

We have a great culture where events such as FSI Anniversary celebrations, potluck dinners, Christmas parties, etc. have been amazing.  We work hard and have a lot of fun doing it, which makes this place pretty special.  Big wins for the sales team are always memorable. Just for the record, fun times like “Easter Bunny punked my ride” and “decorating King Fisherman’s office” were not my idea…alone. Happy employees do better work, so we see nothing wrong with some occasional humor in the workplace (see picture below).

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

Definitely the people.  Our team is made up of industry veterans, each bringing their expertise and ideas to the table to help customers and make FSI better.  Together, we can develop solutions and put them into action better than any other fulfillment company.

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?

Strong leadership has been the key to FSI’s continual growth over the years.  Owners and managers who truly care about their customers, vendors and their employees are destined to go far.  Careful planning and great execution have positioned FSI to continue to grow for many years to come.

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

Gardening and travel, especially going to our house in Dahlonega.  Enjoying good food, good wine and good times with family and friends.

 

FSI takes a few moments out to enjoy some good workplace humor. With FSI's VP and General Manager Forrest Marbutt being such an avid fisherman, bestowing upon him the title of "King Fisherman" was just too easy.