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.
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