What is 3PL Logistics?
3PL stands for “Third-Party Logistics. ” 3P is when another company hires a third party (company) to do a part of its operation so that it does not have to. “L” for Logistics involves the shipping, receiving, and storing goods.
There are several reasons why a company might consider doing this:
- To streamline their services
- To cut costs
- To have their current workers focus on what they do best, which may not be logistics.
- To expand their operations in an area that it is currently not in
- To have more experienced and qualified workers handling this part of their operation
- To reduce damages
The list could go on, but these are some of the most common reasons a company would want to hire a 3PL logistics company.
What should I look for in a 3PL company?
A 3PL company is usually a long-term business partner and is considered an expansion component of your current business. So the better question is, “What would you look for in a long-term business partner?”
- Experineced
- Honest
- High attention to detail
- Located where you need them
- Has the right tools and knowledge to do what you need and knows how to use them
- Reasonably priced
While price matters, it should never be about the price but the right fit for your company. A nasty business partner can cost you much more than going with the cheapest option available financially and can ruin your brand reputation. The key is finding the right partner at a fair price, which is a win-win situation for both parties and can last many years.
What service do 3PL Logistics provide?
First and foremost, not all 3PL logistic companies are the same and do NOT all provide the same services. Their origin story can often tell you where they might fit best. Most start by targeting specific needs in their current area. The most common services requested would be the following:
- Freight transport
- Freight brokering
- Short and/or long-term Storage
- Container destuffing
- Cross Dock Services
Any company that does one or more of these on behalf of another company would consider itself a 3PL logistic provider.
How did Braymore become a 3PL logistics provider?
Braymore has been around since 1981, originating in piano moving. When picking up pianos for local deliveries at a 3PL provider in Toronto, it noticed that the 3PL warehouses did a horrible job handling piano crates. By awful, I mean dropping them on the floor regularly and picking them back up as if nothing happened. So, Braymore approached one of these distributors in 1984 with a new solution, which Braymore did to solve their current warehousing problems. The customers’ constant damage problems disappeared overnight, saving them thousands of dollars and significantly improving their business relationships with all the stores they worked with. This allows them to focus on what they do best, sell pianos, and not deal with constant damage claims.
Over the decades, Braymore earned its reputation as the only reliable place to store pianos in Toronto and became the shipping hub for piano distribution across Canada. Braymore has handled many brands that any musician would recognize: Baldwin, Bechstein, Bosendorfer, Fazoli, Kawai, Kohler and Campell, Pearl River, Ritmuller, Samick, Steigerman, Steinway, Yamaha, and Young Chang, to name some you might recognize, for both nationwide distribution and local stores around Ontario. Braymore also provides local unbox piano storage for private individuals like you.
When you do something well, people notice and tell their friends. Over the years, Braymore has been asked by several companies and individuals to assist them with some of their 3PL needs, ranging from trade show storage to cross-dock services, local pick-and-pack operations, special products handling, and container destuffing that have absolutely nothing to do with pianos. They were looking for a good business partner that cares.
If you need help with 3PL logistics, check out our website to see first-hand how Braymore has assisted other customers like yourself. You can also contact us at 416-749-2100 to talk to a live person or complete one of our web forms.