News

It’s a meaningful phrase, that’s for sure: Peak Season. When we’re entering Peak Season, we are definitely obligated to prepare!! We intuitively know what it means but let’s let the Internet define it for us: “Peak season in the ecommerce industry is the period of the year when online stores experience a sharp, sustained increase in customer demand, sales volume, and web traffic.”

Okay, that’s a fairly good definition. The Internet goes on to talk about what it calls the “Holiday Rush”.

“The Holiday Rush (Q4): Running from October through December, this is the largest and most critical peak. It includes major shopping events like Halloween (October 31st), Singles’ Day (November 11th), Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the final rush leading up to Christmas.”

The Challenges

The challenges that must be confronted by the fulfillment service, according to the Internet, are exactly what one would expect:

“Logistics and Fulfillment: Sudden spikes in order volume strain warehouse staff, packing lines, and carrier capacities.

“Inventory Management: Poor forecasting can lead to costly stockouts on popular items or excess inventory after the rush ends.

“Returns Surge: The weeks following major sales (stretching into January) bring a massive wave of returned items that test reverse logistics.”

Logistics and Fulfillment

Does AMS prepare for spikes in volume? Of course we do. We’ve been a fulfillment service for more than 20 years, and we do know how to anticipate. If we need to hire staff in order to handle the volume of orders, we will, and we provide our new staff with fair pay and benefits. What about packing lines and carrier capacities? We are skilled at anticipating Peak Season volume and making the needed adjustments in the vital areas, if adjustments are needed.

Inventory Management

Now, what about inventory management… anticipating what products will be popular and what items will be trending is definitely not easy. Something we’ll call “keeping an eye out” is one way of making a good guess – see what is being heavily advertised and make sure there are no stockouts. Staying in close communication with clients is vital – our job is to serve their needs, and they don’t need to run out of stock on their bestselling items.

Returns Surge

The last one mentioned is an anticipated surge in Returns. We’re highly experienced in that area as well. AMS Fulfillment has a fully staffed and trained Returns Department, and a top-notch Client Services Department. If we need to bring on more staff in anticipation of an increase in volume we will.

We also will look closely for any needed upgrades such as equipment, vendors or any processes and procedures that need to be upgraded. Our aim is to correct any inefficiencies prior to Peak Season.

The Peaks in the Season

Halloween is coming right up, and it leads into the Season. After Halloween we have Diwali, Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Cyber Monday, Kwanzaa, Christmas and the New Year party. There will be significant increases both in eCommerce and in the brick-and-mortar commerce during this time period. This is not only a season of hard work, there will be an undercurrent of joy in that we love giving and receiving gifts and celebrating Life.

Conclusion

To conclude, we have asked Jeff Bruce, AMS’ Executive Vice President of Human Resources, to give us a brief look into the Peak Season at AMS as he experiences it:

“This is also the time of year when our values matter most. Integrity, Commitment, and Execution aren’t words on a wall. They show up in how we work when it’s busy:

“- Integrity: Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching and the line is long. That means following safety procedures, protecting our clients’ products, and being honest when something goes wrong so we can fix it.

“- Commitment: Showing up for each other and for our clients. It’s the extra shifts, the early starts, and the teammate who steps in to help another department without being asked.

“- Execution: Getting it right, every order, every time. Our clients trust us with their customers during their most important season, and every accurate pick, pack, and ship keeps that promise.

“This year is also special because it’s our first peak season together with our Mountain West team in Utah. Welcome to the busiest, most rewarding stretch of the AMS year.

“To every associate picking, packing, shipping, receiving, leading, and supporting: we see the effort you bring every shift. Your hard work and dedication are what make AMS who we are, and we are genuinely grateful.”

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and it’s a good moment to share something we’re proud of at AMS Fulfillment. We are a values-driven company, and one of those values is simple: everyone deserves the opportunity to contribute. We look for ways to welcome and support people from every walk of life, whatever their background, circumstances, or abilities.

That includes individuals with disabilities, who are valued members of our team across our facilities. We don’t see this as charity or a checkbox. We see it as good business and the right thing to do. When we open doors and provide the right support, we gain dedicated, talented Associates, and our customers benefit from an excellent, committed workforce.

We’re grateful to every Associate who makes AMS what it is, and we’ll keep looking for new ways to create opportunity for all.

People Before Profit

AMS Fulfillment is a ‘Top Notch’, mid-sized fulfillment service. We’re accurate, timely, and focused on the success of our Clients. That truly is our pleasure, to play a role in the success of our clients. We also put our positive focus upon our Associates. We want them to experience success and enjoy their time at AMS. We don’t hesitate to include individuals with disabilities as we know a disability does not translate into inability. Our Associates with disabilities are fully capable and we are happy to provide what accommodations might be needed.

Success Story

There are some very touching stories online about the efforts of individuals with a disability looking for and finding employment. The following is a story from Maya about her experience. As readers will see, Maya was rejected by many, until she found a company like unto AMS that welcomed her and accommodated her.

“The hum of the local library was usually a comfort to Maya, but today, the soft clicking of her wheelchair’s wheels felt incredibly loud against the linoleum. For the eighth time that month, she opened her email to find the same automated response: “Thank you for your interest, but we have decided to move forward with another candidate.”

“Maya had a brilliant mind for logistics and a degree in data analytics, but she also lived with a physical disability that required a motorized wheelchair and speech-to-text software. Most interviews ended before they truly began—the moment an interviewer saw her roll into the room, their eyes would flicker to the chair, and the conversation would subtly shift from her qualifications to her “limitations.”

“Sitting in her favorite corner by the window, Maya took a deep breath. She refused to let the rejections define her. She knew her worth, but she realized she needed a different approach. She stopped applying to mass job boards and began looking for companies that intentionally valued inclusive hiring practices.

“Her search led her to a regional tech firm called Apex Logistics. Their website didn’t just have a generic diversity statement; they actively highlighted their partnerships with local vocational support services and vocational rehabilitations. Maya decided to take a bold step. Instead of waiting for a job posting, she reached out directly to their operations manager via LinkedIn, attaching a short video portfolio. In the video, she demonstrated exactly how she used her assistive software to optimize mock logistics data in real-time, letting her technical skills speak first.

“Three days later, she was invited for a virtual interview.

“When the video call connected, the operations manager, Marcus, didn’t look at a wheelchair—he looked at her portfolio. He asked sharp, deep questions about data modeling and supply chains. Maya answered with confidence, her passion for the work cutting through any lag in her speech software.

“Two weeks later, the offer letter arrived. Maya wasn’t hired out of charity; she was hired because she was the best person for the job.

“On her first day, Maya rolled into the Apex office. A motorized desk adjusted perfectly to her height, and the IT team had already pre-configured her voice-activation tools. As she logged into the system and watched the live data streams fill her screen, the lingering sting of a hundred rejections finally vanished. She wasn’t just a spectator anymore; she was part of the team.”

Living With a Disability

We asked the Internet and found that around 15% of the world’s population is living with a disability. Many of our readers will have a family member or friend with a disability: A child with ADHD, a grandparent with Alzheimer disease, an uncle or aunt needing a wheelchair. Living with a disability is not easy, and we appreciate AMS Fulfillment for being an employer dedicated to inclusion. Thank You AMS for helping us proudly enjoy Disability Employment Awareness Month.

September 22^nd is an important day in the annual calendar – it’s a day our Mother Earth demonstrates her creativity and brilliance – the Autumnal Equinox. The day, 9/22, gives us the precise moment when the Sun passes directly above Mother Earth’s equator.

What exactly is the equator?

Let’s look : “Latitude: It is set at 0 degrees latitude. It serves as the starting point for measuring latitude (distances north or south). It divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. It is about 24,902 miles (40,075 kilometers) around.

“Because the Earth spins, it bulges slightly at the middle, making the planet wider there than from pole to pole. It passes through 13 countries, including Ecuador, Brazil, Indonesia, and Kenya. Most of the equator crosses over open ocean. Places on the equator get direct sunlight year-round, resulting in warm temperatures and very consistent daylight hours.”

So there we have it!! On September 22^nd at 8:05 pm the sun will move from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere and the Winter season will be on its way in North America. Mother Earth needs Winter – it allows her to clean up a bit and start fresh in Spring.

Equal Night and Day?

Most people would assert that during the equinox day and night are equally long. But according to an online Weather Presenter named Elizabeth Rizzini that’s not exactly true:

“Because daytime is defined from when the Sun breaks the horizon to when it completely sets, the day is longer by the time it takes the Sun to begin setting to when it completely sets. Atmospheric refraction also bends the Sun’s light, so there is light even when the Sun is actually below the horizon. However, there is a day called the equilux when day and night are equally long. In both hemispheres it occurs a few days before the vernal equinox and a few days after the autumnal equinox.”

Okay, how do we find out if the day and the night are equal in time? We asked the Internet and were told that sunrise is at 7:25 AM and sunset is at 7:34 PM EDT on September 22^nd. The exact astronomical equinox moment occurs later that day at 8:05 PM EDT. Well, there we have it – our Mother Earth’s artistry.

The Equinox and the Solstice

While the equinoxes occur in March and September and bridge the gap between Winter and Spring and Summer and Autumn, the solstices occur in June and December.

In December in the northern hemisphere, the Winter Solstice will be coming up next. It will take place on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 3:50 p.m. EST. This marks the moment when our Mother Earth on its axis is most tilted away from the Sun. Once again, it’s a precise moment in time. As we know, this special time is very close to Christmas, and our special gift on the 25th is the return of the light. After the Winter Solstice, daylight hours begin to increase again.

Welcome to Autumn!

In the Northern Hemisphere we’re going to see Mother Earth go through some beautiful changes as the weather cools and the plants take their winter rest. Enjoy!! And we’ll see you in December when the Solstice brings back the warm sun and the new Life.

Our clients, our associates, our neighborhoods and our friends all know that AMS Fulfillment is an environmentally conscious business. Yes, we utilize sustainable packaging. We do all we can to choose materials and designs that reduce environmental impact and conserve natural resources. Sustainable packaging is simply one of the many things we do to respect our Mother Earth.

What Is It?

We asked Google to tell us what exactly would be considered sustainable packaging. The AI gave us the following information:

“Reduction: Using fewer materials, cutting down on empty space (“right-sizing”), and lowering energy use during production.

Reuse: Designing packages that can be used multiple times before being discarded or recycled.

Recycling: Using renewable, recycled-content, or easily recyclable/compostable materials that return safely to the ecosystem.”

Yes, at AMS we do all of those things. Right sizing and cutting down on empty space is not only furthering sustainability, it oftentimes saves on shipping costs for our clients. The same thing can be said with regard to reusing and recycling. Among our valued clients are those who like to create an “unboxing” experience for their customers, and we utilize the branded packaging they provide.

The Google search gave us a bit more on the common types of sustainable packaging as follows:

“Recycled & Recyclable: Made from items like post-consumer paper or metals that can be processed into new goods.

Compostable: Plant-based items (like cornstarch or sugarcane) that break down naturally into non-toxic elements.

Minimalist: Eliminating extra layers and heavy shipping fillers to cut down on waste.”

Sustainability Goal

Our goal in utilizing sustainable packaging is, primarily to diminish the negative effects of packaging and shipping on our shared environment.

AMS is a B Corporation and we have kept environmental sustainability as a priority for years. We mention B Corporation because Climate Week is coming up soon, taking place in New York during the week from September 20-27. B Lab will be hosting events at Climate Week and featuring collaborative sessions on sustainable business and climate action.

AMS Fulfillment qualified for and committed to B Corporation status in 2017, meeting the environmental requirements as well as the high standards with regard to our associates and the communities in which we do business. Next week we will do our best to cover the news coming out of New York in preparation for this exciting global event.

Continuous Improvement

At AMS, we foster a mindset of continuous improvement and environmental stewardship. We understand the need for a sustainable business model and a healthy planet. By reducing waste, reusing materials, and promoting recycling, we can engender a greener future for all.

Labor Day is coming up on September 7^th and we’re ready… let’s look at what this holiday is about. We know that “Labor” is people doing work and labor is also a verb, meaning the work itself. We ‘labor’ and we also are ‘labor’. At AMS we refer to our Associates – the men and women who are laboring in our warehouses and offices as our ‘Associates’.

AMS has tremendous respect for our Associates. We offer them fair pay and excellent benefits. And we salute them on Labor Day! There would be no fulfillment without our Associates. They are appreciated, valued and respected. AMS always has had, and always will have, integrity. We give all due credit to the labor that makes us successful, accurate, efficient and highly valuable to our clients.

What Google Says

“Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.

“Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.”

How Did It Start?

Apparently, some say that back in 1882 a man named Peter K. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested setting aside a holiday for the laboring classes. He was the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Others say that it was a Machinist named Matthew Maguire who proposed the holiday in 1882. He was serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

Google offers the following on the subject: “According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the law creating a national Labor Day, the Paterson Morning Call published an opinion piece stating that “the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday.” Both Maguire and McGuire attended the country’s first Labor Day parade in New York City that year.”

Victories Won

We are told that the labor movement started in the late 19^th century during the industrial revolution, when workers organized to demand fair pay, safe environments and an eight-hour workday. Workers deserve to be safe and fairly paid, and allowed an eight-hour shift, and we are grateful for the victories they won.

Every laborer deserves respect and acknowledgement, and at AMS we are more than happy to celebrate our Associates on Labor Day. There would be no achievements without Labor, and we like to put the credit where it belongs! Thank You to each and every Associate who labors at AMS Fulfillment – you are the essential element in our successful service to our clients. Happy Labor Day!!

We often use the term e-commerce, sometimes written as eCommerce. When we talk about AMS Fulfillment providing e-commerce and being in operation for more than twenty years, the history of e-commerce becomes an interesting question. What exactly is it and how, exactly did it begin? Let’s look into it.

As we know, commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services. Commerce is far from new. Human society has been creating, selling and buying for a long, long time. But when and how did we begin to buy and sell goods and services electronically, no longer driving to the store downtown with some dollars in the billfold… instead, turning on the computer with a card in hand?

Types of E-Commerce

AMS Fulfillment services the following types of e-commerce: B2C (Business-to-Consumer), and B2B (Business-to-Business). There is another type, C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer) found on digital platforms like eBay or Etsy, or the Facebook marketplace.

AMS provides omnichannel fulfillment, which is a selling strategy where businesses market their products through multiple sales channels while inventory information is centralized and accommodates all of the channels.

The History of E-Commerce

The history of e-commerce begins in the 1960s. Electronic shopping was invented in 1979 and the internet was launched to the public in 1991. Retail giants like Amazon and eBay were created and launched in the mid-1990s.

Businesses share digital invoices and orders through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and this is what originated in the 1960s. CompuServe laid the groundwork for dial-up data networks in 1969. It was 1979 when an inventor named Michael Aldrich connected a TV to a computer via a phone line, inventing electronic shopping.

It was 1991 when the World Wide Web opened to the general public. Netscape Navigator allowed for secure online transactions in 1994. Amazon and eBay launched in 1995 and PayPal in 1998.

Fulfillment Services

With the rise in e-commerce, there came a need for fulfillment services. History tells us there was a dot-com bust in the early 2000s but survivors grew and expanded, and consumers began to trust in e-commerce. We also saw an increase in e-commerce with the invention and use of smartphones. By the 2020s online shopping had become modern retail, and it continues to be. So, there we have it… the history of e-commerce. This is a story that we have lived, and there are more than a few of us who have watched the Internet being born.

AMS Fulfillment’s History

AMS began warehousing and fulfilling in the early 2000s, and the company grew with the growth of e-commerce. Businesses needed to rely on a fulfillment service to warehouse and pick, pack and ship their products sold online. AMS handled both B2C and B2B fulfillment with exceptional service, and the business expanded to multi locations and grew to provide a number of other services such as returns management, kitting and much more.

We can safely say that the e-commerce beginning was around 60 years ago but we weren’t buying online until the 1990s. We are so accustomed today to buying products online that it’s hard to imagine not having the option of doing so. E-commerce is a very enjoyable and convenient way of filling some of our commerce needs.

We still need to visit the brick-and-mortar stores and definitely the grocery store, so let’s just say we’re grateful for all good things. One of those very good things is e-commerce and the fulfillment services that help to make it so reliable.

Perhaps one of these days we’ll offer the history of AMS Fulfillment. That will be enjoyable, and an interesting exploration into how to do business with integrity and grow and expand with a whole lot of services and happy and successful clients.

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Please feel free to visit amsfulfillment.com and learn more about us. We are a highly respected third-party fulfillment service (3PL) with many satisfied and successful clients.

Sometimes we peruse the Internet looking for stories that will entertain and inspire our readers. In our most recent search, we came across a website where the writers listed some interesting commemorations. The purpose of commemorations is to remind us of struggles and victories, so let’s shine some light on events of the past and join these writers in commemorating the achievements of humanity.

August 1

August 1^st marks the day when slavery was abolished across the British Empire. The year was 1833 and the day is called ‘Emancipation Day’ in Canada. On this day the people are encouraged to look into anti-Black racism and discrimination and see if it is still affecting Black Canadians today. It’s an important conversation to have, as racism has a profoundly negative effect on the culture. Emancipation Day, August 1^st, is a day for serious conversation about anti-Black racism and we’re grateful for the reminder.

August 7

The 7^th of August marks the day we honor the men and women who have been injured or have died as a sacrifice for their country. It’s called Purple Heart Day. It is the oldest Military distinction and to this day the Purple Heart is still awarded. This day is an unofficial observance day to remember the sacrifice of the men and women who serve in the military. This is an important commemoration as the sacrifice of life or of injury is very great and it has been recognized with a Purple Heart for quite a few years.

August 9

The 9^th of August is the International Day of the world’s Indigenous Peoples. This is a day of recognition to promote Indigenous People’s rights, culture, and land and it is celebrated globally.

The United Nations (UN) Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) first met on August 9, 1982. The purpose of the WGIP’s establishment was to provide indigenous people with the opportunity to share experiences and discuss critical issues on an international stage. There are more than 370 million Indigenous Peoples across 90 countries. The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People’s is an annual recognition that acknowledges Indigenous groups. It is an excellent time to look into issues that may exist and discuss possible solutions.

August 25 – 26

Here we come to a big skip and jump from August 9^th to August 25^th and 26^th. These commemorative days are special to Muslims. Mawlid al-Nabi is a special day celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Along with Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Mawlid is one of the most essential celebrations amid Muslims. The Mawlid observance is a recognized national holiday in most Muslim-majority countries of the world.

August 26

August 26^th gets an extra strong recognition as it is Women’s Equality Day! This is the day of honor to commemorate the suffrage of women and the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which allows women the right to vote. This day also stresses the importance of continuous constitutional rights for women. It’s somewhat amazing when we look back and see that women have not always had the right to vote. We’re very thankful for the women who organized and conducted the suffrage movement.

August 28

This last commemoration in August is a celebration that touches the heart. August 28^th, Raksha Bandhan, is a traditionally Hindu celebration that honors the relationship and love between siblings. This celebration is dedicated to brothers and sisters and sibling relationships that are not always biological. We are very happy and inspired to celebrate our brothers and sisters and the love that flows between us, including adoptive siblings.

Why AMS?

We have brought these commemorations into our conversation as at AMS we have a kinship with them all. Discrimination based on race and sex does not take place at AMS Fulfillment. It has not in the past, and it will not in the future. We also have a deep appreciation for our military veterans. We encourage readers to enjoy the victories of the past and celebrate the ways in which humanity has evolved and uplifted others. Integrity is AMS’ bottom line – we serve our clients with integrity and we care for the wellbeing of our Associates.

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Please feel free to visit amsfulfillment.com and learn more about us. We’ve been doing eCommerce fulfillment for more than twenty years and we are a highly respected third-party fulfillment service (3PL) with many satisfied and successful clients.

 

Our readers know we like to join in to inspiring commemorations. August is National Wellness Month, and wellness is something every human being desires. Let’s join in and talk about what goes into wellness, and how we can care for ourselves and our wellness.

A quick Google search gets us the following: “National Wellness Month is celebrated every August. It focuses on self-care, managing stress, and building healthy daily habits. Founded in 2018, it encourages people to focus on physical, mental, and emotional health through small, simple lifestyle changes.”

The National Day website gives us a slightly different emphasis: “National Wellness Month was born out of the idea that if we are going to do big things in the world, in between building our careers, raising a family, furthering our education, creating new ideas, and nurturing our bodies, we need to take care of ourselves, too.”

AMS’ Wellness Outreach

Organizations that have given “self-care”, some thought, such as AMS, encourage a focus on hydration, nutrition, rest, movement and mindfulness. The advice is to drink more water, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, get adequate sleep, practice a physical activity and practice meditation to lower stress.

No doubt every one of us could benefit from a commitment to self-care. AMS certainly is in support of the health and wellbeing of our Associates. We focus on safety and lowering stress in our workplaces, and we encourage our Associates to bring any issues or concerns to their supervisors, as we truly do care about wellbeing. In order to tell our readers about AMS’ wellness-specific outreach to our Associates, we asked Maria Zamora, Benefits Manager in our HR Department to offer some insight:

“We encourage associates to take time to care for themselves. Setting aside time in our busy schedules to learn how we can better support our well-being can be difficult. But if you make the time, it can have a positive impact on your mindset and your physical health. It can be as easy as staying on top of your health with regular checkups. Having a good relationship with your primary care doctor helps make it easier to schedule your preventive care or get seen when you have health concerns.

“Also, there are some very beneficial fitness programs that we encourage AMS Associates to take advantage of that are included in their Anthem health insurance. A few examples would be gym reimbursement, action plans for reducing stress, discounts on fitness and wellness products and other special offers. All of our Associates have access to these benefits and we encourage their use.”

Thank you to Maria for the information and encouragement. We wish for all of our Associates the very best opportunities for wellness for themselves and their families, especially during this “Wellness Month.”

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Please feel free to visit amsfulfillment.com and learn more about us. We’ve been doing eCommerce fulfillment for more than twenty years and we are a highly respected third-party fulfillment service (3PL) with many satisfied and successful clients.

AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation and has been so since 2017. We don’t talk about it a lot, we just live it in the way we do business. We can truthfully say that what “B Corporation” stands for is “A Positive Intention”. Should the intention of a business matter to its clients? Let’s talk about it and see if we can answer that question.

The Mindset

Does the mindset of a business matter at all to the customers? Customers are looking for the right price, the right service, and the right bottom line. The intention behind these “rights” is probably not factored in, but certainly there would be peace of mind when looking at the intention and finding it positive. A positive intention places the relationship on solid ground. You can grow together as the fear leaves and the trust emerges.

A Fulfillment Service has teams of employees, and a positive mind in positions of authority is exactly what the employees need. Does the company treat its Associates as valuable human beings, worthy of a safe environment and healthcare benefits as well as fair pay and respect? When the answer is yes and the Associates are given a positive environment, they respond with a positive spirit.

When a workplace is safe and healthy and positive, there is room for creativity and “good ideas” to emerge. If hard times come, the Associates will stay strong and serve the customers as best they can. So, to our mind, the outcome of a positive intention is always a plus, and that’s just common sense.

A Benefit Corporation

Below we are pleased to share some information from Samantha Hicks, AMS’ ESG Program Manager, who works closely with AMS’ Team Leaders, helping them to align their efforts with the Benefit Corporation (B Corp) recommendations.

“AMS, Certified B Corp made a commitment to increase positive impacts by aligning operations with high social and environmental standards, fostering stakeholder trust, and driving continuous improvement.

“Stakeholder Governance: Legally requires companies to balance profit with purpose, protecting social missions across leadership changes.

“Employee Well-being: Prioritizes fair wages, inclusive cultures, and professional growth, yielding higher motivation and retention.

“Environmental Stewardship: Mandates measurable tracking of carbon footprints and resource conservation, with many B Corps adopting renewable energy.

“Community Engagement: Encourages local partnerships, ethical supply chains, and transparent reporting that build lasting public trust.”

The Positive Intention

AMS Fulfillment gained B Corporation status nine years ago, in 2017. In all truth, a positive intention had been guiding the company since the founding of AMS more than twenty years ago. The founders of AMS were individuals with integrity, and the positive intention was a natural element.

Caring for the wellbeing of the people working at AMS has always been a priority. Safety is a priority and we take every step needed to keep our Associates safe from workplace accidents. Community has always been a priority as we do everything we can to be a benefit to the people and the businesses surrounding our facilities. Protecting the environment is very important to us and always has been. And the clients of AMS experience the integrity that we promise – we are true partners of our clients.

Look for the B

We know there are negative intentions among some businesses in our world, but there are also positive intentions and plenty of companies that value the positive mindset. One way to know in advance is to look for the B Corporation. With a Benefit Corporation you can anticipate a positive intention and a good foundation for doing business.

Before we close let’s hear a little more from Samantha: “B Corporations instill a positive intention which ultimately has a greater outcome on all parts of the operation, people and planet. Having a positive frequency or mindset improves business by boosting worker output, raising team spirit, and turning tough problems into fresh ideas. It helps teams stay strong during hard times and builds better trust with customers.”

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Please feel free to visit amsfulfillment.com and learn more about us. We’ve been doing eCommerce fulfillment for more than twenty years and we are a highly respected third-party fulfillment service (3PL) with many satisfied and successful clients.

We received an appreciative response to last week’s “what is” blog and our reader suggested that we cover a few more terms deserving of a “What Is”. The request was for us to explain “What is fulfillment?”, “What is Freight?” and “What is Last-Mile Delivery?” Those are definitely some good choices, so let’s take a look! If anybody knows what those terms mean… we do!

What is Fulfillment?

A Fulfillment service does storing, packing and preparing products plus a whole lot more. AMS is a full-service fulfillment service. We receive inventory, we scan every item, we store the item, when orders come in we pack and ship the item, we do even more… we handle returns, kitting, assembly, customer service and more. What we do is full-service fulfillment services. Full-service means that clients who come to us are able to hand us a whole lot of their tasks, and that allows them to focus on their product(s), their advertising, and their sales.

Here is a little more about fulfillment from a Google search, using the term outsourcing. Outsourcing simply means partnering with a fulfillment service: “This refers to the behind-the-scenes process of receiving inventory, warehousing it, packing it properly, and labeling it for shipment. Brands often outsource this to specialized facilities so they don’t have to pack boxes themselves. Outsourcing prevents logistical bottlenecks and reduces internal overhead.”

What is Freight?

When we ask Google, we find their definition of Freight as ‘moving bulk inventory’. We look a little further for more information on Freight that can clarify things a bit. “This is the transportation of bulk goods from your manufacturer to your warehouse, or between fulfillment centers. LTL (Less-than-Truckload) vs. FTL (Full Truckload): If you are moving smaller pallets, you use LTL. If you have enough product to fill an entire 53-foot trailer, you use FTL.”

That’s an excellent answer to “What is Freight?” Let’s conclude with the answer that freight forwarders organize major cargo movements. Apparently our first answer, telling us that Freight is “moving bulk inventory” is accurate after all.

What is Last-Mile Delivery?

We will return to AMS Fulfillment with our question about Last-Mile Delivery, as the AMS Shipping Department is truly ‘top notch’. The term “Last-Mile Delivery” refers to the final leg of the journey through the fulfillment process. AMS has relationships with the carriers that deliver locally across the major metropolitan areas, and it utilizes those carriers when their services are the most efficient choice for their clients. Rapid and accurate last-mile delivery directly impacts customer satisfaction and retention. When it is the best and fastest choice, AMS will call upon the last-mile carrier to deliver to the customer’s doorstep.

What Is Fulfillment?

We want our readers to know what a full-service fulfillment service can do to get product(s) from the sellers to the buyers. We can basically do it all, and we have been doing it for more than twenty years. Let’s have some fun and ask Google for the definition of the word… fulfillment. Here it is:

“Fulfillment means personal satisfaction, completing a promise, or processing a customer order.” Looks like AI got it right!!

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Please feel free to visit amsfulfillment.com and learn more about us. We are a highly respected full-service third-party fulfillment provider (3PL), with many satisfied and successful clients.

 

In this offering we’re going to answer three “What Is” questions. Our answers will explain some of the terms that we use in the Fulfillment business: 1) What is the supply chain? 2) What is a 3PL? and 3) What is kitting?

What is the ‘Supply Chain’?

When we ask the Internet “what is the supply chain”, the answer that comes back is not very precise, but it is true: “A supply chain is the entire network of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in creating and delivering a product or service. It spans from the initial sourcing of raw materials to the final delivery to the end consumer.”

We could speculate on the question of how the carrots in the farmer’s field end up in a jar of baby food on the table. That must be something of a complex supply chain. Chances are there will be a fulfillment service in that chain.

Fulfillment services play a vital role in the supply chain. They serve clients that have a product or products to sell. When the fulfillment service receives the products into their warehouse they scan every item. After the product is recorded into the system by the SKU (stock-keeping unit) which is specific to that one item, they warehouse the item. When orders come in, they pick, pack and ship the item to the buyer.

Our answer to “What Is” the supply chain: The supply chain connects all parties between the creator of a product to the buyer. It can be a long chain or a short few links.

What is a ‘3PL?

What the acronym stands for is “Third-Party Logistics”. That means there are three parties in the movement (logistics) of the goods. Those parties would be the 1) seller, the 2) fulfillment service and the 3) the buyer. AMS Fulfillment is a full-service 3PL, offering logistics plus a number of VAS (Value Added) services to the client including product assembly and ‘kitting’.

We promised to answer ‘what is’ kitting. We will answer the kitting question but prior to that, let’s see how AI answers the question of ‘what is a 3PL’.

Okay, it looks like the answer is pretty simple: “3PL stands for third-party logistics. It refers to the practice of outsourcing a business’s supply chain and logistics operations—such as warehousing, inventory management, order fulfillment (picking and packing), and shipping—to an external provider.” Outsourcing a business’s supply chain – in other words partnering with a fulfillment service. The message goes on and it sounds fairly accurate:

“Inbound: You ship your inventory in bulk to the 3PL’s warehouse. Storage: The 3PL stores your products on their racks or shelves. Fulfillment: When a customer buys an item online, the order details are sent to the 3PL’s software. Outbound: 3PL staff pick the item, pack it in a box or mailer, and ship it directly to the customer.”

Yes, that is what your ordinary 3PL will offer. What we don’t see is the ‘full service’ offerings that AMS provides, which includes Kitting among other VAS (Value Added Services).

What is ‘Kitting’?

This is an easy question as the answer is in the name. The 3PL will package several related items into a kit. Let’s say the client is selling shampoo and also selling crème rinse and other hair-care products. AMS will kit the products for the buyer as the client wishes. It looks like AI has a pretty good explanation of kitting:

“In business and logistics, kitting is the process of grouping multiple distinct items into a single, ready-to-ship package under one SKU. Instead of picking and packing items individually, they are pre-assembled into a bundle. This speeds up fulfillment and reduces shipping costs.”

What is Fulfillment?

We’ll conclude with the key player in the supply chain… the fulfillment service. When a fulfillment company is full-service, the seller has a true partner watching over every detail of their product and delivering it to the buyer on time and packaged as the brand requires. AMS will also keep an eye out for expiration of products by utilizing FIFO (first in first out) storage.

We’re more than a little proud of AMS Fulfillment in its expert servicing of client partners, its dedication to protecting the environment and its respect for the Associates whose labor makes it one of the best among fulfillment services.

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Please feel free to visit amsfulfillment.com and learn more about us. We’ve been doing eCommerce fulfillment for more than twenty years and we are a highly respected third-party fulfillment service (3PL) with many satisfied and successful clients.