Organisation Saves Time and Money
How you send stock to your prep centre directly affects how quickly and accurately it is processed. Disorganised deliveries — mixed products with no documentation, damaged boxes, unlabelled items — take longer to sort, increasing your costs and turnaround time. Organised shipments get processed faster and with fewer errors.
Include a Packing List
Every delivery to your prep centre should include a packing list clearly showing what products are in the shipment, quantities of each, and any special instructions. Email the packing list to your prep centre before the delivery arrives so they know what to expect. This allows them to plan capacity and flag any issues before your stock arrives.
Label Everything Clearly
If a delivery contains multiple different products, separate them clearly within the shipment. Use individual bags or boxes for each product type. Label each section with the product name or SKU. A box arriving with fifty different products jumbled together takes significantly longer to sort than one with products clearly separated and identified.
Direct-from-Supplier Deliveries
If you have suppliers ship directly to your prep centre, provide the supplier with the prep centre's delivery requirements — address format, opening hours, delivery booking requirements, and any labelling specifications. Brief your prep centre on expected deliveries so they are prepared. Communication between you, your supplier, and your prep centre prevents confusion and delays.
Condition and Packaging
Products should arrive at your prep centre in sellable condition. If items arrive damaged because of poor shipping from the supplier, the prep centre cannot fix that — they will flag it, but you have lost the stock. Use appropriate outer packaging, particularly for fragile items. The investment in proper shipping materials protects your stock investment.