How IGLU Soft Play cut delivery times from 10 to 2 days with fulfilment.com
Table of contents
Share
Case study highlights
Delivery times dropped from 10 days to 1 to 2 days after partnering with a UK 3PL
Signed with a provider within 1 to 2 months of using the platform
Chosen 3PL came from a fulfilment.com recommendation, not the initial search results
Amazon channel growth resumed after two consecutive quarters of decline
Business returned to baseline revenue, with Q3 and Q4 expected to accelerate further
Fulfilment costs are lower than the previous setup despite faster delivery
IGLU Soft Play sells children's soft play development equipment and had been trying to establish a reliable fulfilment operation in the UK, but the timely delivery of their products were causing a real problem. Orders were taking up to 10 days to reach customers, a timeline that was damaging the brand's position on Amazon and limiting growth across other channels.
Janis Karklitis, Head of Ecommerce, knew the fix was finding the right UK 3PL, but what he needed first was context.
"We wanted to understand the market and what the baseline is in the industry," he explains. "From there, we can understand how to enter the market better and how to use the 3PL in the most impactful way."
That's where fulfilment.com came in.
The right 3PL wasn't in the first search results
Janis began by reviewing providers directly through the platform. He shortlisted a few and reached out independently. Then the fulfilment.com team stepped in.
"The team shared additional 3PLs that could fit our needs, and those suggestions were the best for our needs," he says. "We signed with a 3PL from the suggested list that we somehow did not find at the beginning. The team knows the 3PLs better and can find the right fit faster."
Within one to two months, IGLU Soft Play had a signed agreement with a UK provider. The onboarding process moved quickly, and the operational difference was immediate.
Delivery times cut by 80%. Amazon growth.
The most visible change was delivery speed. Orders that previously took 10 days were arriving in 1 to 2 days. For a brand selling on Amazon, that shift matters. The Amazon channel is growing again for us," Janis notes.
After two consecutive quarters of decline in the UK market, the business has returned to its previous baseline and is building from there.
Cost is also a factor. Despite the significant improvement in service, fulfilment costs came in around what IGLU Soft Play had expected, and lower than the previous setup. For a brand with clear seasonality, that cost discipline in the off-season creates room to invest during peak.
"The current market overall is tricky, and some areas are seeing huge growth while others are getting more competitive," Janis says. "We have seasonality, and we started using the 3PL after peak, so we still need to find a way to crack the market in the off-season. But the 3PL allows us to keep costs lower than we had with the previous setup, and we're looking forward to Q3 and Q4."
From recovery to growth
With UK fulfilment now stable, IGLU Soft Play is focused on building volume across additional channels. The 3PL infrastructure is in place. The delivery times are competitive. The next step is growth.
For any brand considering the same move, Janis's view is straightforward:
"Do it. It will make the finding [part] so much easier and the 3PLs are more open to signing you. Communication is fast, and the only thing stopping you from starting with a new 3PL is you."
How IGLU scored the fulfilment.com service
Ease of finding the right 3PL: 5/5
Support throughout the process: 5/5
Overall experience with fulfilment.com: 5/5
Would use fulfilment.com again: 5/5
