Speks

How Speks Found the Secret to Seamless Growth with ShipMonk

Since 2017, Speks has been all about injecting a dose of fun into the daily grind with their magnetic and desk toys for adults. Think creativity, stress relief, and just plain joy, all rolled up into a tiny, powerful package. But as their mission to make workspaces entertaining took off, so did the complexity of their logistics.

Industries

Toys and Games

Speks accomplishments

25% sales growth with faster fulfillment

Black Friday orders shipped in days, not weeks

Trusted by 1,000+ specialty retailers

Wholesale & DTC, seamlessly scaled

Meet Speks

Speks wasn’t just your average ecommerce business. They were juggling a thriving website, an enormous wholesale network across 1,000+ specialty retailers, and a growing presence on Amazon. Managing this intricate web of operations meant they needed a fulfillment partner who could keep up. Spoiler alert? Their first 3PL wasn’t cutting it.

The Problem

Speks encountered several challenges with their previous fulfillment setup, which hindered their ability to focus on growth. Communication was a primary pain point, with limited access to timely updates on inventory and order statuses. Speks lacked real-time visibility and flexible reporting, making it harder to manage operations efficiently.

Peak seasons, such as Black Friday, amplified these issues, often leading to delays and increased pressure on the team. Additionally, wholesale logistics presented unique demands that their setup struggled to accommodate, creating further complexities. Recognizing the need for a more agile and reliable solution, Speks knew it was time for a change.

Finding a Partner Who Gets It

The transition to ShipMonk represented a meaningful change in Speks’ fulfillment operations. What could have been a challenging period instead became an opportunity for growth and improvement. From the first interaction, ShipMonk stood out by doing what other 3PLs didn’t.

“They actually wanted to learn about our products,” says Marianne Broome,  VP of Operations and Revenue at Speks.

“They took the time to understand what makes our business tick and tailored their approach to meet our needs. It was obvious that we weren’t just another account to them. That really made staying with them an easy choice.”

The ShipMonk Difference

A Platform That Just Works

ShipMonk’s proprietary platform gave Speks a clear window into their entire operation. Whether adjusting orders or pulling granular data on shipping costs, the platform made logistics simple.

During a quarterly review, the ShipMonk team even introduced Speks to a new billing portal that made tracking fulfillment costs as easy as a few clicks. For Speks, it was a game-changer. They not only gained insights into shipping fees but also fine-tuned their pricing strategy on their website, boosting both orders and profitability.

Support That Feels Like Family

One of the biggest upgrades? Knowing there was a dedicated team ready to help. ShipMonk’s support team didn’t just answer questions; they anticipated them. Weekly calls with their merchant success manager, Michelle McCall, became a space to strategize and solve problems before they even surfaced. If an issue arose, it didn’t stay an issue for long.

“One time, we needed a quick check on a product in the warehouse,” Marianne recalls. “Michelle’s team got photos and feedback back to us almost instantly. That level of responsiveness? We never had that before.”

Lightning-Fast Fulfillment

ShipMonk’s proprietary shipping methods turned delivery delays into a distant memory. And if one carrier hit a snag, ShipMonk pivoted quickly to keep orders moving.

During Black Friday, Speks saw the difference firsthand. “We had customers posting on social media, saying, ‘How did I get this so fast?’ It was the best kind of surprise,” Marianne says.

Tailored Wholesale Solutions

Speks’ growth wasn’t just about individual orders; it relied on scaling wholesale, too. Unlike other 3PLs focused solely on ecommerce, ShipMonk rolled up their sleeves to tackle Speks’ wholesale needs—from special projects to custom order handling.

“They didn’t just adapt to our wholesale requirements,” Marianne says. “They actually helped improve them.”

The Results

ShipMonk didn’t just patch up cracks in Speks’ fulfillment processes; they built a rock-solid foundation for the future.

• Delivery Speed: Peak-season chaos became a thing of the past, with Black Friday shipping times dropping from two weeks to just days.
• Inventory Accuracy: Discrepancies went from frequent headaches to nearly nonexistent, save for a few minor variances that were quickly resolved.
• Cost Savings: By optimizing storage practices, Speks cut unnecessary expenses, even as their SKUs and inventory grew.
• Customer Happiness: Faster, transparent deliveries earned Speks rave reviews and drove growth across their website, fueling a 25% sales increase.
• Room to Grow: Logistics capacity is no longer a worry. Speks can focus on growing their brand without second-guessing whether their back-end can keep up.

The Human Connection

At the heart of this success story is a simple truth, according to Marianne. “ShipMonk stands out because of the people. It’s not just about the tech or the speed of fulfillment, though those are incredible. Their team genuinely cares about our success. That’s hard to find.”

Marianne Broome

VP of Operations and Revenue