The №1 Business Forum - Recent Posts

Choosing the right 3PL partner for your ecommerce and wholesale fulfilment

Lawson Willett — Thu, 14 May 2026 15:24:29 +0000

Choosing the right 3PL for your business is a bit like hiring a co-pilot for a long flight: you want someone reliable, capable of handling turbulence, and who won’t charge you extra for turbulence you didn’t predict. But remember it’s a partnership you're entering into. Your 3PL ‘partner’ needs to understand you and your business as well in terms of the demands of your order flow. Here’s a practical, straightforward look at what’s good, what’s not, and how to approach the decision without losing your sanity (or your wallet).

What a 3PL service can bring to the table for your business and processing

Scale and speed on demand: A good 3PL can grow with you, handling spikes in orders without you chasing a new warehouse contract every quarter. It’s a partnership; they don’t have any success without yours. So, work together to grow.

Multi-channel fulfilment: Integrating into major e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, and your own shopping carts, so you’re not juggling orders in five different systems. Most modern 3PLs can integrate with all your sales channels, giving you a single software tool to pull orders into. They also provide inventory visibility and control: Real-time (or near real-time) stock levels, location tracking, and simple reconciliation help you avoid stockouts and overstock.

Returns and reverse logistics are sadly part of the business; a capable 3PL can route, process, and restock efficiently, which keeps customer experience intact.

Expertise and compliance: They’re versed in packaging standards, labelling requirements, hazmat handling (if relevant), and insurance/logistics compliance that would take you years to learn.

Offer additional tools to your business: Modern 3PLs utilise warehouse management systems (WMS) to control and manage their workflow. In some cases, they give you, the customer, access to live inventory tools, order processing data, dispatch information, and full reporting on all stock movement, batch information, and how an order was processed, so you can fix issues quickly. Some will even let you communicate directly with the picking teams to edit or pause an order if needed.

Focus on what you do best: Outsourcing fulfilment lets you concentrate on product, marketing, and growth versus the entire warehouse operational workflow.

What can be tricky or not-so-great (the bad)

Hidden costs: Storage fees, pick-and-pack charges, zone-skipping surcharges, or long-term storage penalties can sneak up if you don’t read the fine print.

Service level variability: Some facilities excel during normal periods but have trouble with spikes or peak seasons. It’s not “one size fits all.” Clear communication is fundamental to understanding the demands and forecasting the flow together. Everyone is working on getting those 5-star reviews.

Integration gaps: Even with promises of flawless integration, you may run into API limits, data sync delays, or incompatible SKUs. Talk to your 3PL prospects about their tools and how stable they are.

Less control over the hands-on process: You’re outsourcing warehouse operations, which can feel risky if your brand’s experience is built on packaging, handwritten notes, or ultra-fast same-day shipping.

Geographic gaps: A 3PL may be excellent for one region but weak in another. For cross-border or multi-country fulfilment, you’ll want to clearly map transit times and duties.

Communication friction: If you’re not on the same page with KPIs, you can end up chasing the 3PL’s Client Services and warehouse teams for clarity on a shipment exception. Agree on how urgency levels should be communicated to avoid all frustrations. We tend to use emails and support tickets for daily queries, and calls for more high-priority and time-sensitive issues to expedite fixes.

How to evaluate a 3PL without turning the process into a full-time job

Define peak and baseline: Estimate your average monthly orders, peak season volume, average order value, and product sizes. This informs storage needs, fulfilment speed, and whether same-day handling is practical. Don’t worry about being 100% accurate. I have never seen a forecast that comes true.

Create a list of must-haves vs nice-to-haves: Prioritise platform integrations, international fulfilment, returns handling, insurance coverage, and honest pricing schemes that expose charges centred on your operation.

Check performance claims: On-time shipping rate, accuracy rate, order cycle time, and rate of returns processed within a set SLA are key indicators; some metrics are hard to measure. But an explanation of their processes and targets, along with a site visit, will give you a good feel for the business and how it operates.

Inspect and test all technology the 3PL proposes to use, from online tools and communication methods to order processing stations. Confirm order routing, ensure there are no hidden costs in integration requirements, and verify that inventory data visibility, label printing, and reporting capabilities meet your needs. Ask for a live demo or, if possible, sandbox access.

Review security and compliance: Make sure you enquire about access controls, both physically onsite and software access, disaster recovery, insurance coverage, and how they deal with sensitive customer data.

Ask about transparency. How frequently do they report stock levels? How do they handle exceptions or inventory shortages? What does the escalation path look like? Do you need scheduled stock takes and batch management? Make sure these are all covered and understood before moving forward.

Ask about case studies and, if possible, talk to some existing clients: A few candid references can reveal real-world performance during peak periods, seasonal campaigns, and product launches.

Try a pilot when possible: Run a small test with a few SKUs to gauge accuracy, speed, and customer impact before committing to a longer contract.

What red flags to watch for with all 3PLs

Long-term commitments with heavy penalties for changes.

Promises of perfection without caveats (no 3PL is perfect in all conditions).

Inflexible SLAs that don’t match your order profile or revenue model.

Inconsistent API or data reporting that makes reconciliation painful.

Poorly documented pricing that requires multiple emails to understand a bill.

A simple decision framework you can use

Fit: Does the 3PL capability match your product types, order patterns, and growth plans?

Cost: Are there predictable, transparent costs with a reasonable ROI based on improved fulfilment and customer experience? Many of the clients we see have amazing headline-picking costs at very low prices from competitors. But there are many cost centres in ‘3PL land’ that can surprise clients when it comes to billing. Align your pricing with your order workflow, and have the 3PL benchmark the costs to give you a truer picture of how your costs will come together.

Control: Do you feel comfortable with the level of visibility and the degree of process control you’ll retain? Many clients we see are handing over their processes for the first time. Work with your chosen 3PL to get the data and communication right. It’s not an exact science, so work to learn about each other’s touchpoints.

What happens if things go wrong (delayed shipments, stockouts, returns backlog), and how responsive is the team? Open this topic early to understand how the 3PL handles pressured situations that could erode your client relationship, and smooth out any cracks early.

Can the warehouse and processes scale with you and evolve to new channels, markets, or packaging needs? Are your chosen 3PLs future-proof for your current sales growth? Will they easily support your plans and seasonality?

Do you understand the ownership structure of the 3PL? You may not care, but I make an effort to speak with all new clients to introduce myself and help them understand how we can tailor our processes to support each other. Many of our competitors do not own their buildings, and all staff are temporary. So the race to make a profit is immediately noticeable. This could have a big impact on your long-term relationship.

These are obviously all just information points for you to make a judgment on, but get to know the business, the staff and how they portray themselves. This is a big decision for you and your business. You are taking on a business partner who needs to communicate correctly and keep your customers happy with their work. Don’t be sold on flash marketing and nice-looking warehouses in pictures and aerial drone shots.

Taking card payments while staying mobile. What I discovered and learn from my mistakes...

Lawson Willett — Fri, 08 May 2026 10:55:15 +0000

At our Business Centre, we have the closest private car park available to Gloucester Rugby fans for parking their cars if they are going to the match. We have been selling spaces on match days for over 10 years now, but have never taken card payments. But in an age where cash is becoming scarce, we have recently undergone some research to find the best solution that suits us. If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you probably want to take card payments from your smartphone too, without turning your day into a googling nightmare or trying to understand all the adverts that appear when you search for the best answer.

Here is what I found to start with:

What you’ll need: a smartphone or tablet, a card reader that plugs in or connects by Bluetooth, and a payment app or platform you trust.

How I wanted it to work: Me + customer = card-present or contactless tap; data is sent securely to the provider; funds are settled to your bank account.

Benefits I was hoping to gain: faster checkout, happier customers, built-in receipts if needed, as I see a few corporate cars that ask for a payment receipt.

Service providers:
I read a lot of forums, Googled and asked AI for responses, and these are the best providers I could find.

Stripe (and Stripe Terminal): Seemingly developer-friendly API, strong UK support, and reliable for online-to-offline payments. Great if you’re integrating payments into a website or app and you want a seamless checkout flow. Their app was easy to navigate once the account details were set up in the background. But oddly (from my perspective), I can only add one UK £ bank account. I wanted the carpark funds to go to a different account, but I can manage the reconciliations/transfers post-match.

Square: Simple, all-in-one kit (reader, app, dashboard), strong UK merchant support, easy for pop-ups and smaller shops. Known for transparent pricing and good point-of-sale features. This was

SumUp: Budget-friendly card readers with straightforward pricing, strong small-business focus, especially good if you want a low-friction setup for in-person sales.

PayPal: Trusted brand with broad customer familiarity; easy to link to existing PayPal accounts and invoicing. Useful if you already use PayPal in your business. Most of us have a PayPal account because it was required when purchasing from eBay sellers.

Worldpay for Mobile / Global payments: Established options with robust UK coverage, good for businesses already using their merchant services or needing larger-scale support.

Adyen, Paysafe, and others: Great for higher volumes or multi-channel needs; can be overkill for a tiny business, but excellent for growth.

Who to consider avoiding and why:

There seem to be a lot of ‘free card reader’ offers that bury you in fees after a promo period, require you to switch your bank, or lock you into long contracts. Be careful of the marketing hype; it’s easy to take the headline figures at face value.

Readers with opaque fee structures or poor UK support when things go wrong. Reading various threads and forum posts, there is a lot of discontent about support when things don’t work.

Avoid providers that don’t handle PCI DSS compliance well or have limited local customer service in the UK. They are seemingly harder to get solutions to problems when they arise, as they have not mapped issues as well by not following the compliance.

If you’re mainly cash-heavy, be wary of solutions that push you toward digital as the only option. We see a good mix of cash, and I wanted the transactions to be logged also.

UK-specific notes (other countries may vary)

VAT handling, tax rules and settlement times can differ internationally; UK tax settlements are typically clear and predictable, but check the exact timing for your provider. They all seem to explain the rules, but you have to dig and translate into a common language to truly understand.

Card networks like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are widely accepted, but contactless limits can vary by country; in the UK, contactless is widely supported, but confirm whether your reader supports the latest UK standards (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other wallets).

Data protection and PCI compliance: you’ll be processed in a PCI DSS-compliant way, but you’ll still need to follow sensible card data handling practices in your business. You will probably agree to this during the sign-up process of your service provider.

Useful tips

Choose a reader that fits your workflow (clip-on for on-the-go, or a countertop reader for a shop). I found there are lots of types, and depending on the service provider, they will usually offer a certain type of reader. Make sure you choose wisely. But in most cases, the mobile app will let you take payments on your phone if it’s compatible.

Sounds obvious, but make sure your mobile device is up to date and has a dependable internet connection (4G/5G or strong Wi-Fi). If you’re using the mobile app, you will not be able to take payments without a signal.

However, if you do in-person sales, consider a reader with offline mode (some readers securely store payments and sync them later).

Some services can manipulate the receipt your customer receives. So, create receipts your customers will actually use (email or SMS), and track your payments in the provider dashboard.

Consider multi-channel needs: do you also sell online or by invoice? Many providers offer integrated options.

Security and compliance basics

Use a well-regarded provider and keep your app up to date.

Don’t store card data yourself unless you’re PCI DSS-compliant at the required level; rely on tokenisation and the provider’s secure software to protect the data.

For reference, I ended up split between Square and Zettle (Paypal). The process is simple, and the tools are seemingly bombproof.

Dyslexia in Business Owners - Therapy in the plate spinning and chaos

Lawson Willett — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:55:36 +0000

To those of you sitting on a business idea but feeling held back by a brain that doesn't quite follow the "standard" rules: I understand the hesitation. There is a common misconception that to run a business, you need to be a world-class proofreader and a master of filing systems.

The reality is somewhat more interesting.

As a business owner with dyslexia, I can tell you that my emails might occasionally feature creative spelling, but my business strategy stays strong. If you are worried that your limitations will sink you, consider the trade-offs.

For many of us, dyslexia comes with a distinctive superpower: the ability to navigate stressful situations without blinking and without taking too much emotional fatigue. While some might be intimidated by the volume of a business or product launch, I find that overseeing 12 topics at once is where I’m most comfortable. It’s like having several browser tabs open; sure, one might be playing music you can't find, but you’re still getting the work done.

Here is the truth about the "leap" you are scared to take:

Administrative Perfection is Overrated: You can hire an assistant or use software to fix your typos. You cannot easily hire someone to have your specific vision or your ability to see patterns that others see as chaos.

Pressure is Our Natural Habitat: If you’ve spent years dealing with a school system or a corporate world not built for your brain, you’ve already built the strength needed for entrepreneurship.

The "Big Picture" Advantage: While others are zooming in on a single typo, we are usually looking at the entire landscape. This is why many successful founders are neurodivergent.

Don’t let the fear of a few "dropped balls" stop you. In business, it’s not about never dropping a ball; it’s about knowing which ones are rubber and which ones are glass. Most administrative tasks are rubber—they bounce. Your vision and your ability to lead under pressure are the glass ones. Focus on those.

I’ve been told a number of times that you shouldn’t fear making a choice; it's the living with the ‘why did I not try’ that will eat away at you.

The truth be told, I have had a really hard day at work, with disappointing moments that seem to outweigh the successes, but by writing this, I feel comfort and therapy, and I hope to inspire others to just Give It A Go!

The business world doesn't need more people who can spell "entrepreneur" perfectly on the first try; it needs people who can actually be one.

RE: Is there still a job out there for a 'web designer' building websites?

Ryan N — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:19:39 +0000

It's been more years than I care to count, that we shifted our thinking to a pure "return on investment" approach.

I've always said, as long as a site looks professional (and not like it was knocked together by a friend or relative), what really counts is what you say, not how fancy it looks.

I’ve heard countless stories over the years of expensive redesigns that looked great, but didn’t add a penny to the bottom line. Good messaging and clear offers will outperform pretty design every time.

Is there still a job out there for a 'web designer' building websites?

Lawson Willett — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:08:49 +0000

I was looking through some old invoices the other day and realised how much the landscape has shifted. Ten to twelve years ago, if you told me I’d be able to "drag and drop" a functioning website together over a Sunday morning coffee, I’d have probably laughed you out of the office.

This brings up a question I’ve been hearing a lot lately in my circles: Is there actually a job left for someone who just calls themselves a "web designer"?

With tools like WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, and now AI-driven builders, the barrier to entry has hit the floor. My nephew recently offered to build a site for a local shop using a template, and honestly? It looked fine. But "fine" is a dangerous place for a professional to live.

The reality I’m seeing as a business owner is that the job isn’t dying; it’s just shedding its old skin. The people who used to just make things look "pretty" are having to level up. If you’re a designer feeling the heat, your real value isn't in the pixels—it's in the strategy.

User Experience (UX): Knowing 'why' a customer clicks a button is worth way more than knowing 'how' to draw the button.

Problem Solving: A template doesn’t know why a client’s bounce rate is 90%. You do.

Brand Psychology: Understanding how colours and layouts affect trust isn't something a generic AI prompt handles well yet.

For those looking at where to go next, the pivot seems to be toward Product Design or UX/UI Specialisation. Companies are no longer looking for a one-off website; they want digital ecosystems that actually convert.

There’s also a huge gap for "No-code Architects" people who use these DIY tools but build them with the logic and structure of a pro.

The "web designer" might be a disappearing title, but the need for people who understand how humans interact with technology is higher than ever. We just might need to update our LinkedIn headlines.

Are you still hiring "designers," or are you looking for something more specialised these days? ROI for PPC campaigns and marketing efforts are also becoming harder to measure as the methods are becoming harder to see any return.

If you are a web designer looking to change your working role, consider trying a short course on Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) or User Research. These are the high-value skills businesses are currently paying a premium for.

What's the difference between a Profit and Loss Report and a Balance Sheet and why should you care?

Lawson Willett — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:51:28 +0000

I remember when I first started taking over the family business, our accountant would send over a pile of reports, and I’d nod along like I knew exactly what the difference was between a Profit and Loss (P&L) statement and a Balance Sheet. In reality, I was just looking for the bottom line to see if I could afford to pay all the bills and have some for myself.

Since then, I’ve realised these two reports are actually telling very different stories about our businesses. If you’re currently in that "nodding and smiling" phase, here is the simplest way I’ve found to look at them:

The Profit and Loss Report: The "Action Movie"

Think of the P&L as a video of everything that happened over a specific period—usually a month, a quarter, or a year. It shows your income coming in and your expenses going out. If you made £10,000 this month but spent £8,000 on supplies and rent, your P&L shows a £2,000 profit. It tells you if your business is currently "winning" or "losing" the game during that timeframe. It’s all about the flow.

The Balance Sheet: The "Still Photo”

The Balance Sheet is different. It doesn’t care about what happened last Tuesday; it only cares about where you stand right this second. It’s a snapshot of your financial health. It lists what you own (Assets, like cash in the bank or equipment), what you owe (Liabilities, like loans or taxes), and what’s left over for you (Equity).

The Key Difference

The P&L measures performance over time, while the Balance Sheet measures net worth at a single point in time. You could have a very profitable month (great P&L) but still have a weak Balance Sheet if you have a massive loan hanging over your head. Conversely, you might have a slow month with no profit, but a very strong Balance Sheet because you’ve saved up plenty of cash and own your equipment outright.

I’ve found that checking both regularly is the only way to get the full picture. One tells you if you’re making money, and the other tells you if you’re actually building wealth.

Productivity Hacks for Remote Work (Live from a café on a ski slope)

Lawson Willett — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:43:06 +0000

Working from remote locations away from the office has its benefits, obviously avoiding the daily commute and enjoying a more comfortable setting of choice has perks. But it also brings new distractions, from chores to entertainment. Staying productive in any location takes some planning, the right tools and will power. As I write this from a cafe in France on the top of a mountain while my family head off skiing for a few hours.

I start by setting up a specific spot for work. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a tidy non mentally arresting space. Using this space only for work helps you focus and marks the beginning of your workday. I cant work with mess around me. Not obsessive just clearing mind of other nearby distractions.

To keep track of your tasks, try using tools like Gmail, Trello or Asana. They help me organise what needs to be done, set deadlines, and see my progress, so you always know your priorities.

Staying in touch with your team is important. Tools like Slack make it easy to have organised conversations in different channels. Leaving room for casual chats can also help everyone feel more connected when working remotely.

Managing your time well is key to getting things done. I read about the Pomodoro Technique, where you work for 25 minutes and then take a short break, can help you stay focused and avoid burnout. Apps like Focus Booster or Forest make it easy to use this method. This seems to help me mentally with time pressures to achieve and also keeps me working towards achievable goals.

I use my Google calendar for more than just meetings. I block out time for focused work, admin tasks, emails, and breaks. Planning your day like this helps you stay on track and avoid working late unexpectedly as I don't know about you, but my workflow is endless and I could work nonstop for days if allowed.

A routine regardless of location really helps me get more done. I try starting my day with a simple habit, like making coffee or getting setup with a drink to signal it’s time to work. I try to end my day with a small ritual to help me switch back to personal time. These routines make it easier to keep work and home life separate. Despite its distractions, working from any remote location can be productive with the right structure and tools, well it's working for me...

I'm sure this is not a one size fits all solution, I haven't cracked the code. I spend most of my life at my desk, but the mental space to work from another location is a blessing.

Remember, small steps forward matter. Some days, just sticking to your plan or finishing on time is a win.

When is a residential property become a commercial venture from a mortgage perspective?

Lawson Willett — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:04:39 +0000

My wife and I are looking for properties that can earn us an income. Having come across a converted barn with some holiday cottages on the land. I have been advised that this is a residential sale.

But when it comes to getting a mortgage on the site, the brokers were unsure as to how to present it. My argument is that it is no different from having a basement flat above a period property that is let out.

Has anyone else come across a similar scenario?

Spotted: Potential Vinted Scam

Lawson Willett — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:14:47 +0000

I've bought a number of things in Vinted over the years. But have noticed a flaw in their reporting processes. Leaving the buyer potentially vulnerable.

I have been looking for high-end headphones for my wife's Birthday. Having found the right pair, the seller answered some of my questions and then accepted my offer.

A week went past, and I had to chase the shipping date as I'm getting close to the big day without a present. A shipping label was created, but there is no tracking from the Royal Mail beyond that. I've had to chase the seller again, but the item, according to the seller, has been handed over.

Now. I work with Royal Mail daily, and although not perfect, their processes are reasonably sound. If they had received the parcel, it would have been scanned.

As a buyer, you cannot request anything other than via a message to cancel the order, and Vinted will give you a window of 2 days to ask for a refund, in this case, a month from now (April 2026). If I miss the 2-day window, the seller automatically gets the funds, and there is nothing you can do about it!

Be careful out there.

Cheltenham Races Advertising

Lawson Willett — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:56:08 +0000

Based near the Cheltenham Racecourse, it amazes me that over a 4-day period, 200,000+ people head to Cheltenham to see the racing spectacle, which concludes with the Cheltenham Gold Cup race.

Local hospitality businesses benefit from the additional revenue, but very few other sectors see any gain, and locals stay away from town for fear of mixing with the alcohol-fuelled crowd.

The visitors to the town seem to be here on holiday and have disposable income to spend. What could the locals do to attract the punters to spend their hard-earned money elsewhere?