SBC connects with eCommerce clients

Atlanta-based fulfillment company, SBC Fulfillment has made it
even easier for AbleCommerce customers
to save money and streamline their shipping process.

SBC built
the AbleCommerce
Connector as a bridge for existing clients of AbleCommerce to
integrate into SBC Fulfillment’s services with the click of a button.
Before this connector, client information would have be entered up to
three times before it could be sent to the end customer.

"We
wanted an automated process that would allow companies using
AbleCommerce to flow directly into our Warehouse Management System with
zero hassle”, says SBC Fulfillment President, Brian Schoenbaechler. This
would also give current AbleCommerce clients the power to evaluate
their current fulfillment needs and costs and weigh the option of
switching to SBC. "Even with a significant savings, the downtime
sometimes associated without having this connector can be tedious”, says
Schoenbaechler.

For clients that have websites built on
AbleCommerce software, the order is sent in real-time across an
encrypted connection into SBC's Warehouse Management System, SmartTurn. Once
the order is received, SBC's warehouse packages, ships and sends that
tracking information to the AbleCommerce client and to their end
customer as well. 

The AbleCommerce Connector is the second
connector released by SBC, the first one Magento
Connect launched last summer. "We are always looking for ways to
deliver faster and more accurate services to our clients and to their
end customers through technology", says Schoenbaechler.

To learn
more visit www.sbcfulfillment.com

Analysis shows increase in online selling for manfacturers

In an effort to keep up with the Top 500 web-only businesses,
consumer brand manufacturers are turning to online selling to stay in
the more lucrative e-commerce game.

Amazon.com leads the list of the Top 500 web-only merchants with
52.2% of all web sales. The online retail giant increased their sales
from $12.1 billion in 2007 to $14 billion in 2008. If you take
Amazon.com out of the equation, manufacturers stand to gain the most as
one of the fastest-growing groups in Internet Retailer’s Top
500 Guide.

In the past, most manufacturers have been hesitant to create an
online store that would sell directly to consumers. One cited reason was
that is might upset or weaken their relationships with distributors and
traditional retailers. According to industry analysts, larger chain
stores such as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, and Best Buy are able to better
negotiate inventory and pricing with manufacturers through purchasing
power. Retailers such as J.C. Penny have focused on producing their own
private label brands. This presents a larger threat to consumer brand
manufacturers that can be leveraged by selling directly to consumers
online. Apple Inc. (number 5 on the list) grew their web sales to $39.4
million in 2008, an increase of over 55%. Brand manufacturers such as:
American Apparel, Vera Bradley and Jones also increased their revenues
through online transactions.

This trend also creates opportunities and advantages for online
merchants seeking a simpler and more streamlined approach to
fulfillment. “We are continuing to develop tools and technology that is
targeted to the online retail industry,” says SBC Fulfillment President,
Brian Schoenbaechler. The ecommerce fulfillment company, launched two connectors last year that
allow companies using AbleCommerce
and Magento
e-commerce software to directly tie into their warehousing, packaging,
shipping and fulfillment services. “ The future of the retail industry
is dependent on e-commerce, and we want to be a part of this ongoing
growth.”