Fulfilment is the work between a customer placing an order and receiving it: picking the item from stock, packing and labelling it, handing it to a courier or post office, and often handling returns. Sellers either do it themselves or pay a fulfilment company (a third-party logistics provider) to hold their stock and do the work.
Fulfilment is different from stock storage. Storage is where the goods sit; fulfilment is what happens to each order.
Fulfilment at Wigwam
A unit is clearly fine for storing stock and packaging and collecting what you need during access hours. The rest needs care:
- The rule. Clause 22 of our terms says: "You will use the Unit solely for the purpose of storage and shall not (or allow any other person to): (a) use the Unit as offices or living accommodation or as a home, business or mailing address".
- Packing orders in the unit. Many online sellers keep their stock in a unit and visit during access hours (normally 6am to 10pm; check your site's page) to pick and pack orders before taking them to the post office or courier. Under clause 22 of the terms, the unit is for storage. It cannot be used as an office, a shop, a workshop, a place for staff to work, or a business or mailing address. You can't connect a power supply for equipment unless Wigwam authorises it (clause 22(e)).
- Deliveries and couriers. Our guide to booking storage for a move says "Wigwam does not sign for or receive deliveries". Our guide for online sellers says a courier can come, but "someone from your own business has to be there to hand the parcel over".
- Returns. Not a returns address either, under 22(a).
- Buyers. No sales, viewings or paying at the unit. A one-off collection of an item already sold needs you or someone you authorise there; ask us first.
If you're an online seller
Our pages don't describe a pick, pack or dispatch service of our own.
If you'd rather pack at home, keep stock in the unit and collect a batch at a time. If you're weighing a fulfilment company instead, it receives, packs and ships for you, but it holds your stock and usually charges per order as well as for space.
Related terms: Stock storage · Business storage · Overflow storage
Related questions: Can I sort and pack orders inside my storage unit? · Can I hold a sale or let buyers collect from my storage unit? · Can I use my storage unit as a business address?
Related reading: E-commerce fulfilment and stock storage for online retailers