What to Look for in a 3PL: Inside Barrett with Scott Hothem

Faith Artieda • July 6, 2026

Choosing a third-party logistics (3PL) provider is one of the most important decisions a growing brand can make. The right partner doesn't just ship orders—they become an extension of your business, helping you scale operations, navigate retail requirements, and create a better customer experience.


Welcome to Inside Barrett with , a series that takes you behind the scenes at Barrett Distribution Centers. In each episode, Faith sits down with the people who power Barrett's success, exploring their roles, sharing their expertise, and answering the questions clients ask most about fulfillment, logistics, and supply chain management.



For our first feature, Faith spoke with , Senior Vice President of Customer ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú, who has spent more than 14 years helping brands find logistics solutions that support long-term growth. From omnichannel fulfillment to choosing the right fulfillment partner, Scott shares what every business should know before selecting a 3PL.


A 3PL Should Be More Than a Warehouse

When companies begin searching for a fulfillment provider, many focus on the basics: warehouse locations, pricing, or square footage.

While those factors matter, Scott believes they don't tell the whole story.


"Every 3PL has warehouses, forklifts, and scanners," he explains. "The real question is whether they understand your business."

A great logistics partner takes the time to understand your products, order profiles, customers, growth plans, and operational challenges before proposing a solution. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all pricing sheet, they build a fulfillment strategy tailored to your business.


At Barrett, that consultative approach has helped brands of all sizes successfully navigate periods of rapid growth and operational change.


Why Omnichannel Experience Matters

Today's brands rarely sell through just one channel.


A customer may place an order through your Shopify store, while another purchases the same product on Amazon. At the same time, your largest retailer may submit a purchase order for thousands of units destined for stores across the country.

Managing those channels requires more than warehouse space—it requires operational expertise.


Scott explains that omnichannel fulfillment means seamlessly managing direct-to-consumer orders alongside wholesale and retail distribution while maintaining inventory accuracy, retailer compliance, and exceptional customer service.


For brands expanding into retailers like Walmart, Target, Costco, or Nordstrom, choosing a 3PL with proven retail experience can help avoid costly compliance issues, chargebacks, and fulfillment delays.


Ask the Right Questions Before Choosing a 3PL

Instead of asking only about rates, Scott recommends asking prospective logistics providers questions like:


  • Have you worked with companies similar to ours?
  • How have you helped customers overcome growth challenges?
  • Can your operations scale with our business?
  • What retail partners do you currently support?
  • What technology and reporting capabilities do you offer?
  • How do you approach onboarding new customers?

These conversations reveal far more about a provider's capabilities than pricing alone.


The best 3PL relationships are built on transparency, collaboration, and shared goals—not simply transactional services.


Price Is Important—But Value Matters More

Every business wants competitive pricing, but the lowest quote isn't always the best investment.


According to Scott, fulfillment pricing should reflect the complexity of a customer's operation—not a generic menu of services.


Factors like SKU count, order volume, value-added services, inventory requirements, seasonality, and retail compliance all influence the most effective fulfillment solution.


It's one reason Barrett develops customized proposals instead of standardized rate sheets.


Scott notes that Barrett frequently reconnects with companies that initially selected a lower-cost provider only to discover that their fulfillment partner couldn't support their evolving business needs.


Look for a Partner That Can Grow With You

Growth is exciting—but it also introduces new operational challenges.


A startup shipping a few hundred ecommerce orders today may find itself fulfilling thousands of daily orders or shipping to major retailers within a few years.


Scott has seen that transformation firsthand.


Over the years, Barrett has partnered with emerging brands from their earliest stages, helping many grow into nationally recognized companies generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.


That kind of long-term partnership is possible because Barrett focuses on building solutions that scale—not solutions that only solve today's challenges.


Technology Should Enhance the Customer Experience

Artificial intelligence has become one of the biggest conversations in logistics.


While Barrett continues investing in automation, systems integrations, data analytics, and emerging technologies, Scott believes technology should enhance—not replace—the customer relationship.


For Barrett, meaningful conversations still matter.


When prospective customers reach out, they're connected with experienced professionals who understand fulfillment strategy, supply chain challenges, and operational execution—not an automated chatbot.


Technology should make service better. It shouldn't replace the people behind it.


Barrett's Biggest Competitive Advantage: Its People

Throughout the conversation, one theme surfaced again and again: people.


After more than 80 years in business, Barrett has built its reputation on experienced employees, long-term customer relationships, and a culture centered on continuous improvement.


From warehouse associates to executive leadership, every team member plays a role in delivering exceptional customer experiences.


That people-first mindset has helped Barrett build lasting partnerships with brands across apparel, health and beauty, consumer products, food and beverage, and other industries while continuing to invest in technology, facilities, and operational excellence.


Final Thoughts

Choosing a 3PL isn't simply about finding a warehouse—it's about finding a partner that understands your business, supports your growth, and shares your commitment to customer success.


As Scott Hothem shared in this first edition of Inside Barrett, companies should look beyond pricing and ask deeper questions about experience, scalability, technology, and culture.


Because when your logistics partner succeeds, your business has the opportunity to do the same.


Stay tuned for future editions of Inside Barrett with Faith Artieda, where we'll continue introducing the experts behind Barrett Distribution Centers and answering the logistics questions that matter most to growing brands.

Recent Blog Posts

By Faith Artieda July 10, 2026
FRANKLIN, Mass., June 8, 2026 — Barrett Distribution Centers , a leading third-party logistics provider specializing in eCommerce fulfillment, announced a new partnership with RateFit , a Chicago-based athleisure brand under the Rate.com family of companies. “From the beginning, Barrett demonstrated the experience and capabilities we were looking for in a fulfillment partner,” said Jenny Sepulveda, president of RateFit. "During our visit, we were impressed by the scale of Barrett's operations and the team's ability to support our long-term growth plans. As we launch, it was important to find a fulfillment partner with apparel expertise, room to scale and the flexibility to support future value-added services." RateFit is a new business under the Rate.com umbrella. Inspired by the concept of living the 'Rate Life,' the brand offers an athleisure collection designed to transition seamlessly from recreational activities to everyday wear. “We’re super excited that the RateFit team chose Barrett to help launch their new brand,” said Harrison Smith , director, 3PL pricing and contract analytics at Barrett. “It’s been a pleasure working with Jenny and Mia throughout this process. With their passion and expertise in the space, I have no doubt it will become one of the leaders in the athleisure market, and we’re thrilled they trusted Barrett to be part of their journey.” RateFit is now live at one of Barrett’s Memphis, Tenn., fulfillment facilities, where Barrett provides direct-to-consumer fulfillment and parcel shipping services. The partnership supports the launch of RateFit’s which offers versatile apparel designed for everyday life from the studio to the office, coffee, and everything in between. Barrett’s fulfillment capabilities will help the brand efficiently serve customers nationwide as it scales its direct-to-consumer business. Barrett's Memphis operation is part of a nationwide fulfillment network supporting high-growth consumer brands across multiple industries. About RateFit RateFit is a Chicago-based athleisure brand under the Rate.com family of companies. Inspired by a wellness-focused lifestyle, the company offers versatile apparel designed for everyday life from the studio to office, coffee, and everything in between. Its collection combines performance, comfort and style to support consumers both on and off the course. About Barrett Distribution Centers Since 1941, Barrett has provided customized third-party logistics (3PL), direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce fulfillment, omnichannel distribution, managed transportation solutions and retail compliance for clients across all industries, with a focus on apparel & footwear, health & beauty, consumer packaged goods (CPG) and education. Barrett continues to be a leading 3rd party logistics provider in North America, known for superior execution, customer engagement and direct access to senior leadership decision makers. As a member of Inc's fastest growing companies list 15+ times, Barrett is big enough to do the job and still small enough to deeply care about your business. Brands interested in a new 3PL partnership may contact Barrett directly here . Official Release Here Media Contact: Faith Artieda Marketing Content Specialist Faith.artieda@barrettdistribution.com
By Faith Artieda July 9, 2026
Your ecommerce business is thriving. Orders are flowing in through your Shopify store, Amazon sales continue to climb, and then it happens—you land your biggest opportunity yet: a purchase order from a major retailer like Walmart, Target, or Costco. It's the kind of milestone every growing brand works toward. But for many businesses, it's also where fulfillment becomes significantly more complicated. Suddenly, you're managing multiple sales channels, each with its own shipping requirements, inventory demands, compliance standards, and customer expectations. What worked when you were shipping directly to consumers may no longer be enough to support retail distribution. This is where omnichannel fulfillment becomes essential. In the first episode of Inside Barrett with Faith Artieda , Barrett's Senior Vice President of Customer ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú, Scott Hothem , explained that omnichannel fulfillment isn't simply about shipping products through multiple channels—it's about having the operational expertise to manage every channel successfully while maintaining a consistent customer experience. More Than Shipping Orders Many people assume omnichannel fulfillment simply means offering multiple ways for customers to buy products. While that's true from the consumer's perspective, the logistics behind those purchases are entirely different. A customer placing an order on your website expects fast, accurate delivery to their front door. That order may include just one or two items that need to be individually picked, packed, and shipped. A retailer, on the other hand, might place a purchase order for thousands of units. Those shipments often require palletization, retailer-specific labels, advance shipment notifications (ASNs), routing guide compliance, scheduled delivery appointments, and strict packaging requirements. Missing even one requirement can result in costly chargebacks or delayed deliveries. "The channels are very, very different," Scott explained during the interview. "How you manage inventory is different. Those retailers often want unique SKUs that you don't sell on your primary direct-to-consumer website." Although both orders originate from the same inventory, they require completely different operational workflows. Growth Creates Complexity For many brands, expanding into retail feels like the natural next step—but it also introduces new challenges. Inventory must remain synchronized across every sales channel. Technology systems need to communicate seamlessly. Customer expectations continue to rise, and retailers demand near-perfect compliance. Without the right fulfillment strategy, brands can quickly become overwhelmed. That's why Scott believes the role of a 3PL extends far beyond storing inventory and shipping packages. At Barrett, the goal is to help brands navigate these transitions before they become problems. Whether a company is launching its first retail partnership or rapidly scaling its ecommerce business, Barrett works alongside customers to build fulfillment solutions that evolve with their growth—not solutions they'll outgrow in a year or two. As Scott put it during the interview, Barrett strives to become a brand's " forever 3PL " by supporting customers through every stage of their journey. Omnichannel Is About Visibility, Flexibility, and Partnership Successful omnichannel fulfillment requires much more than warehouse capacity. It depends on real-time inventory visibility, seamless technology integrations, retail compliance expertise, transportation management, and a fulfillment operation capable of adapting as customer demand changes. It also requires a logistics partner that understands your business well enough to anticipate challenges before they impact your customers. That's the approach Barrett has taken for more than 80 years. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all fulfillment model, Barrett designs customized omnichannel solutions that allow brands to manage direct-to-consumer, wholesale, marketplace, and retail fulfillment through a single, integrated operation. With expertise in retail compliance, transportation management, value-added services, and advanced warehouse technology, Barrett helps brands simplify complex supply chains while preparing for future growth. Looking Ahead Today's consumers don't think about fulfillment channels—they simply expect their orders to arrive on time, regardless of where they made the purchase. For brands, meeting those expectations requires more than great products. It requires a fulfillment strategy built to support every channel, every customer, and every stage of growth. As Scott shared in Inside Barrett , the right 3PL doesn't just help you fulfill today's orders. It helps prepare your business for tomorrow's opportunities. And that's what omnichannel fulfillment is really all about.
By Faith Artieda July 7, 2026
Switching third-party logistics (3PL) providers isn't a decision most businesses take lightly. It requires time, planning, and trust. But staying with the wrong partner can cost even more—through missed shipments, unhappy customers, and lost opportunities for growth. So how do you know when it's time to make a change? One of the biggest signs is when your 3PL starts holding your business back instead of helping it move forward. Maybe customer service has become difficult to reach, order accuracy has declined, or you're constantly following up on issues that should have been resolved proactively. Your fulfillment partner should give you confidence, not create more work for your team.  Growth is another common reason brands switch providers. A 3PL that worked well when you were shipping a few hundred orders each week may not have the systems, technology, or expertise to support new retail partnerships, higher order volumes, or omnichannel fulfillment. As your business evolves, your logistics partner should evolve with it. It's also worth evaluating how your 3PL approaches the relationship. Do they take the time to understand your goals and recommend improvements, or are they simply processing orders? The best providers act as an extension of your business, offering strategic guidance, transparent communication, and solutions designed to support long-term success. At Barrett Distribution Centers, we believe a successful partnership starts long before the first shipment leaves the warehouse. That's why we invest time upfront to understand each customer's business, design a customized fulfillment strategy, and build solutions that can scale as your company grows. Rather than focusing on short-term transactions, our goal is to become a long-term logistics partner that supports your business through every stage of growth. If your current 3PL is creating more challenges than solutions, it may be time to ask whether they're still the right fit. The best fulfillment partner isn't just the one that ships your orders—it's the one that helps your business grow with confidence.
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