View the 3 pitfalls to avoid that cost up to 6% in fees.

Find Apparel Warehousing and Fulfillment Services for Your eCommerce, Retail, or Footwear Brand

A Complete Playbook for Clothing and Footwear Brands Navigating Outsourced Warehousing & Logistics

Match Me Up
Find Apparel Warehousing and Fulfillment Services for Your eCommerce, Retail, or Footwear Brand
📅 Disclaimer
✍️ Written by: Will Schneider 🖊️ Edited by: Alyssa Ochs
× We evaluate warehousing providers using research, data, and direct industry feedback, never paid placements or commissions. Other than recognizing featured suppliers by name for outstanding achievement, company names are only disclosed after matches are made, ensuring the protection of confidential and proprietary information from content misuse and competitor access. Learn how we maintain objectivity.

We’ll Match You with Apparel Fulfillment Companies

Complete Logistics Solutions Across All Transportation Modes with Nationwide Coverage

Complete Logistics Solutions Across All Transportation Modes with Nationwide Coverage
Address: Parkville, MO
Lead Types: Warehousing, Fulfillment, Shipping, Pick and Pack, 3PL Services, Ecommerce Fulfillment
Year Established: 2000
Deals Closed: 1
Number of Reviews: 3

Apparel Fulfillment: What It Is and Why It’s Different

This guide is for e-commerce clothing brands, startup fashion labels, footwear companies, and omni-channel retailers handling apparel and shoe inventory. If you’re managing high SKU counts, custom packaging, or returns, this article outlines what to look for in a third-party fulfillment partner and how to avoid common problems.

Unlike standard fulfillment (receiving, storage, pick and pack, and shipping), apparel fulfillment involves complex inventory (sizes, colors, styles), fragile packaging needs, high return volumes, and brand-sensitive presentation. This guide explains the key differences, common challenges, and what separates capable 3PLs from general providers.

What are Apparel Fulfillment Services? Apparel fulfillment services handle the storage, picking, packing, and shipping of clothing and fashion accessories on behalf of a brand. These services are tailored to manage a high volume of SKUs, frequent size and color variations, and returns processing. A fulfillment provider specializing in apparel typically offers folded or hanging storage, careful handling to prevent wrinkles or damage, and integrations with ecommerce platforms to sync orders and inventory in real time.

Key Challenges in Apparel and Footwear Warehousing

  • Complex Inventory (Size, Color, and SKU Variation): Each item in your catalog may have multiple sizes and colors. A single product can turn into dozens of SKUs. A good 3PL must be able to receive, store, and pick and pack items accurately using technology that recognizes small differences between nearly identical products. Ask about their WMS (warehouse management system) and how they handle variants.
  • Packaging Standards (Folded, Hung, or Branded): Some apparel needs to be folded, bagged, or boxed in specific ways. Others require hanging storage. Footwear may come in branded or color-coded boxes that must match the style. A capable 3PL should accommodate your packaging specs and offer garment-on-hanger (GOH) support if needed. Also confirm their ability to store packaging materials (e.g. branded boxes or tissue), follow instructions for inserts or labels, and minimize packaging errors.
  • Clean Warehousing Conditions: Apparel and footwear can be damaged by dirt, dust, or poor handling. Facilities should have clean, climate-appropriate storage and processes in place to prevent damage. Ask for a facility walkthrough (in-person or virtual) and look at how garments are handled during picking, packing, and storage.
  • Barcode Scanning and RF Technology: Barcode and RF scanning reduces errors. It helps differentiate between similar items and keeps your inventory accurate. A strong apparel 3PL should use scanning at receiving, order picking, packing, and inventory audits. Ask how scanning integrates with their system and whether you can access real-time inventory visibility.
  • Handling Returns: Apparel has a high return rate. Your 3PL should have a clear process for inspecting, sorting, and processing returned items. This includes identifying wear, stains, and packaging condition. Ask whether they follow your return rules, if restocking is possible, and how long it takes to return items to sellable inventory.
  • Location Strategy: Most U.S. customers live east of the Mississippi River. A centrally or bi-coastally located warehouse can reduce shipping times and costs. High volume brands may need multiple locations to best serve customers with 2-day ground shipping or better. Ask where a 3PL’s facilities are located, and whether they can support your distribution needs—including cross-border shipping or international orders if relevant.
  • Sustainability Requirements: If you’re using eco-friendly packaging or want to reduce your environmental impact, your 3PL must be able to support those sustainability practices. Ask about recycled materials, biodegradable mailers, and energy-efficient practices. If sustainability is part of your brand, make sure their operations won’t conflict with that message.
  • Automation and Scalability: As your order volume increases, fulfillment needs change. Look for 3PLs that use automation (like conveyor sorting or robotic picking) and that can increase staffing during peak periods. Confirm they have enough warehouse space for your growth and seasonal inventory swings.
  • Omni-Channel Capabilities: If you sell through retail, marketplaces, and DTC, your fulfillment partner needs to handle all channels from the same inventory pool. Ask whether they can ship both bulk retail orders and individual customer packages, follow routing guides, and support integrations with ecommerce platforms and retail EDI systems.

What to Look for in an Apparel 3PL Fulfillment Warehouse

When vetting 3PLs for apparel or footwear, use the following criteria:

  • Industry Experience: Look for a provider that works with fashion brands and understands apparel inventory, packaging, and returns. Ask for examples of similar clients and how long they’ve served them.
  • Inventory & Order Accuracy: They should support barcode or RFID scanning at every step. Ask how they ensure the right item ships, especially for products that only differ in size or color.
  • Custom Packaging and Presentation: If you have specific folding, polybag, or GOH requirements, or branded inserts, they must be followed consistently. Confirm they can meet your packaging standards and support presentation-level shipping.
  • Facility Standards: Clean storage is non-negotiable for apparel. Ask how they maintain cleanliness, organize apparel SKUs, and prevent damage. A walk-through or video can quickly show their standards.
  • Returns Handling: Ask what their returns process looks like. How quickly do they inspect returned items? Can they repackage and restock eligible returns? What data will you get?
  • Warehouse Location: Choose a 3PL with location(s) that align with your customer base. East Coast locations often offer faster coverage. Ask how they route orders and whether they support two-day delivery for your key zones.
  • Systems & Software: Make sure they have a modern WMS and can integrate with your ecommerce platform (e.g. Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce). For retail orders, they should support EDI and routing guide compliance.
  • Scalability: Ask how they handle large order surges, seasonal promotions, or expansion. Do they have overflow space or seasonal staffing plans?
  • References: Request references from similar apparel or footwear clients. Ask those clients what challenges they’ve had, how responsive the provider is, and what support looks like during peak season.

We’ll Help You Find the Right Apparel Warehousing Company

If you’re looking for a 3PL that meets your specific apparel or footwear fulfillment needs, WarehousingAndFulfillment.com can help. We connect brands with pre-vetted warehousing and fulfillment providers based on your inventory, packaging, order volume, and location needs.

There’s no cost to use our matching service. We gather your requirements and connect you with qualified 3PLs who already meet your criteria, saving you time and helping you avoid mismatches. You can ask questions, review capabilities, and compare multiple quotes. Fill out a form or call us to find your best matches.

Last Step

Since 2005 We’ve Been Helping Companies Just Like Yours

Your contact information is held in the strictest of confidence. We will contact you before we connect you with vendors so that we can learn about your situation, obtain any of your contact preferences, and answer any of your questions.

YOU have control over your contact details:

  • No unwanted contacts – you control how vendors respond to you
  • Remain confidential if you wish
  • No commitment to choose any of our vendors
  • Ask our Fulfillment experts any questions you have!
author avatar
Will Schneider President

Will Schneider is the Co-Founder and President of WarehousingAndFulfillment.com. He’s responsible for the strategic vision of the company. Previously, he served CEO of RMC Fulfillment and Clear Stream Fulfillment within the 3PL industry, gaining invaluable experience that helps the company best assist companies looking to outsource their fulfillment. In addition, Will served in executive management in the lead generation industry while at NetQuote, a leading lead generation company in the insurance vertical. See full bio

We Care About Your Privacy. Your information is shared with only pre-screened providers. You may opt out of communication at any time. View our Privacy Policy.

Warehouse Floating Block Design

Are you ready for

CUSTOMIZED WAREHOUSING & FULFILLMENT

that fits your
company needs?

Warehouse Floating Block Design

Get Started Today!

MATCH ME UP! Warehouse Floating Block Design

What Our Customers Say About Us And Our Work

Warehouse Customer Image

Jo-Ann Hill

I want to say thank you for your help in finding a warehouse so quickly. Your service was amazing. I received replies the same day and have selected a company that will work well for us. I definitely recommend your services.

Warehouse Customer Image

Vee Zeniuk

I wanted to express my gratitude for your services and let you know that it was a very enjoyable experience! We have selected one of the companies and they are awesome!

Warehouse Customer Image

Mujeeb

You are doing such a great job and this service that you provide is a life saver for people especially startups like me....We cannot spend budgets on researching as much as the big firms can...and you provide us one stop solution which will answer all our questions.

Warehouse Customer Image

Joyce Sloss

I just wanted to let you know that I selected one of your vendors as our fulfillment house. They can do what we need and we’re looking forward to working with them. They can handle our “special projects” fulfillment, which was key to our decision in bringing them onboard. I appreciate this service. It was great for our company.

Warehouse Customer Image

Jeffrey Schmidt

I didn’t know there was so much difference in fulfillment companies — this was my first time in need of this sort of service. After a Google search I luckily stumbled upon WarehousingAndFulfillment.com. They saved me an incredible amount of time and money. Within minutes I had a couple of emails from good companies that fit my situation. I am very appreciative of their help.

Warehouse Customer Image

Eric Kolb

Warehousing and Fulfillment was the perfect matchmaker in finding us a fulfillment partner. They provided several great options, all of whom were very responsive and willing to take the time to talk through our needs. We ended up going with W&F’s top match and we couldn’t be happier. I highly recommend W&F, particularly to anyone whose business relies on a strong fulfillment partner.

Warehouse Customer Image

Paul Sauer

We were having multiple issues with our 3PL fulfilling warranty replacement parts. Our company needed to make a change and make one fast. I reached out to WarehousingAndFulfillment.com to facilitate my search for a reputable, service oriented 3PL that can handle the demands of a highly seasonal business to pick, pack and ship parts quickly. I received several qualified 3PL leads that matched what we were looking for and we found a great partner.

Warehouse Customer Image

Denis Mills

We found the perfect third-party fulfillment vendor through insightQuote. We never would have found them on our own. We can’t thank you enough and our customers thank you too.

Warehouse Customer Image

Sarah De Munck

Thanks for all of your help. This was a huge undertaking for us and your guidance was extremely helpful!

Warehouse Customer Image

Gwynne MacHattie

Thank you so much for your excellent service. We have chosen one to go forward with. This has saved us a great deal of time.

Warehouse Customer Image

Ash Cook

They really listened to our requirements and then matched us with great vendors that could meet our specific challenges.

Warehouse Customer Image

Corky Bless

I just wanted to say thank you so much for setting me up with these vendors. I have found pricing better than I ever expected to find.

Warehouse Customer Image

Brian Chui

Legit, this was such a good experience ... I was shocked how fast the vendors contacted me and got the ball rolling. This was such a pleasant experience

Warehouse Customer Image

Donald Willick

What an awesome service. A problem I fought with daily for over 3 weeks, solved in less than 24 hours.

Why You Should Trust Us

WarehousingAndFulfillment.com’s content, including ratings and recommendations, is curated by a team of dedicated warehousing experts with decades of experience in the logistics industry. Each writer and editor adheres to WarehousingAndFulfillment.com’s strict editorial and evaluation guidelines. Our work has been featured in authoritative industry publications such as Information Week, Bplans, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, Chain Store Age, Parcel Industry, Manufacturing Digital, and The Association for Supply Chain Management. Since 2005, our experience in matching businesses with warehouse solutions and vetting warehouse providers includes:

137,609
Trust Icon 1

Individual searches processed for warehousing solutions.

64,265
Trust Icon 2

Companies matched with vetted warehouse providers.

5,961
Trust Icon 3

Warehouse providers reviewed.

481
Trust Icon 4

Warehouse providers approved.

Warehouse Arrow Up Circle