If you want to export your product to the United States, you need to know that logistics is not just an operational detail, but a strategic component for business success.
Accurately organizing transportation, warehousing, and final delivery allows you to meet the high expectations of U.S. consumers and avoid costly mistakes that could jeopardize your entire expansion project.
Relying on modern logistics facilities and teams with specific experience is essential to deal with the complexities of the U.S. market.Choosing the right warehouse, equipped with services such as pick-and-pack or cross docking, allows you to optimize time, reduce costs, and ensure a high level of customer satisfaction, thus enhancing the value of your product and increasing your chances of success.
Logistics in the U.S.: the 3 key steps to conquering the U.S. market
To effectively enter the U.S. market, it is essential to master the three main steps of logistics, each with its own peculiarities and critical issues.
1. International transportation: the first step to the U.S.
It all begins with the shipment of goods from Italy to the United States: this phase requires detailed planning, taking into account variables such as transit time, customs tariffs and compliance with U.S. import regulations.
Careless handling of this step can cause significant delays or unexpected costs, compromising the project from the start.
2. Transfer to the warehouse in the U.S.
Once the goods arrive on U.S. soil, the second step begins: transfer to the warehouse.
This route involves the use of a parcel delivery system, an essential service to ensure that the goods are picked up from the port or airport and delivered in a timely and safe manner to the designated logistics facility.
3. The operational management of logistics in America.
Once it arrives at the warehouse, operational management, which we can call the heart of logistics, comes into play: this is where goods can be stored in a traditional warehouse or managed through more advanced services such as pick-and-pack, a system that allows orders to be processed, the required products to be picked, carefully packed and prepared for final shipment.
For some companies, especially in the case of fashion and furniture products, the logistics path also includes the showroom stage. In these facilities, often located in strategic cities, products are displayed to attract buyers, distributors and business partners.
Showroom management, however, requires specialized personnel and warehouses that can quickly and efficiently support the replenishment of products on display.
Each step in the logistics process must be precisely coordinated: understanding the importance of these steps and relying on experienced consultants allows you to build an efficient supply chain.
Warehousing, pick-and-pack and cross docking
Warehouse choice is one of the most important decisions when managing logistics in the U.S. Each product type and business model requires a different logistics solution, and choosing the right warehouse can determine the speed, efficiency, and cost of your supply chain.
Storage warehouse in the U.S.: what it is and when it is needed
A traditional storage warehouse is a facility where goods are simply stored until they are required to be shipped.
This type of warehouse is ideal for products that do not require quick or complex operations, but managing shipping time can be more time-consuming than other solutions.
If your goal is to ensure simplified warehouse management without the need for frequent action on orders, this option may be the most cost-effective.
However, you must consider that if the volume of orders grows or the need for quick shipments increases, this solution may not be efficient enough.
Pick-and-Pack: efficiency and speed in handling orders in the United States.
For companies that need a more agile and dynamic process, pick-and-pack is a very advantageous choice.
This is a service that allows the items needed for the order to be collected directly from the warehouse and packaged into packages ready for shipment.
The great advantage of pick-and-pack is that it allows for faster shipping and greater traceability, as each order is processed on a customized basis.
This process intersects closely with warehouse information systems, which ensure that the order is completed correctly, without errors or delays.
Pick-and-pack is particularly useful for companies that sell small products or products with multiple variants, as in the case of technology or consumer products.
Cross Docking USA: time optimization and cost reduction
Another option to consider is cross docking, a solution that further optimizes logistics by reducing storage times and speeding up flows.
In a cross-docking warehouse, goods arrive and are immediately sorted for shipment, with no need for long-term storage.
Goods are transferred directly from the point of arrival to the point of departure, passing through a “loading port” on one side of the warehouse and exiting on the other side without interruption.
This process is extremely useful for products that need to be shipped quickly and in large quantities, as it reduces dwell time in the warehouse and increases overall supply chain efficiency.
Fast Delivery vs. Slow Boat: how shipping works in America.
When it comes to shipping goods to the United States, choosing the right type of shipping can make all the difference in cost and delivery time.
Two of the most widely used options in the U.S. logistics system are Fast Delivery and so-called Slow Boats, each with specific features and benefits depending on the needs of your business.
One distinguishing aspect of trucking across the United States is the use of exchange stations, intermediate points where the tractor (truck) is exchanged while the trailer (trailer) continues to the other end of the US. This gives drivers shorter and better routes, while the trailer does not experience prolonged stops to rest drivers ensuring Coast-To-Coast delivery in a few days (Fast Delivery).
Sometimes in exchange stations there are also cross-docking platforms where goods are sorted and then redirected to the final destination, a system that optimizes costs, although delivery times may be lengthened.
Fast Delivery in the United States: benefits, time and cost
Fast Delivery is the ideal choice when speed is a factor: if you need your products to get to customers quickly, this option is the right one.
With fast delivery, delivery times are around 2-3 business days, with advanced tracking that allows you to track your package every step of the way.
However, this speed comes at a price: the cost of shipping is higher because more vehicles, exchange stations, are involved and, as is customary in America, urgency is paid for!
Although fast delivery is perfect for urgent products or for customers who require speed, its impact on the corporate budget must be considered.
Slow Boat: cost savings for non-urgent goods
On the other hand, so-called Slow Boats are a cheaper solution, but they require a little more time.
Slow Boat is called Slow Boat in logistics jargon to refer to a road transport that involves countless stops where a trailer (trailer) unloads something it has on board to load something else as it crosses states. Think of it as the delivery and collection service of an express courier: it leaves loaded, unloads the various packages and loads more.
It is an ideal option for products that do not need immediate delivery and saves significantly on shipping costs.
Typically, Slow Boat delivery times vary between ten and fifteen working days, depending on the destination: although slower, a Slow Boat is perfect for items that are not urgent.
Fast Delivery vs. Slow Boat: which shipping to choose in the U.S.
The choice between fast delivery and slow boat depends on your company’s priorities.
If speed and customer satisfaction are the most important elements, fast delivery is undoubtedly the best option.
If, on the other hand, you have the ability to wait a few extra days to reduce costs, a slow boat may be the ideal option.
In either case, understanding how the U.S. logistics system works will allow you to choose the best solution for your business.
Showroom management: enhancing product for the U.S. market.
When entering the U.S. market, having a showroom is a strategic step to enhance the value of your product and make it appreciated by customers.
Managing a showroom in the U.S., in fact, is not limited to a simple display space, but must respond to a precise strategy that combines quality, positioning and presence in the territory.
But how does one manage a showroom effectively?
First of all, the choice of location is crucial: in the United States, location can make the difference between the success and failure of your showroom.
The showroom city should be chosen on the basis of the product you sell: for example, if your product is aimed at a high-end audience, an exclusive area will be the ideal location; on the other hand, if your target audience is broader, with a more diverse clientele, you might consider locations with good footfall and easy access.
As is well known, New York City has an entire district dedicated to fashion called the Garment District (the quadrangle between Fifth Ave. And Ninth Ave., and 42nd Street and 34th Street): an area of Manhattan where each building is dedicated to something specific to fashion.
To support the location, the management of the specialized staff is equally important; the showroom must be run by a team that not only knows the product but can relate to American customers, who are often very different in approach and culture than Italians.
Training staff in consultative selling and effective communication in English is essential. In addition, knowledge of specific local needs and preferences helps personalize product presentation.
Another key point in showroom management is the direct connection with the warehouse.
Logistical processes must be optimized so that goods in the showroom are easily replenished and any orders can be fulfilled quickly.
To this end, streamlined and integrated management between showroom and warehouse can reduce procurement time, improve product availability, and optimize sales operations.
Having a computer system that links showroom and warehouse is important for efficient flow, both in inventory management and order processing.
Finally, never forget that product quality and presentation are crucial to showroom success.
Americans pay particular attention to the quality, packaging and image of a product, which means that every detail must be taken care of: from lighting to display space to the availability of informational materials that tell the story of the brand and its values.
Running a showroom in the United States is not just about having a point of sale, but about building a true marketing strategy that combines elements of location, staffing, logistics, and presentation to achieve maximum market impact.
How to incorporate logistics costs into your U.S. pricing strategy
One of the most underestimated aspects for those entering the U.S. market is the integration of logistics costs into the product price list.
Each step in the logistics process, from international transportation to distribution on U.S. soil, is an investment that must be carefully planned and calculated to strike the right balance between service quality and economic sustainability.
Logistics costs fall mainly into three categories: transportation, storage, and distribution.
- Transportation includes the costs for international shipping, transferring the goods to the warehouse in the United States, and eventual delivery to retail outlets or end customers. It is important to choose the mode of transportation carefully, considering fast delivery or slowboard options, which directly affect the budget and delivery time.
- The cost of warehousing can vary depending on the type of service required. A pure warehousing warehouse, for example, will have lower costs than a pick-and-pack or cross docking service, but may not be sufficient for companies that need more dynamic logistics processes. In addition, rates also vary according to the geographic location of the warehouse.
- Distribution costs include final transportation to showrooms, retailers, or consumers. It is critical to optimize these expenses to keep product pricing competitive. Using reliable parcel delivery services integrated with tracking systems can help improve efficiency and minimize delays.
To calculate the correct selling price, all of these logistics costs must be included in planning.
A common mistake is to underestimate the impact of logistics on the final price, with the risk of lowering profit margins or, conversely, offering a price that is too high compared to U.S. competitors: the key is to balance these cost items to remain competitive, but without compromising service quality.
In addition, it is important to remember that the economic sustainability of logistics must be aligned with the expectations of the American market.
The American consumer is willing to pay more for a product that arrives quickly and in perfect condition, but is equally sensitive to free or low-cost shipping offers: integrating pricing strategies that take these aspects into account can make all the difference
Hiring an experienced logistics and strategic marketing consultant for the U.S. market is necessary to avoid costly mistakes and to build a price list that is competitive and sustainable.
Mistakes to avoid in logistics management in the U.S.
Italian entrepreneurs often underestimate the complexity of the logistics system in the U.S., making mistakes that compromise the efficiency and profitability of the entire project.
One of the most common mistakes is the wrong choice of warehouse, as on all warehouses are the same, and relying on an inadequate facility can lead to inefficiencies in order management or excessive operating costs. For example, choosing a warehouse that only offers warehousing when pick-and-pack or cross docking services are needed can slow down operations and increase expenses.
Lack of tracking in transportation is another frequent obstacle: if consumers expect quick deliveries and timely updates, not having a system that provides real-time tracking of orders can reduce customer satisfaction and damage brand reputation.
Another frequent mistake is trying to manage everything on your own without expert support: U.S. logistics has specificities that require in-depth knowledge, from regulatory constraints to the functioning of distribution networks, and a specialized consultant can identify tailored solutions, prevent errors and optimize every step of the process.
Need advice on logistics, warehousing or showroom in the United States? Contact us to plan your entry into the US market with winning strategies.
