LandscapeHub has launched the Fulfillment Partner Program (FPP), a new initiative that will give buyers a better experience and more fulfillment options when purchasing on the platform. The program surfaces the distributors’ upstream supply chain, making it visible to buyers, and thereby eliminating the often exhausting and time-consuming back-and-forth involved in quoting between landscape contractor and distributor.
“Distribution is still the most efficient channel to get product to market, but we saw a way to improve the experience at all levels of the supply chain,” says LandscapeHub Founder and CEO, Lisa Fiore. “With the launch of our new Fulfillment Partner Program, landscape contractors have more options to get the product they need, when they need it, with less risk and at lower costs.”
LandscapeHub is in the beginning stages of the program, rolling out in several large metropolitan markets to start, with more functionality and more availability to come.
“There’s a natural tendency in the market for landscape contractors to want to know who is growing the plants they are sourcing (and from where)," Fiore continued. “Our FPP program enables landscape contractors to source plants from select growers within their local distributor’s network and ships the select plant material to the distributor’s holding yard,” he says. “It’s not a model that cuts out distributors, but rather leverages the distributor’s logistics capabilities while enabling them to monetize on a new kind of transaction.”
How it works
- Registered buyers search for products on LandscapeHub to build their orders.
- If a product is available through the program, an FPP icon appears along with the price (which includes the freight cost to the participating distribution center).
- The buyer has the option to buy directly from the distributor, buy through the FPP program, or buy direct from the grower (but may be required to meet minimum order quantities if purchasing directly from the grower, whereas they may be able to buy less than the order minimum through the FPP program at a cost-plus pricing structure).
- Orders get sent to the distributor for fulfillment.
- The distributor sends the buyer an estimate for fulfillment timing.
- Product arrives at the distributor for pickup or is delivered to a yard or job site. (Additional freight charges may apply for deliveries to job sites.)
The FPP program is best for landscape contractors who have flexibility in their delivery dates. Most orders are fulfilled within one to three weeks depending on the season.
Supply chain benefits
LandscapeHub’s mission is to streamline the procurement process for the nursery and landscape industry. Launching the Fulfillment Partner Program is a huge step forward in increasing efficiency across the entire supply chain. It unlocks new channels to get plants to market and expands network availability for landscape contractors, growers, and distributors. Here’s how the program assists in each step of the supply chain.
Distributors
- Gain a digital sales channel
- Strengthen market position
- Increase ability to fulfill more landscape contractor orders
- Reduce inventory risk
- Improve cash flow
Landscape contractors
- More product choice
- Lower pricing through order aggregation
- A consistent buying process (increases productivity)
- Improve cash flow
Growers
- Gain a digital sales channel
- Reach new markets
- Improve cash flow
- Increase brand visibility
Initial markets
The Fulfillment Partner Program is currently active in the following markets: Chicago, IL and Indianapolis, IN (Fiore Nursery & Landscape Supply); Detroit, MI (Christensen’s Plant Center); Columbus, OH (Premier Plant Solutions); Milwaukee/Madison, WI (Johnson’s Nursery); and Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC (Manor View Farms).
Buyers can still expect the rigorous quality control associated with LandscapeHub orders, as all growers in the FPP distribution chain have been vetted and are part of the LandscapeHub network.
Will Haverkamp, Director of Strategic Accounts for LandscapeHub, says, “Not every distributor is qualified to be a LandscapeHub Fulfillment Partner. We carefully evaluate and invite them to the program so that we can maintain quality standards to ensure a positive customer experience.” All fulfillment partners meet the following criteria:
- Industry leaders
- Involved in their communities
- Well-known for high-quality product
- Proven supply networks
- Diverse customer base — working with different parts of the market
- Logistically strong
Haverkamp says, “Our most successful partners are forward-thinking and understand the purchasing trends of the future. They know the importance of being able to pull a lot of information into one source to help streamline time and inventory processes.” He continues, “We’re excited to bring a ton more opportunity to the industry as the Fulfillment Partner Program grows and evolves.”
For more information:
LandscapeHub
[email protected]
www.landscapehub.com