Black Friday Cyber Monday can be both a thrilling and nerve-wracking time for CPG brands, especially when you start to see record-breaking sales roll in. The excitement is real, but so is the fear that your operations might break under the pressure.
With the right 3PL, that stress turns into relief, because you know the prep work, planning, and safeguards are already in place for a smooth adventure to success.
This is exactly what happened for one of our clients, a leading CPG brand. We helped them win with:
- 30,000+ automated orders per day
- 24/7 steady production, shipping clean with no tails
- 99.5% of orders shipped same day
- Nearly $10M in revenue supported during BFCM week
- 100% system uptime
As their Chief Operating Officer told us:
“The month we just closed was a record breaker, wildly successful, and we could not have achieved any of it without your partnership.”
Here’s how we got there.
Proactive Peak Planning
For this client, peak prep started in July, not November.
We built a client-specific peak readiness roadmap & tracker that aligned:
- Forecasts with warehouse capacity
- Seasonal spikes, promos, and launches
From this planning, we were able to properly prepare our facilities, tech, and team for the peak we knew would come in November.
World-Class Automation, Strategically Customized for This Brand
This client’s volume and SKU profile demanded more than a standard pick line.
QuickBox designed an automation solution specifically for this business, including:
- A-Frame automation
- Dual filling station
- Automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
- Pick-to-light workflows
- Automated bagging & shipping label printing
- Manual pack-out station
On a normal day, 100% of this brand’s orders flow through the A-Frame.
For peak, we added a flexible manual pack-out line to boost throughput and protect against bottlenecks.
Our WMS and automation logic dynamically balanced orders between automated and manual flows to avoid aged orders and rollovers.
We had IT resources on-site and maintained close coordination with our vendors to ensure system uptime.
The client’s take:
“This was probably the smoothest DTC peak we’ve ever had. There was basically no rollover and no aged orders, which is a huge accomplishment and an exemplary customer experience.”
24/7 Operations: Flexible Staffing, No Tails
To support surging demand for this client, we ran 24/7 operations with 7-day-a-week coverage throughout BFCM.
Our workforce model:
- A flexible mix of full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees
- Cross-trained team members across picking, packing, returns, and kitting
- Leadership roles focused on monitoring workload and reallocating resources in real time
Seasonal and temp labor went through robust training on accuracy, quality, safety, and compliance. This is how we maintained our SLAs, even at record volumes.
Technology, Redundancy, and 100% Uptime
Peak season is unforgiving to fragile systems, which is why make sure our tech has the power, strength, and flexibility that our clients need.
We delivered 100% system uptime across the peak window, supported by:
- A powerful WMS
- Backup systems and infrastructure
- 24/7 operational and tech support, with overflow setups and clear contingency plans
This type of dedicated support is what we pride ourselves on. High quality tech managed by high quality people is a big part of what makes us a go-to fulfillment partner for CPG brands.
What this Means for Growing CPG Brands
When your 3PL can manage peak the way QuickBox did here, you are granted the peace of mind, confidence, and capacity to focus on your core business. Instead of worrying about backlogs, outages, or aging backorders, your 3PL should enable you to:
- Grow revenue
Lean into promotions and bigger pushes, knowing operations can handle record-breaking demand. - Invest in your team
Let internal teams work on strategy and brand-building instead of fighting operational fires. - Develop new product
Innovate on your assortment knowing your fulfillment engine can support launches and spikes. - Invest in marketing
Shift focus and budget toward driving demand. - Add new subscribers
Say “yes” to more acquisition and retention plays without fearing a hit to your consumer experience.
In short: your 3PL should help you turn peak from a liability into an advantage, so you can keep growing with confidence.
Want This Type of Operational Support for Your Growing Brand?
We’re proud of the record-breaking success our client saw this BFCM. And, we're honored to be able to successfully support them through this type of volume surge and as they continue to grow. On top of that, we’re already looking at how to make everything even better next year. It's all part of our continuous improvement mindset.
If your BFCM wasn’t as smooth as you would have liked, let’s talk. We just might have some recommendations on how to make 2026 your year of operational excellence.