The E-Comm Show
The E-Comm Show
Shipping Made Simple: How SMBs Can Turn Logistics into a Secret Weapon with Ship4wd | EP. #186
What if logistics became a growth enabler instead of a pain point? On this 186th episode of the E-Comm Show, Andrew Maff interviews Carmit Glik CEO of Ship4wd. Ship4wd leverages technology to simplify the process with instant quotes, express shipping, real-time tracking, and 24/7 support.
We'll dive into why for SMBs, flexibility is key—especially during times of shifting tariffs and political uncertainty. Moreover how diversifying logistics strategies and leveraging resources, like customs support, can empower businesses to not just survival but thrive in the global operations market.
Here's what you can look forward to:
- How businesses can stay agile during these politically volatile times with tariffs
- What new normal tariffs will create and how SMBs can stay ahead
- The importance of diversification in your logistics network
- How technology, such as automation and data analytics, can improve efficiency and reduce costs in your supply chain
Love the podcast? It wouldn’t be made possible without Ship4wd.
With cutting-edge technology and a team of experts, Ship4wd offers customizable logistics services to meet the unique needs of each business.
Watch the full episode below, or visit TheEcommShow.com for more.
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I think what's important, really, is to have a player that can support you with you know, if you said that you need to shift from one place to another, that is capable to do it, and that we capable to do, of course, and provide them the necessary information and what they need for it,
Andrew Maff:Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of the E comm show. As usual. I am your host, Andrew Maff, and today I am joined by the amazing Carmit, who is the CEO over at Ship4wd. Carmit, how you doing? You doing? You ready for a good show?
Carmit Glik:Great. Being here is wonderful. Thank you for the invite.
Andrew Maff:Yeah, I'm super excited to have you on the show. I know you were on the show last I think it was last year. I believe a lot has happened since then, a ton of stuff
Carmit Glik:A whole loy of stuff
Andrew Maff:So we've we're gonna figure out where to even start. I do want to start it off just, just to give everyone a little bit of a recap. Tell us a little bit about yourself and about Ship4wd, and then we'll jump right in. Okay?
Carmit Glik:Sure. So as you already introduced myself, I'm the CEO of Ship4wd, and I kind of devoted my life in the last 25 years to logistics and supply chain and to make sure that global world and trade is moving and worked and in various location and geography, in Asia, China, Hong Kong, Europe, US and also Middle East. And really, have to say, got a deep knowledge about global trade logistics and how everything rocks around the world. Established Ship4wd 4 years ago with the sole aim to get that understanding and knowledge, with the support of a very top, large carrier, Zim as an investor, to provide asset and information to small and mid sized businesses in the States, and since then, that's that's my focus. That's my team focus. That is our focus, to really provide everything that possible for small businesses to able to and manage their logistics around the world.
Andrew Maff:Beautiful. What? One of the interesting things? So I know we're going to get into all tariffs and supply chain issues and all that fun stuff, but specific to SMBs, like, as you know, and I think we mentioned this on the last time we spoke anything, operations, inventory, it's just not my wheelhouse. So to have a conversation with you is always really helpful, because it helps me learn a lot about that side of things. And the one thing I always see, especially when we're speaking with SMBs, like all day long, it's a constant pain point, right? It's anything logistics. It's not the most sexiest thing to some. It's always some type of issue going on, whether it's at like a port or it's something's delayed and blah blah, and obviously now with the tariff, it's a whole issue. So what is it about ship forward that helps, kind of like, resolve some of that for smaller brands.
Carmit Glik:So I totally hear you, and thank you for giving you know the stage for actually small businesses to raise their concern and pain point, because obviously they are not different than large corporation, but obviously large corporation have the ability of having team in house, knowledge, lawyers, so on and so forth, experts that can support them in this turbulence. And I have to say, since COVID, we are living in a non stop turbulence environment. So you know. We kind of hoped that after COVID is done, we go to, you know, business as usual. But business as usual have never across us since, so it's definitely a serious concern for small businesses running without that, you know, support system and structure as other large corporation that have, and this is by us and what we are trying to provide. So of course, we cannot provide everything, but we definitely can provide a place where small businesses can reach out and get information and get support, no matter if they have 10 shipment or 100 shipment or 1000 shipment, we deliberately chose to focus on this segment, and by deliberately chose it, we cut everything else so we don't give support to corporate and to everyone. But deliberately, really focusing on the one small businesses required. And not to say we're there, but we are definitely seeing the process of having the support structure for SMBs through Ship4wd. So in the current stage for for example, when we see that really a lot of businesses kind of a halt. They don't know what to do. They don't want what to choose that there's so much information, or maybe lack of information, and there is a lot of noise, and it's very difficult to understand what to do when there is a lot of noise. So we offer an expert call. We offer podcasts on this subject, on customs, on bonded warehouses. How you still can find solution if your cargo is on the way and you cannot pay that tariff right now, and you believe the tariff will be reduced, can can you store your cargo in a bonded warehouse and then you don't need to pay the story for for this period of time? Or there are various, uh, tools of engineering, custom, I mean by law, right? If you can find a way that reduce the tariff for yourself, if you're if your cargo or your product may contain certain aluminum, that is 25% and now this is also a way to reduce those type of tariffs. So there is various ways, and I think there is a lot of noise right now, and very difficult to understand for any business what to do, and we position ourselves as one that deeply care about those businesses. Really want to support them, and even if they need to shift for a different origin or to source from another supplier, that also something we can help and support with. So there is various subways, and it's very there is no, you know, study book that you can go and ask so chatgpt, I'm not sure if you can get around that, but definitely we have, we have expert knowledge that we can and support, and we are backed up by, you know, a public group. So we have actually more resource to be able to provide those businesses.
Sponsor:I would like to take a break from today's episode to thank our sponsors. Ship4wd. If you run an E commerce business that ships products from Asia to North America, you know how stressful the journey can get with too many suppliers, emails, quotes, customs delays, it's a lot. Ship4wd makes it simple. It's a digital freight forwarding platform built for small and mid sized businesses. Think booking a shipment like booking a flight, just search, compare and book done in minutes, instant quotes, express shipping options, real time tracking and 24/7 human support, add services like customs clearance and cargo insurance for the full end to end experience. You can try it for free today at ship4wd.com
Andrew Maff:Say, as of this recording, all the tariffs are still in place. There's all still different across every different country, which I imagine becomes wildly complicated, especially if you're shipping from one fulfilling to another, et cetera. Like, I can just imagine how annoying it may be for small brands right now. E commerce brands, like, what are most of them looking at? What are most of them doing? Are they looking at sourcing elsewhere? Are they looking at fulfilling differently, like, what's the what tends to be kind of the standard approach right now?
Carmit Glik:I think there are various approach, and actually there is no one type of approach that fits all, but we do see customer asking if we can support them with other origin, like India, like Vietnam, South Asia, Asia Pacific, even Brazil. We looking at Turkey. There are various, let's say, other options that they're looking for to source and to get their goods for their own customers. So that's happening for sure. I think what's important really, is to have a player that can support you with you know, if you suddenly don't need to shift from one place to another, that is capable to do it, and that we capable to do, of course, and provide them the necessary information and what they need for it. And so that's definitely happening. We can also see Eastern Europe that is coming up now, with customer asking about Poland and various Eastern Europe countries. So I think it's a chaos right now, and everybody tried to find a solution and find a way to move forward. That definitely happening. Also, some customers really looking for a bonded facility solution, because they predict that this iterative will go down. So, you know, I cannot say anything about it, you know, it's, it's, I don't spoke with the administration, and I have no idea what will happen, but I I can hear more and more noises in the last week that actually believe that that the tariffs will reduce in the end, that this will not stay. And we also hearing from news outlets, right, that they're talking about a conversation with China, start negotiation with China. So that's not such a, you know, unreal thought. So bonded facilities are now really hype in the US to find storage place that you can that is bonded, that you can actually store the goods, still, tariff will be reduced. If you believed us, the tariff will be reduced. So this is also something that that happening as well. And I think there is more and more like, you know, I don't know if it's wishful thinking or if it's reality, but I see more and more do believe that those tariffs will not stay that high at 145%
Andrew Maff:Yeah, yeah, I agree. But obviously, to all of our administrators who clearly listen to our podcast, please reach out to carmia and let her know what's going on so she can tell us the I mean, speaking of similar categories, the one thing I've always kind of thought the like, freight logistics, everything in terms of fulfillment. It always seems like a pretty outdated industry, like, it's very it, especially with all the tariffs. Now it's making it that much more complicated. But now people are shipping all over the world. They're delivering from all over the world, or they're fulfilling from so like, what? What's kind of driving that innovation behind the scenes? Like, what are a lot of like, I guess, specific to Ship4wd, what is it you guys are doing to kind of bring that, that innovation to kind of a more outdated industry?
Carmit Glik:I think what, what we aim to do is provide full accessibility to to services from everywhere. I'm not saying that we can do everywhere, but I'm saying that we are building, building the machine and building a company to be able to serve various location and to provide services from various location. And it's not easy, because in our industry, customs in Turkey is not like custom in China or nor like in Poland. So there is variation and differentiation. But we want to provide a standard product, easy to use, product, no matter from where you you actually source your good. So that is our aim to do, and in that case, really simplify the whole process for small businesses, e commerce, businesses that actually are not expert in logistics, and actually should not they are expert in their business. They're focusing in growing their business, and they need really a strong, right partner that is accessible, easy to use, support them. You know, 24/7, around the clock, and this is what we are intend to do so various in like in this crisis, when you need solution from different places, we will be able to provide you that. And it's not such a cumbersome operation. I think, I think the difference between Ship4wd maybe to other supplier of logistics. I don't expect a customer to know logistics. This is my Yeah, this is what we need to provide them in a very easy to use, like booking a flight on to go. Now, I'm not saying it's the same, but that's what we want to bring in.
Andrew Maff:Yeah, interesting. The I mean, with that, because a lot of like E commerce brands, they find, you know, starting to fulfill globally is, I guess you'd say, scary to a lot of them, every time we talk to brands about it, from a marketing perspective, I understand because your messaging is different, and obviously culturally it's different depending on where you're going. But from a even from a fulfillment perspective, they're often pretty hesitant, and I can never speak to it because I'm like, I don't know if it's easy, I don't know if it's hard, but like, what? What are your thoughts on that? What do you say to brands when they say, like, we don't want to do that because it seems too complicated.
Carmit Glik:First of all, totally their choice, right? I mean, it's definitely, I think you're afraid of something you don't know, and getting into new markets, there is a lot of unknown, and it's always scary, because if one thing businesses lack, it's certainty, and knowing what they do and when there is new markets, culturally wise, marketing wise, it's different than it's then. It's scary because they feel they don't have the grasp of that. But it's definitely if that's your vision as a business, which is to expand globally into new market, you definitely need the right partners to do it, because not every partner can provide you that knowledge base and information. I think that is the most important thing to choose right and to make sure that if you are expanding to certain markets, also the marketing side, but also fulfillment side, logistics side partners that can support you expand globally. And I think that's that's not easy, trust, of course, in that, and also the buying, and believe that that can be done. But look, fulfillment, logistics happens everywhere, and business is doing well also in other geographies, right? So it's, it's definitely, it's not rocket science. It's definitely can be done. But I think, of course, it's scary when one don't know the full picture, and doesn't fully understand where it goes, where in your current market you you learn you've been part of you over learning curve that you expect, which is, which is fine, but if that's your vision, go for it. You will find a way it's happening here as well.
Andrew Maff:Yeah. Do you provide insight into like, you know, based on what we know about your business, you're already selling. Well, here you should consider, you know, opening up to this other country, or even vice versa. Of like, hey, we know you want to go to this country might not be a good move yet. Like, obviously, at a high level, you know, they're only it's again, up to them. But do you provide some of that insight of like, Hey, here's the countries from a fulfillment perspective th at might be easier for you to get into.
Carmit Glik:We have never done it because I think that it's really a personal choice for a business, and we will support them wherever they need, but I will never direct them to a certain country or certain place, because, again, maybe I know the story from fulfillment and logistics, but I don't know if what cash flow they need, what issue in the marketing they will face, what cultural differences for the product, what is the demand with the supply for the product? I do not know the full picture. I can only advise in what I'm expert at and know it, and I cannot provide them, you know, the send a ticket, go there. I would never do something that I'm not an expert at providing, you know, quality feedback,
Andrew Maff:Yeah. What do you think ends up happening when these tariffs kind of like, once it shakes out if, if it goes the way you think it's going to go, what do you think is, what do you think the outcome is going to be, and what do you think like brands are going to need to do to adjust to whatever that potentially new norm may be?
Carmit Glik:So if the tariff will be reduced, I do believe they will, but I'm not sure to which level. In any case, my guess is that they will not be reduced to what it used to be. We are talking about 19% that was before, before all of those tariff increase. So I believe they will be reduced, but not to the level that businesses used to before. So this is a very good question, because each business know is margin, is cash flow, what they can deal with, what they cannot deal with. So it's very difficult for me to say. As a general you know recommendation what to do. So it's very specific, but they will be reduced. And then businesses need to figure it out at this level. Would I be profitable? Do I need to make changes? Do I need definitely be open to other sourcing, other countries sourcing, or even within China, there could be more cost cutting to be done with different suppliers and sourcing. So I think businesses that were, you know, very they found the suppliers they work with for certain time, and they have a great connection. You know, somebody moved the cheese, and really need to to look at your supplier base, diversify. I I've said it, I think a year ago, two years ago, three years ago, always try to diversify, because then you're not limited. And no matter what happened, you have, you know, ways to to, let's say, work with the situation to your benefits.
Andrew Maff:Yeah, I agree. Carmit, just like last time, awesome. Really appreciate you joining us today. I would love to give you the floor let everyone know where they can find out more about you and can find out more about Ship4wd.
Carmit Glik:We are at www.ship4wd.com You can find me also on our website. You can reach out. We will be very happy to support the best we can. Thank you so much, Andrew, it's always a pleasure. Call me again, not a problem.
Andrew Maff:Yeah, well, we'll bring you on next year. It'll be a whole problem. Thank you so much for being on the show, obviously, as usual, everyone who joined, thank you as well. Please make sure you do the usual rate review, subscribe all that fun stuff, whichever podcast platform you prefer, or head over to the E comm show.com to check out all of our previous episodes. But as usual, thank you all for joining us. See you all next time.
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