How to easily switch fulfillment providers before peak season 2026

After surveying hundreds of ecommerce brands during the 2025 recent peak season, it’s clear that the traditional 3PL model works well for large organizations but falls short for most small businesses, with many experiencing inconsistent order fulfillment, limited product control, and a lack of visibility into quality assurance.

Co-warehousing is becoming a popular alternative logistics solution for ecommerce companies, as it offers personalized service and tailored on-site support that make it easy to scale operations during the holidays.

In this article, we’ll explore how small businesses performed during the 2025 peak season with traditional 3PL models vs. co-warehousing solutions, and how you can seamlessly make the switch before the 2026 holiday season.

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Pro tip: We have the best checklist to streamline operations during peak season

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What did we learn from the 2025 peak season?

The biggest takeaway from the 2025 peak season was that sales didn’t decline as expected, despite inflation, tariffs, and overall economic sentiment. In fact, according to a Forbes report, U.S. shoppers spent $11.8 billion on the year’s biggest shopping day, with a large portion of that coming through ecommerce channels.

Along with the unexpected shopping spree this past year, another trend seemed to shape the 2025 peak season: AI-driven traffic and sales.

We’ve seen more and more consumers rely on platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini for everything from curiosity questions to work-related issues, and now they're becoming a staple for shopping too.

What’s interesting is that customers didn’t just search specific products through the platforms. Instead, they relied on AI models to uncover the best holiday deals for specific categories, searching for terms like “best deals on TVs” or “what companies have Black Friday specials on makeup?”

The result? Traffic from AI sources to retail sites rose 693.4% compared to the 2024 holiday season.

Despite economic pressures, customers are still buying, but how they’re doing so has shifted. Instead of focusing only on traditional ecommerce channels, businesses now need to be everywhere—on social media, Google, and now AI channels.

What are the 3 biggest myths about switching fulfillment providers before peak season?

The biggest myths about switching from a traditional 3PL to another model, such as co-warehousing, include timing, cost, and control. Many entrepreneurs worry that they either can’t move all their operations during Q3 or Q4, or that switching will be too expensive.

Luckily, alternative 3PL models, such as co-warehousing, make the switching process simple and cost-effective, giving owners more control.

Let’s break down each of these myths further.

Myth 1: “You can’t move warehouses in Q3 or Q4.”

There’s a preconceived notion that you can’t move warehouses in Q3 or Q4 because it will limit your efficiency for peak season. While this might be true in some models, co-warehousing makes it incredibly easy to switch at any point throughout the year.

Co-warehousing combines private warehouse space with shared infrastructure and on-site operational support, resulting in lower fulfillment costs and more control. At Saltbox, our co-warehousing model offers several benefits, including:

• On-site operational support
• Flexible, month-to-month terms
• Direct access to inventory 
• Built-in community of entrepreneurs
• Scalable warehouse space

Many of our members don’t have large internal teams, but they do have access to on-site support that can assist with operational tasks and rapid changes in logistics strategy. This provides the added flexibility needed to successfully move warehouse locations quickly, especially during peak seasons.

Myth 2: “It’s too expensive to switch.”

One of the biggest hurdles we hear from potential members is that switching from a 3PL to a co-warehousing model is too expensive. While any shift in strategy can entail initial costs, in many cases, it’s more expensive to stay with a traditional third-party provider that doesn’t meet your business needs.

For instance, 3PLs are notorious for hidden fees, high costs, and complicated contracts. Many owners lose money every year to unexpected costs from items like:

• Shipping and logistics surcharges
• Account management fees
• Receiving and handling fees
• Storage surcharges
• Returns and special handling
• Minimum activity charges
• Kitting and packaging material costs
• High-volume surcharges

With a co-warehousing model, many of these fees are eliminated, and owners have a clear picture of their monthly costs. Saltbox’s transparent pricing model enables businesses to accurately plan monthly warehousing costs without guessing.

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Plans starting as low as $199/month

Ready to join the thousands of Saltbox members who reduced fulfillment costs while regaining operational control? Contact our team to see how you can save with a co-warehousing model.

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Saltbox members also get access to all the amenities at our locations when signing up for short-term leases. Some of these all-inclusive benefits include:

• Community spaces (conference rooms, content studios, and podcast studios)
• Access to industrial spaces with loading docks and dedicated shipping and receiving areas
• Networking opportunities with local businesses and other entrepreneurs

Myth 3: “I’ll lose control of my operations.”

For many ecommerce brands, losing control of operations can be disastrous, often leading to quality control and delivery issues. However, many owners still rely on a 3PL for fulfillment services even though it means giving up control.

Maintaining real-time visibility over stock and the fulfillment process can drastically improve the customer experience. It can also make it easier to quickly pivot or scale operations if any of your products perform unexpectedly during peak season.

Which is why choosing a co-warehousing model can shift power back to the owner from a 3PL.

At Saltbox, we take owner-led operations to another level by letting you choose how hands-on you want to be throughout the process.

Want to manage fulfillment yourself? Great!

Want our team to handle it for you? Excellent!

Looking for a hybrid model that uses on-demand labor? We can do that too.

What does it look like to switch to a co-warehousing space?

Switching from a traditional warehouse model to a co-warehousing business like Saltbox doesn’t have to be challenging. In fact, many brands that make the move don’t experience any noticeable decrease in operations when relocating. 

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Most of this success is due to the four-step onboarding process that members go through when working with Saltbox.

Step 1: Move into your flexible workspace

When you first partner with Saltbox, the goal is to get comfortable in the co-warehousing space and lay the groundwork for the early stages of the relationship. You’ll have a chance to set up your private warehouse or office suite, sync your stores with Saltbox’s Parsel platform, and customize how your operations run.

Step 2: Explore your coworking space

Once the initial setup is finalized, we’ll begin handling inbound shipments and organizing your space for smooth, efficient operations (upon request). During this time, you’ll have an opportunity to explore our on-site support services and shared spaces.

Step 3: Choose the level of logistics services

Unlike traditional 3PL partners, Saltbox offers multiple operating models so you can choose the support your business needs. Entrepreneurs can handle operations themselves, work with our team to complete operational tasks, or let Saltbox manage the entire process.

Step 4: Ship and scale with flexible warehousing

As your brand grows, Saltbox offers several ways to ship and scale, including discounted carrier rates, full tracking software, and support from our dedicated on-site experts — allowing you to capitalize on opportunities and maximize revenue. Owners also have the option to reduce space after the peak season rush to align with order volume during Q1.

You don’t have to settle for “good enough” in 2026

Many owners fall into the trap of settling for a 3PL solution that doesn’t fit their business, simply because everyone else does. However, this year can be different. You don’t just have to settle for “good enough.” 

You can choose a warehouse space that helps your business thrive and improves operational efficiency through flexible lease terms and creative solutions.

Book a tour to see what your brand can achieve with a flexible and creative co-warehousing solution.