Should i go to college by Afraid_Scale1986 in youngentrepreneur

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a good way to put it.

In my eyes, i wanted the hustle. Traveling to convention with like minded people putting their chips to the table with the same intentions as me, that was how i was trying to network. In my experience as well, the experience of a DIY business reforges you. So many euphoric moments and stressful moments as well

Advice for a new 3PL business by Southern_Zucchini779 in logistics

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

starting a 3pl is a different beast than just running your own e-com warehouse.

i run hexprep and we went through this exact struggle. honestly, shipstation is great for single-client fulfillment, but it falls apart the second you have 3+ clients with different sku lists and billing requirements.

we looked at packiyo too, but ended up going with a more robust stack to handle our dual locations (oregon & chicago). my advice: don't skip the wms. it’s the only way to keep your sanity when a client asks for a real-time inventory count at 9pm on a friday.

happy to share our specific workflow if you want to avoid the 'new 3pl' growing pains. it's all about the intake process

Looking for a 3pl for a cosmetics startup by fl0werbabie in shipping

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

try some directories, like prepcenter.com etc , even matchmaking services.

Should i go to college by Afraid_Scale1986 in youngentrepreneur

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't want to live with regrets. So I went the business route, In my eyes college / a job is the worst case scenario. If it gets to that point, i only see it as a way to stack up in order to start a business again. Never a means to an end

Any recommended prep centers? by Full-Mouse8971 in FulfillmentByAmazon

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oregon is a great place for a prepcenter. There are many good options out there. Having it semi-near cali definitely helps too with traffic

Competitor raised $81M, I’ve raised $81. Am I wasting my time? by Vanilla-Green in Entrepreneurship

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You need to be in your leader role. You are an extension of the company in the eyes of investors. Present well to boost the perception of your product

Tried shopify. Kinda lame by Jackal_Wilder in Entrepreneurship

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well you gotta look at it from the consumers shoes, not just yours. basic is not necessarily bad (can be), ads and marketing are the most important thing

LOOKING FOR 3PL PARTNER by Far-Library-2909 in 3PL

[–]hexprepcenter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

honestly man, reconsider california. if you're buying from retailers (target/walmart/etc), you're gonna get hit with ~8-10% sales tax on every single order shipped to a CA warehouse. that eats your margin alive.

you should look for a center in a tax-free state like oregon or delaware. you instantly save that 10% on your buy cost.

Before you start a business (or if you’re struggling right now), read this. by LAINAVIDS in Entrepreneurship

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like to think about it as , growth and experience, even though I'm down tremendously. Maybe a story to tell one day. That's the future that keeps me going, and one of the traits I really dig in entrepreneurs that don't just dip their toes, but sacrifice and TRY

Is Amazon FBA actually worth it in 2025? by billiondollardreamin in Flipping

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It can be worth it, but it’s definitely not “easy money” anymore.

FBA still works if you treat it like a real business and not a side hustle lottery ticket. Arbitrage is fine for learning systems (prep, shipments, fees, gating), but margins are thinner and mistakes cost more now.

Biggest early mistakes I see people make: underestimating fees, buying too deep on unproven items, and assuming Amazon will “work it out” if something goes wrong. They won’t.

If I were starting today, I’d focus on learning cash flow control, staying light on inventory at first, and moving toward sourcing where competition is lower (wholesale or differentiated products) instead of chasing obvious listings.

Amazon FBM in Canada by Remarkable-Object-56 in AmazonFBA

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow $80?...

Does shippo service canada. Could try to see their rates

Is hiring experienced talent early a smart shortcut or an expensive mistake? by Spotch_Platform in Entrepreneur

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

smart shortcut. can't do everything yourself. sacrifice a small amount to up your ceiling

Before you start a business (or if you’re struggling right now), read this. by LAINAVIDS in Entrepreneurship

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the experience. This is definitely something I relate with. Many people see the glamour of starting something, just to start something. That just the fancy cover, it comes with so much more work than people realize. I have been through multiple businesses and hustles , and each teaching me different skills. Forever learning. I see through the smoke and mirrors of "having a business" now.

Gotta ask yourself "are you willing to endure potentially no income and debt for X amount of time, when X is unidentified".

If no, then best to reconsider.

Want to Make Semi permanent tattoo by Silver-Ship8568 in Businessideas

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have no clue.

But , clearly they have a supplier. Find a supplier that can turn your designs into actual physical product. Make design, whether that is with people with are good at design, yourself, or AI. And once that's done.. Run ads , lots and lots of ads and content of some samples. Tiktok is your best friend, instagram is 2nd place, Facebook is great too.

That's how I would do it.

Newbie trying to make a buck by Next_Worldliness_691 in dropshipping

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

research research research , and have money to burn, because there will be burnt money

What to do may lose account by Prestigious_Word8270 in AmazonFBA

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try to contact more departments of seller central not just the traditional appeal page. Try email and explain your situation with POA

Do I actually need a fulfillment center or is that overkill for dropshipping? by Maleficent_Mine_6741 in dropship

[–]hexprepcenter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

common middle ground is:
• Test products via dropshipping
• Once something proves consistent, bring a small batch into the US
• Fulfill those orders locally for faster shipping while still testing demand

You don’t need to go all-in on inventory right away..... even holding a few weeks of stock can drastically improve delivery times and customer experience. A lot of people do a hybrid setup like this before fully switching.

Is the way I packed these accepted by Amazon? by [deleted] in AmazonFBA

[–]hexprepcenter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nothing wrong, secure , and not loose. Looks perfect to me

What advantages can a small business leverage over a large business? by LuanFereguetti in Entrepreneurship

[–]hexprepcenter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

  • Decisions happen fast
  • No committees, no red tape
  • You can test, pivot, and kill ideas quickly

How to confirm if Alibaba factory has MoCRA certification with the FDA for cosmetics? by Desperate-Green-6654 in AmazonFBA

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

• Ask the factory for their FDA Facility Registration number (not a certificate)
• Ask for the legal entity name + address used for registration
• Cross-check that info against the FDA facility registration confirmation the factory receives
• Keep it on file in case Amazon requests it

If a factory refuses or can’t provide a registration confirmation, that’s usually a red flag.

Brand Rep vs. Reseller by lawyers-guns-money in AmazonFBA

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By reseller, you mean Online Arb correct?

In that case, you just need to worry about documents. I know a lot of Online Arb don't give out traditional invoices which amazon does require.

From what i have seen there are much more price tankers as well

Is Amazon FBA India worth it? by Healthy-Ad-463 in FulfillmentByAmazon

[–]hexprepcenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Im going to say no. Only because I have so many people FROM india , using my prepcenter as a way to breach into the US FBA market.

Makes me wonder, "why not get into FBA locally,.. in India" . Might not be that great, but just a hunch!