Out of the Box

There's a gap in almost every warehouse — between what the WMS says is on the shelf and what's actually there. Joe Mirabile, VP of Operations at Gather AI, puts it plainly: accuracy rates in the field hover between 65–85%, and the difference is almost always human. In this episode of Out of the Box , Margherita sits down with Joe to unpack why inventory accuracy has been such a stubborn pr...

Choosing a 3PL isn't just an operational decision, it's a geographic one. In this episode, 3PL Hub Founder Ryan Bennett, who has run over 200 3PL RFPs, breaks down why where you place your inventory is one of the most underleveraged levers in e-commerce. From single-node vs. dual-node trade-offs to the data signals that tell you when it's time to expand your footprint, Ryan makes the c...

Every 3PL knows the feeling — carriers want their money fast, brands want more time to pay, and you're stuck in the middle trying to make payroll. In this episode, we sit down with Braden DiCristofano, co-founder of Rocket Fuel, who lived this reality firsthand. From watching $500K in cash evaporate over a Black Friday weekend to discovering $250K in unrecovered USPS adjustments, Braden pulls...

Fulfillment used to sit quietly in the background. Now, it defines your brand. From shipping speed to packaging, communication, and how issues are handled, every operational detail shapes the customer experience. But as brands scale across channels and expectations rise, many are finding that traditional 3PLs weren’t built for this new reality. In this episode, we sit down with Chad Carleton, foun...

Now that you know how to get started, how do you actually make it work? In Part 2, Mac gets tactical. We dig into why TikTok Shop and Instagram are a completely different beast from Amazon — think discovery over intent, entertainment over listings — and what it really means when brands "lose control" on a marketplace. We also cover the metrics that matter most beyond top-line revenue, how fulfillm...

Thinking about selling on marketplaces but not sure where to begin? In this episode, we sit down with Mac, a 20-year e-commerce veteran, to break down everything brands need to know before jumping in. We explore how the shift from retail gatekeepers to search algorithms has completely changed the game, why marketplaces are a distribution tool — not a brand-building one — and how to figure out whic...

Cash flow can make or break your business. But how do modern 3PLs use operations to unlock and leverage this more optimally? According to this week’s guest, bonded warehouses. In this episode, Jonathan Briggs from ShipMonk joins us to explain how bonded warehouses play a critical role in cross-border commerce and how they can be a new way to leverage your overall business/operations. Bonded facili...

In this episode, Margherita and Abby sit down with Matt Hertz, founder of Third Person, to break down everything brands need to know before signing on the dotted line with a fulfillment partner. From the "Goldilocks theory" of order volume and SKU complexity, to why culture fit can make or break an operation, Matt pulls back the curtain on what 3PLs won't tell you in the sales cycle — and what bra...

Choosing a 3PL isn’t just about price — it’s about fit. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we break down how brands should approach the 3PL search process and why “best” is always subjective. From SKU complexity and order volume to red flags in sales conversations, this episode covers what founders and operators need to understand before signing a contract. You’ll learn:• Common mistakes brands ma...

What happens when you chase the wrong KPI? According to this week’s guest, it can quietly break your warehouse. In this episode, Shaheed Awadeh from Bergen Logistics joins us to challenge the way operators think about performance metrics, starting with why industry benchmarks should be treated as a compass, not a map. From real stories of “winning the day but losing the warehouse” to practical les...

Packaging is one of e-commerce’s biggest hidden inefficiencies — and Packsize is on a mission to fix it. In this episode of Out of the Box , we sit down with Fabricio Ruilova to explore how right-sized packaging is transforming fulfillment, cutting costs, and driving sustainability at scale. We dig into: • Why oversize boxes are costing brands money — and how “perfect-size” packaging eliminates wa...

Freight is one of the world’s most complex and volatile industries — and transparency has become the missing piece everyone is finally talking about. In this episode of Out of the Box , we sit down with Fabio Brocca from Xeneta to explore how global freight really works behind the scenes, why pricing can feel so opaque, and how data is transforming the way shippers and carriers make decisions. We...

Whether you're an e-commerce founder, a global brand expanding into the U.S., or a European business trying to make sense of American tax rules (yes, the U.S. really is like 50 different countries when it comes to compliance), this conversation breaks it all down in a way that's clear, practical, and even… enjoyable? In this episode, we sit down with Jacob Urbach , Enterprise Account Execu...

What do dolphins, bats, and warehouse robots have in common? More than you might expect — and their connection says a lot about how quickly technology in logistics is evolving. In this episode of Out of the Box , we explore how deep-tech research is making its way from the lab into real industrial environments. Our conversation with the team from Sonair highlights a broader trend across automation...

What does it take to turn post-purchase chaos into a competitive advantage? In this episode, we sit down with Murray Watts, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Route, to explore what best-in-class post-purchase experiences  actually  look like – and how brands can unlock profit, loyalty, and growth where most still bleed margin. With a background spanning medical device sales, tech, and now e-commer...

What does it take to move from dashboards to decisions – and make your supply chain data actually work for you? In this episode, we sit down with  Sunder Balakrishnan , Head of the Supply Chain Practice at LatentView Analytics, to talk about the evolving role of data in supply chain management. With 18 years of experience across factory floors, retail, and consulting, Sunder has seen firsthand how...

What does it take to scale a direct-to-consumer brand from startup scrappiness to operational excellence? In this episode, we sit down with  Emily Kelly , Senior Director of Operations at  Zenni Optical , to explore the building blocks behind D2C success. With a career spanning brands like Birchbox, Helix, Hubble, and now Zenni, Emily has lived every stage of the operational lifecycle — from sourc...

What if your returns, trade-ins, and second-quality stock could become your next growth engine? In this episode, we dive into the booming world of branded resale with Jake Disraeli, Co-Founder and CEO at Treet — the platform powering resale experiences for 250+ fashion brands. From peer-to-peer listings to reverse logistics and AI-powered matching, Treet helps brands keep products in circulation a...

ERPs aren’t exactly known for being exciting – but Fulfil. IO is changing that. In this episode, we sit down with Sharoon Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Fulfil. IO, to talk about what it really takes to build modern ERP software for fast-moving DTC brands. Sharoon shares how growing up inside a logistics-driven family business shaped his passion for inventory and operations (yes, even before the in...

In this episode of Out of the Box , we sit down with Brian Tu, Chief Revenue Officer at DCL Logistics, to trace how a family-run disk duplication business evolved into a nationwide fulfillment company trusted by top-tier brands like Beats by Dre, Nest, and Meraki. Over 43 years in logistics, DCL has witnessed – and driven – some of the industry’s most important transformations. Brian shares how gr...

Unplanned downtime, costly inefficiencies, and siloed systems – these are some of the biggest challenges in logistics and manufacturing. But what if you could predict failures before they happen? In this episode, we sit down with Nivedita Ojha, CEO & Co-Founder of Kamet AI, a company simplifying industrial automation with predictive analytics. Recognized as one of the Top 10 Influential Women...

What makes logistics such an exciting space for investors? In this episode, Santosh Sankar, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Dynamo Ventures, joins us to dive into the evolving world of supply chain investing. We explore: How logistics became a focus for VC funding and what investors look for in startups The role of AI and automation in shaping the next generation of supply chain technology The...

In this special episode of Out of the Box , the hosts take a moment to reflect on the podcast's first year, with 21 episodes and over 600 minutes of content. Lynn, Pia, Margherita, and new co-host Abby Justinger look back at the key logistics trends of 2024 and share their hopes for 2025. Highlights of this episode: Major announcement: Out of the Box joins forces with even logistics to further our...

In this episode of Out of the Box, Margherita and Pia discuss the complexities and distinctions between Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) with Marcel Meckes, Managing Director at Carrybots, a company that offers a hybrid product between AGVs and AMRs. Together, they explore the origins of Carrybots, the features and advantages of their mobile robots, and the evol...

In this episode of Out of the Box, hosts Lynn and Margherita explore the intersection of innovation and sustainability within the logistics sector with Timo Landener, Innovation Manager at Körber Supply Chain. Timo discusses the transformative impact of integrating sustainability in logistics from both economic and ethical perspectives, sharing insights from his extensive experience. Discover how...