Featuring Craig Barnell (Director of Customer Insights, Inventory Optimizer; COO, Fishers Finery) and Ryan Carbone (Director of Support & Product Implementation, Inventory Optimizer) as they discuss the Amazon prep service deadline.
Starting January 1, Amazon will no longer provide prep services for products that don’t meet packing and labeling compliance standards. Sellers must now handle all packaging and labeling before inventory reaches fulfillment centers.
Fishers Finery tackled this shift early—and Inventory Optimizer helped make it efficient.
The Challenge
Amazon’s new standards mean every inbound product must arrive fully compliant. For sellers who previously relied on Amazon’s bubble-wrap and labeling services, this change adds cost, labor, and risk of inbound delays.
“When Amazon stops touching product at the fulfillment center, it streamlines their process—but it changes yours,” says Craig Barnell.
The Solution
Fishers Finery moved compliance upstream, embedding packaging and labeling directly into its manufacturing process. The team created standard operating procedures and video training for overseas factories in Vietnam, China, and Pakistan—ensuring every shipment met Amazon’s specs before leaving port.
This proactive approach allowed the company to:
- Eliminate Amazon prep fees
- Shorten inbound processing
- Expand into new fulfillment networks like Walmart
- Maintain consistency across factories
“Doing it at the source made us faster and more flexible,” Craig notes.
The Results
Relocating compliance added time to production, but Inventory Optimizer recalibrated every forecast automatically. The software adjusted PO-to-FC horizons, optimized order volumes, and maintained stock coverage across Amazon, Walmart, and other channels.
“Anytime you lengthen your horizon, it affects your order plan,” Craig explains. “Inventory Optimizer handled that for us.”
Takeaway
Amazon’s new prep policy is reshaping how sellers operate—but it’s also an opportunity to streamline. With Inventory Optimizer, brands can forecast smarter, integrate compliance at the source, and keep products flowing across every channel.
Watch the episode or schedule a demo to see how smarter forecasting helps sellers stay compliant and profitable.
