Crowdfunding Success: How Donut Media Eliminated US Import Duties and Delivered to 7,500 Backers

Key Stats:

• Over $430,000 in pledges from over 7,500 backers
• 100% Elimination of US Import Duties from China
• 100% customer satisfaction rate through on-time deliveries

Company Story:

Donut Media, a renowned automotive media channel, embarked on an ambitious crowdfunding campaign through Kickstarter to fund a limited-edition model car, dubbed Project Stocky. The campaign resonated with enthusiasts, becoming the second-largest toy campaign on the platform.

The campaign quickly received over $430,000 from more than 7,500 backers within one month!

Challenge:

Project Stocky faced several significant logistical challenges:

1. Delayed Manufacturing: Unforeseen delays in manufacturing disrupted the initial shipping schedule, creating a ripple effect throughout the fulfillment process
2. Shifting Timeline: The ongoing changes in the project timeline made planning and managing shipping a formidable task
3. Customs Concerns: Importing goods from China to the US raised potential hurdles regarding customs clearance, posing risks of delays and added costs

Easyship Solution:

Easyship’s end-to-end international solution covered every step of Project Stocky's fulfillment process, guaranteeing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The process began with the receipt and storage of inventory at Easyship's Shenzhen (China) warehouse.

By implementing effective pick-and-packing procedures, Easyship minimized product damage and loss. The goods were then transported via bulk ocean freight shipment from China to the Los Angeles port.

A few key components of this streamlined process included:

• Flexible Shipping Plan: Easyship worked closely with Donut Media to create a dynamic shipping strategy that could flex with the shifting project timeline
• Inventory Management: By managing inventory at their Shenzhen warehouse, Easyship reduced product damage and loss while streamlining operations.
• Efficient Warehousing: Utilizing Easyship's network of US warehouses ensured secure and efficient storage for quicker order fulfillment.
• Customs Clearance: Easyship’s innovative last-mile label at-origin solution facilitated efficient customs processing.
• Last-Mile Delivery: Reliable courier networks delivered products to US backers, ensuring timely arrival.

Throughout this comprehensive process, Easyship provided end-to-end tracking, giving Donut Media and their backers peace of mind by keeping them informed from origin to destination.

By the end of the process, Donut Media had a robust and efficient logistics strategy in place, paving the way for successful product delivery and enhanced backer satisfaction.

Results:

With Easyship’s support, Project Stocky successfully delivered all model cars on time and within budget, achieving the following milestones:

• Over 8,200 Orders Fulfilled: Easyship managed the entire fulfillment process, delivering over 8,200 orders to Kickstarter backers
• Successful US Delivery: Ensured all model cars were delivered to US backers without customs clearance delays
• Significant Duty Savings: Donut Media saved substantially on import duties thanks to Easyship's last-mile label at-origin solution

Thanks to Easyship's flexible, end-to-end logistics solutions, Project Stocky not only met its crowdfunding goals but also delivered the model cars to eager backers on schedule. This case study illustrates how Easyship empowers businesses of all sizes to streamline their shipping and fulfillment processes, saving time, money, and hassle.

Ready to streamline your shipping and fulfillment process like Donut Media? Discover how Easyship can help your crowdfunding campaign save on duties, improve delivery times, and enhance backer satisfaction. Get started with Easyship today!

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