INDUSTRY
Location
Platform Before
Platform After
Carriers Before
Carriers After
Total Savings
Implementation Time
Canadian apparel retailers face significant shipping costs and complexities that directly impact their margins and customer satisfaction. Nearly 50% of retailers report that shipping costs exceed 10% of an order’s value¹. For apparel retailers selling lower-priced items, a $10 shipping charge on a $50 order equates to 20% of the sale.
Major carriers implement annual general rate increases on the order of 5-6% every year². For 2025, UPS and FedEx announced an average 5.9% hike in base rates³. Compounded over several years, these yearly increases drive up shipping costs by roughly 30% over a five-year span.
Seasonal volume fluctuations: Apparel retailers experience major spikes during holiday seasons, back-to-school periods, and promotional events, which can overwhelm manual shipping processes.
This growing London, Ontario apparel business had reached a critical juncture where their current shipping setup was limiting their ability to scale effectively. Operating with Sendle as their primary shipping solution, they faced operational bottlenecks that were preventing efficient growth.
Core problems:
Like many small apparel businesses, they were experiencing the operational strain that affects over half of e-commerce retailers who find their shipping and logistics processes challenging to manage⁹. Their shipping approach, while functional at smaller volumes, was becoming a growth constraint as order volumes increased.
We identified that transitioning from Sendle to a more robust shipping platform with diversified carrier options would unlock the automation and scalability this business needed. Through Part n Parcel’s network of 240+ Canadian businesses, we implemented a comprehensive optimization that addressed both immediate efficiency needs and long-term growth requirements.
Direct carrier relationships: Established enterprise-level carrier accounts through collective buying power
The Canadian apparel industry is experiencing robust online growth, projected to reach CAD $28.5 billion in total sales by 2024, with about $8.9 billion via e-commerce¹⁰. From 2020 to 2023, apparel e-commerce in Canada grew roughly 12.6% cumulatively¹¹, creating increased shipping volumes that require efficient operational management.
Canadian online fashion retail represents approximately US$16.5 billion in 2024¹², with fashion accounting for roughly 25-30% of the total e-commerce market¹³. This sustained growth means apparel businesses face continuously increasing shipping volumes that demand scalable operational solutions.
The data reveals critical challenges for Canadian apparel businesses:
Customer experience pressure: 48% of online shoppers abandon carts due to unexpectedly high shipping costs¹⁴, while 69% are less likely to shop again if delivery is more than two days late¹⁵
Value proposition: This optimization approach works best for apparel businesses ready to transition from basic shipping solutions to professional-grade operations that support sustained growth.
Training and support: Comprehensive onboarding ensuring team readiness for new processes
¹ Magestore – Fulfillment Costs
² Jet Worldwide – Lower Shipping Rates 2025
³ Cole International – Tariff Changes 2024
⁴ Part n Parcel – Dimensional Weight Guide
⁵ Ship Expert – Small Business Shipping Cost
⁶ WTO – World Trade Report 2018
⁷ Canada Post – Cart Abandonment
⁸ Digital Commerce 360 – Shipping Cost Impact
⁹ ScienceDirect – E-commerce Logistics
¹⁰ ECDB – Canada Fashion Market
¹¹ EcommerceDB – Canada Apparel
¹² ECDB – Canada Fashion Market
¹³ EcommerceDB – Canada Apparel
Join 240+ Canadian businesses saving 15-40% on shipping costs through our collective network. Get your free analysis to see exactly how much your business can save.
