In the apparel industry, having a great design is only half the battle. You also need to have a foolproof process to get your garments into customers’ hands smoothly.

According to Invesp, 79% of companies with top-performing supply chains see higher-than-average revenue growth in their industries. Businesses with optimized supply chains also benefit from 15% lower costs, less than half the inventory holdings, and three times faster cash-to-cash cycles.

This all sounds great in theory, but what if managing your supply chain feels like a constant struggle? You’re not the only brand in that boat.

If you’re currently coordinating with 3PL partners, juggling vendor relationships, and trying to make every piece of your supply chain work together, it can feel like a lot of work… because it is!

That’s why 4PL logistics solutions were developed.

The pressure to streamline operations, cut costs, and maintain 5-star quality is intense—especially in the apparel industry.

But imagine having one expert partner who handles every aspect of your supply chain—from sourcing raw materials to delivering the final product to your customer’s door. 

That’s the power of 4PL. Unlike traditional 3PL services, which focus on specific logistics functions, 4PL takes a big-picture approach—so you can manage your supply chain with precision at every step.

Today, we’re here to give you a clear understanding of how 4PL can help you build a more scalable, efficient, and responsive supply chain for your apparel operations. 

4PL by Scrappy is our proprietary approach to logistics—it’s an apparel-first solution, which means it’s designed to meet the needs of the clothing industry. 

At Scrappy Apparel, we’ve spent 18+ years perfecting our own solutions for brands like yours, and we’re ready to share our insights with you.

Learn About 4PL by Scrappy

What “4PL” Means in Apparel Supply Chain Management

A 4PL solution acts as the central hub for your apparel operations, managing all the moving parts, including multiple 3PL providers and other partners.

The goal is to deliver a seamless and optimized supply chain.

This is great news for you because you won’t have to spend your time making multiple calls a day and managing all your vendors yourself. 

Instead, your 4PL partner will become your single point of contact. Unlike traditional 3PLs that may own and operate warehouses or fleets, 4PLs don’t tie themselves down with physical assets.

Instead, they focus on orchestrating every aspect of your supply chain, offering you flexibility, scalability, and the expertise needed to keep your apparel business ahead of the competition.

How 4PL Differs from 3PL

The main difference between 3PL and 4PL lies in the level of involvement and responsibility:

• Scope of services: 3PLs focus on specific logistics functions, while 4PLs manage the entire supply chain process.
• Asset ownership: 3PLs typically own warehouses and sometimes trucking fleets, whereas 4PLs are often non-asset-based.
• Strategic involvement: 4PLs offer high-level logistics management and strategic planning, going beyond the day-to-day operations handled by 3PLs.
• Client relationship: 4PLs have a deeper, more collaborative relationship with clients. They need greater insight into your operations to make sure their solutions are aligned with your strategy.

Key Components of 4PL Services

4PL providers offer a range of services to help streamline your apparel supply chain. These include, but are not limited to:

• Transportation management
• Warehouse management
• Inventory control
• Shipping coordination
• E-commerce integration
• Strategic planning and consultancy

With a 4PL partner, you can gain a “control tower” view of your supply chain, allowing for better decision-making and improved efficiency in your apparel business.

4PL by Scrappy has an even more extensive set of services, which is part of what makes us different from other 4PL providers. 

How 4PL by Scrappy Transforms Your Supply Chain

Interested to know how 4PL by Scrappy works? Here’s an overview of each piece of our program:

Manufacturing

Our solutions go beyond logistics. In fact, they began with manufacturing. Back in 2006, we began as a screen printing company, and then expanded our printing services over the years. 

Now, we’re capable of producing runs of thousands of garments at once with our manufacturing resources. We offer highly specialized printing techniques, such as simulated process screen printing and all-over sublimation printing. You can also private label your garments with us.

Our supply chain consists of both domestic and international suppliers, vendors, and manufacturers. We coordinate the production of our clients’ garments with our trusted partners.

Once the garments are produced, we’ll either ship them to our 3PL warehouses, or we’ll send them directly to the client for them to store on their own.

Logistics

We have specialized logistics programs for e-commerce, retail, tour merch, and limited edition drops.

Because we also offer manufacturing solutions, we can make sure your garments move from production to their final destination with maximum efficiency and minimal hassle.

Here’s how we make it happen:

• Centralized coordination: We take charge to coordinate with multiple 3PL providers. We handle both transportation management and warehouse operations, so your supply chain runs smoothly without any bottlenecks.
• Specialized logistics strategy: With our in-depth understanding of the apparel industry, we’ve developed a multichannel fulfillment strategy that’s tailored to meet the unique needs of clothing brands. We specialize in coordinating shipments to multiple final destinations with ease, whether it’s shipping directly to customers, distributing to retail stores, or handling complex B2B orders.
• Unlimited scalability: Whether you’re expanding into new markets, launching a new product line, or simply experiencing a surge in demand, Scrappy Apparel’s 4PL solutions are designed to scale effortlessly with your operations. We manage everything from high-volume manufacturing to complex logistics, ensuring that your supply chain is always ready to meet your brand’s demands.
• Data-driven insights: We analyze your supply chain data to identify opportunities for improvement and cost savings. This includes optimizing inventory levels, improving order fulfillment processes, and reducing transportation costs.

About Our Tour Merch Fulfillment Program

As we mentioned, we can coordinate deliveries to many final destinations—including tour stops.

No more delayed or lost merchandise.

No more tracking shipments from multiple providers.

No more logistics stress.

When you partner with Scrappy Apparel, you’re teaming up with logistics experts who genuinely care about your success. 

We go the extra mile to ensure your merchandise program runs like clockwork, so you never have to worry about missing out on sales or disappointing your fans. Here’s how:

• Reliable inventory management: With our advanced network management system, you’ll have real-time access to your inventory levels, giving you full control over your stock at every stop on your tour.
• Affordable and secure storage: We offer cost-effective monthly warehousing and storage options, ensuring that your merchandise is always secure, organized, and ready to go.
• Swift order fulfillment: We know that speed is crucial when you’re on tour. Our quick and efficient order fulfillment guarantees that your merch arrives on time, keeping your fans happy and your sales flowing smoothly.
• Bundling and cost savings: Our merchandise bundling services not only help you create enticing offers for your fans but also cut down on picking and packing fees, saving you money on every order.

Choose 4PL by Scrappy to Simplify Your Logistics for Good!