TL;DR: The Results That Matter
Cakeworthy transformed their logistics in under two months:
- Cut shipping costs from 22% to 10% of sales – more than halving their logistics expense
- Achieved a 10% cost-to-sales ratio, outperforming the apparel industry benchmark of 13%.
- 99% same-day order processing with 1-2 business day delivery across North America
- Dramatically improved accuracy by virtually eliminating mispicks and missing items
- Streamlined from multiple vendors to one integrated platform covering fulfillment, shipping, and last-mile delivery
From screen-printing in a spare bedroom to partnering with Disney and Warner Brothers – read on for all the details on how Cakeworthy scaled dramatically while slashing costs and accelerating delivery times.
The Challenge: High Shipping Costs and Complex Cross-Border Fulfillment
Brandon Shedden, CEO of Cakeworthy, built his fandom apparel brand from humble beginnings — screen-printing t-shirts in a spare bedroom. What started as a passion project for nostalgic franchises quickly grew into partnerships with industry giants like Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, and Mattel.
But success brought new challenges. As a Canadian-owned brand serving customers across North America, Cakeworthy faced the complex reality of cross-border commerce. Their previous in-house fulfillment setup was creating significant operational headaches:
- Shipping costs were eating into profits. At 22% of total sales, well above the 13% industry benchmark for apparel brands, their shipping costs were reducing Cakeworthy’s margins
- Cross-border fulfillment complexity was becoming a bottleneck as the majority of their business shifted to U.S. customers. Concerning themselves with crossborder compliance was a time drag for Cakeworthy’s team
- Poor pick and pack accuracy led to frequent wrong orders and missing items, hurting their customer experience
- Multiple vendor management created unnecessary complexity and inefficiency
"Fulfillment before GoBolt was just another thing on my plate. We were taking a loss on all of our shipping."
The Solution: Streamlined U.S. and Canadian Fulfillment Operations
When evaluating fulfillment partners, Shedden prioritized finding a company that aligned with Cakeworthy’s values — preferably Canadian-owned like his own brand. GoBolt’s comprehensive approach to cross-border logistics made the decision clear.
1. Strategic U.S. Fulfillment Expansion
To serve their growing American customer base more efficiently, GoBolt helped Cakeworthy establish U.S. domestic fulfillment operations. This strategic move eliminated costly cross-border shipping for the majority of their orders while maintaining the speed and accuracy their customers expected.
"We've had to move some of our products to the U.S. to accommodate the majority of our business. GoBolt helped us do that quickly and efficiently."
2. Consolidated Canadian Operations
Initially, Shedden planned to keep Canadian fulfillment in-house while using GoBolt for U.S. operations. However, after just two months of working with GoBolt’s U.S. fulfillment solution, the results were so impressive that he decided to consolidate all operations under one partner.
"After about two months of working with GoBolt, it made sense to move all of our business to them to keep things streamlined."
3. Comprehensive Service Integration
Beyond fulfillment, GoBolt’s integrated last-mile delivery service eliminated the need for multiple vendor relationships. This consolidation simplified operations while maintaining service quality across both markets.
"Not only do they offer fulfillment, but they also offer last mile, which makes it easier for me to manage with just one vendor versus multiple."
The Results: Dramatic Cost Reduction and Operational Excellence
The partnership with GoBolt delivered measurable improvements across every key metric:
Shipping Cost Transformation
- Reduced shipping costs from 22% to 10% of total sales—cutting costs by more than half
- Achieved 23% better performance than the 13% apparel industry benchmark for shipping costs as a percentage of sales
- Eliminated losses on shipping that were previously impacting profitability
Operational Efficiency Gains
- Same-day order processing became the new standard
- 1-2 business day delivery to customers across both U.S. and Canadian markets
- Dramatically improved pick and pack accuracy with “very few customers receiving the wrong order or missing items”
Simplified Vendor Management
- Single-vendor solution for both fulfillment and last-mile delivery
- Streamlined operations across U.S. and Canadian markets
- Reduced management complexity allowing Shedden to focus on brand growth
Why It Worked: Partnership Over Vendor Relationship
For Shedden, the decision to work with GoBolt came down to more than just operational metrics. The partnership approach and shared values made the difference.
“We needed to find someone who aligned with our values, preferably Canadian-owned, which I really liked about GoBolt,” Shedden explains.
The relationship extends beyond transactional fulfillment to true partnership. “At the end of the day, you need a partner who cares and who’s there for you when you can’t be there yourself.”
The Bottom Line: A No-Brainer Decision for Growing Apparel Brands
Cakeworthy’s transformation from a bedroom startup to a multi-market operation serving major franchises required logistics that could scale without compromising on accuracy or cost-effectiveness. GoBolt’s integrated approach to cross-border fulfillment delivered exactly that.
"If you're growing a brand, using GoBolt is a no-brainer."
For apparel brands facing similar challenges — high shipping costs, cross-border complexity, or the need to scale operations efficiently — Cakeworthy’s success story demonstrates how the right fulfillment partner can transform logistics from a cost center into a competitive advantage.
Ready to cut your shipping costs while improving customer experience?
Discover how GoBolt’s integrated fulfillment and last mile solutions and GoBolt Connect platform can help your apparel brand access multiple carriers, reduce complexity, and scale efficiently across North American markets. Talk to us today.
