Quince - the direct to consumer fashion brand that just raised $200M in funding - ships customer orders directly from its network of partner factories located around the world. Unlike traditional retailers that have to order their inventory, send it on sea freight for 45-60 days, and then clear customs, Quince sends items straight from the manufacturing facility, to a nearby fulfillment centers, then to your doorstep – a process know as direct fulfillment.
Most Quince products ship from factories in Asia, particularly from facilities in China, India, and other manufacturing hubs in the Asia-Pacific region. The company also works with specialized production facilities in Europe for certain product categories like leather goods and home furnishings.
Here's how Quince's shipping locations break down:
This factory-direct approach means your Quince order might come from India if you ordered bedding, or from a facility in Italy if you purchased leather accessories. The specific shipping origin depends on which factory produces your particular item, and also allows Quince to keep their carbon emissions low by shipping directly from our manufacturers.
Quince's direct fulfillment model works differently from traditional Ecommerce supply chains. Instead of moving products through multiple stops or warehouses, items go straight from production to your address.
Traditional retail follows this path:
Quince's direct model looks like this:
When you place an order, Quince sends your information directly to the appropriate factory. The factory then packages your item using specific protocols, sends it to a nearby fulfillment center and then ships it through international carriers. This massively improves lead times.
The Direct fulfillment model that Quince leverages provides three main benefits to their business – saving money, saving time, and giving better inventory agility.
Fewer handling points saves time. When inventory pass through multiple facilities, each stop creates potential delays that cost brands money. Direct shipping means fewer people touch your package, reducing both processing time and the chance of damage or loss.
Inventory agility maximizes sales. Without the need to place large orders for inventory months in advance (with ties up a lot of their cash) Quince can place small, fast bets—producing only what sells—then rapidly scale winners without overstocking or missing sales, unlike a traditional supply chain that guesses demand four months ahead.
According to Quince shipping times depend on your location and the specific product you order.
Standard delivery timeframes:
Several factors affect your delivery time. Items already in production ship faster than custom-made products. Your distance from the manufacturing facility also matters - orders shipping from Asia to the US coast typically arrive faster than those going to central states.
Traditional shipping speed depends on:
A direct fulfillment model like Quince uses represents a growing trend in Ecommerce as brands seek more efficient and cost effective ways to run their business and manage their supply chain. This model connects brands and their manufacturers directly with consumers, eliminating the time it takes to ship, store, and inbound good to be sold.
The shift toward direct fulfillment offers several advantages:
More Ecommerce brands are exploring direct fulfillment strategies similar to Quince's approach. This trend reflects changing customer expectations for faster, cheaper shipping combined with growing pressure to reduce supply chain complexity.
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Typically direct fulfillment works best for brands that sell lighter products, or products which have smaller volumetric weight. This is because it’s easier to inject orders into air freight if they are smaller.
No. Direct fulfillment takes advantage of existing air freight flights and routing, meaning that Ecommerce brands can offer fast shipping at rates comparable to those that leverage normal supply chains through warehouses and 3PLs.
Dozens of carriers work in the direct fulfillment model, including USPS, UPS, FedEX, Canada Post, Royal Mail, and more.
In the direct fulfillment model, customers still get their tracking numbers as soon as the product is shipped from the overseas warehouse. When a product lands in the country of delivery the tracking number is updated to a “last mile” tracking number allowing a customer to track it to it’s final destination.
