# SHIPMAX

> SHIPMAX is a UK-based logistics and e-commerce growth partner. We connect ambitious e-commerce brands with a vetted, hand-curated network of 3PL (third-party logistics) partners through the Lead Exchange, and provide independent consultancy across shipping, systems, and warehousing. Our tagline: Sell more, profitably.

SHIPMAX works with e-commerce start-ups, scale-ups, and established brands facing growth-stifling operational challenges. There's no commission for brands (our vetted 3PL partners fund the network, not the brands we introduce them to), which keeps our advice neutral and brand-first. Every 3PL in our network is vetted and warehouse-viewed before being onboarded, so introductions are curated matches, not a self-serve directory. SHIPMAX was founded by Phil Rees in 2023, drawing on 20+ years in supply chain and logistics.

## What we do

- **Lead Exchange:** our matchmaking marketplace connecting e-commerce brands with vetted 3PL and fulfilment partners. Brands get a short, comparable shortlist (never more than three options) instead of a long directory.
- **Warehousing & 3PL:** matching brands to the right fulfilment partner for their sector, volume, and ambitions, vetted, not guessed.
- **Supply Chain Projects:** scoped, one-off consultancy — supply-chain audits, 3PL searches, shipping reviews, and systems projects, delivered end to end.
- **IT Systems & Integrations:** connecting store, WMS, and carrier systems so orders flow without manual spreadsheet steps.

## Who we serve

- E-commerce brands (DTC, retail, wholesale) seeking fulfilment, shipping, or warehousing partners.
- 3PLs, freight forwarders, and parcel carriers seeking qualified brand introductions and operational support.

## Key pages

- [Homepage](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/): overview of SHIPMAX and the Lead Exchange.
- [Lead Exchange](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/lead-exchange): how brand-to-3PL matchmaking works.
- [For Brands](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/for-brands): how brands get matched with vetted fulfilment partners, with no commission. Includes a 3PL-readiness quiz.
- [For 3PLs](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/for-3pls): how logistics partners join the vetted network and receive qualified brand introductions.
- [Services](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/services): the full range of SHIPMAX services across the e-commerce journey.
- [Projects & Consultancy](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/projects): independent consultancy engagements: supply-chain audits, 3PL search, shipping reviews, systems integration, and B2B expansion.
- [About](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/about): company background and founder Phil Rees.
- [Contact](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/contact): get in touch.
- [Socials & Newsletter](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/socials): SHIPMAX across LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and X, plus the newsletter sign-up.

## Services

- [Warehousing & 3PL](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/services/warehousing): the right 3PL for your sector, volume, and ambitions, matched from a network of vetted fulfilment partners, not guessed.
- [Supply Chain Projects](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/projects): scoped, one-off consultancy, supply-chain audits, 3PL searches, shipping reviews, and systems projects, delivered end to end.
- [IT Systems & Integrations](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/services/it-systems): connect your store, WMS, and carriers into one clean flow, with real-time stock and order visibility.

## Blog

- [The New EU Customs Rule That's Actually a Product Data Problem](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/the-new-eu-customs-rule-thats-actually-a-product-data-problem): From 1 November 2026, every B2C parcel into the EU needs three product identifiers per line item, two of them mandatory. Here's what's changing, why it's a data problem, and what to fix before the deadline.
- [Searching for a 3PL? Check This First!](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/searching-for-a-3pl-check-this-first): The 3PL search doesn't usually stall because 3PLs are hard to find. It stalls because brands can't answer basic questions about their own operation. Here's what to have ready.
- [The Ultimate Guide to Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) in 2026](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-warehouse-management-systems-wms-in-2026): What a WMS actually does, the six types on the market in 2026, a 10-step framework for choosing one, and a full terminology glossary. Updated for the AI and robotics shift reshaping the category.
- [UK to EU E-commerce: Basics & Pro Tips for 2026](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/uk-to-eu-ecommerce-basics-and-pro-tips-for-2026): What UK sellers shipping to the EU need to know in 2026: customs basics, INCOTERMS, IOSS, and the new €3 duty that replaced the €150 de minimis threshold from July 2026.
- [How to Switch 3PL Without Disrupting Your Customers](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/how-to-switch-3pl-without-disrupting-your-customers): You've been putting off switching 3PLs because it sounds like the risky move. Here's the staged process that makes it boring, and the exact reasons brands stall that are worth checking against your own excuses.
- [How to Find the Right 3PL for Your Ecommerce Brand](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/how-to-find-the-right-3pl-for-your-ecommerce-brand): Most brands choose a 3PL by comparing quotes that were never actually comparable. Here's the process that gets you a partner who fits your stage, not just one who answered the phone first.
- [Don't Open an EU Warehouse Yet. Do This First.](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/dont-open-an-eu-warehouse-yet): Most brands expanding into the EU jump straight to renting local warehouse space. Here's the cheaper, faster first move most of them skip, and how to tell when you've actually outgrown it.
- [The Real Cost of Returns (and How to Stop Them Eating Your Margin)](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/the-real-cost-of-returns): UK ecommerce returns are worth billions a year and most brands still treat returns handling as an afterthought when picking a 3PL. Here's what's actually going on, and what good returns handling looks like.
- [FBA vs 3PL: Which One Actually Suits Your Brand?](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/fba-vs-3pl-which-one-suits-your-brand): Amazon FBA and a dedicated 3PL solve different problems. Here's how to actually decide which one fits your brand, including the hybrid setup most growing multi-channel sellers end up running.
- [How to Read a 3PL Rate Card (Without Getting Stung on the Invoice)](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/how-to-read-a-3pl-rate-card): 3PL quotes look simple until month three. Here's how to compare rate cards on true cost per order, not the headline pick fee, so the 'cheap' option doesn't end up the expensive one.
- [LINGO BUSTERS: The Ecommerce and Supply Chain Acronyms Worth Actually Knowing](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/lingo-busters): The plain-English cheat sheet to ecommerce and supply chain acronyms, from 3PL and SKU to IOSS, DDP and COGS. What each one means, and why you'd care.
- [The last US parcel loophole just closed. Here's what it means for your fulfilment.](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/us-parcel-loophole-closes): As of today, US-bound parcels moving through the postal network lose their duty exemption. Every parcel becomes a formal customs entry. Here's what changes, and the fix.
- [How Do You Know When You're Ready for a 3PL?](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/when-are-you-ready-for-a-3pl): Not every brand is ready to outsource fulfilment yet, and that's fine. Here's how to actually tell, based on the signals that matter more than revenue.
- [AI in Fulfilment: What's Real in 2026, and What's Still Just Marketing](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/ai-in-fulfilment-2026): Most 'AI-powered' 3PL claims are just decent system integration wearing a buzzword. Here's what's genuinely changing in UK fulfilment tech in 2026, and what to actually ask a 3PL instead.
- [Welcome to the SHIPMAX Blog](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/blog/welcome-to-the-shipmax-blog): Why we're writing about fulfilment, 3PL selection and the parts of UK logistics nobody explains properly, and what you'll actually find here.

## Sectors we work across

Health & beauty; fashion & apparel; supplements & nutrition; food & drink; electronics & tech; homeware & furniture; toys & games; sports & fitness; pet products; jewellery & accessories; books & media; automotive; industrial / B2B. We match brands to 3PL partners with genuine experience in the relevant sector.

## Key facts

- 0% commission for brands: SHIPMAX charges brands no commission, no success fee and no hidden charges. The network is funded by 3PL partners.
- Curated, not a directory: every 3PL is vetted before joining (warehouse visits, reference checks, and credit checks), and brands receive a short shortlist of no more than three right-fit options.
- Independent and provider-agnostic: recommendations are based on fit, not commission incentives.
- Geographic focus: primarily UK and EU, with support for US expansion.
- Founded by Phil Rees in 2023, on the back of 20+ years in global supply chain and logistics.
- Consultancy and the Lead Exchange are run as separate, independent services to avoid conflicts of interest.

## Sitemap & feeds

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/sitemap-index.xml): all crawlable and indexable pages.
- [Blog RSS feed](https://www.shipmaxinternational.com/rss.xml): subscribe to new SHIPMAX blog posts.

## Contact

- Email: hello@shipmax.co.uk
- Phone: +44 (0) 208 051 2175
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shipmax-ltd/

## Notes

- SHIPMAX is always written in full capitals.
- The Lead Exchange is SHIPMAX's flagship product; consultancy services run alongside it.
- Audience: e-commerce brands (DTC, retail, wholesale) and 3PL / fulfilment providers, primarily UK and EU with US expansion support.