Wondering what to get the outdoor enthusiast in your life this holiday season? Jetboil, a New Hampshire-based company, offers innovative solutions for campers looking to stay warm and efficient.
Founded by avid outdoorsmen Dwight Aspinwall and Perry Dowst, Jetboil quickly evolved into a multi-million dollar enterprise. Frustrated with the bulk and inefficiency of traditional camping stoves, they set out to create their own superior design.
Campers can now enjoy a hot beverage in under a minute with Jetboil’s compact, 15-ounce personal stove. This holiday season, gift-givers can also enhance the stove’s functionality with accessories like a French press attachment for fresh coffee and pot stabilizers for using larger cookware.
Demand for Jetboil’s stoves surged after receiving accolades from leading publications such as Outside, Backpacker, Time, and Popular Science. Major retailers including EMS and REI began placing substantial orders, followed by international stores in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Holiday sales are crucial for retailers, often representing 25% to 40% of annual revenue, according to the National Retail Federation. Jetboil anticipated this trend, projecting a 50% increase in sales during the holiday season. The question was: How could Jetboil effectively manage this surge in demand?
To fulfill retailer orders without being overwhelmed, Jetboil partnered with UPS to streamline its logistics. UPS handles the transportation of Jetboil’s designs to manufacturers in China.
Following production, UPS transports samples back to the United States for rigorous testing. Upon approval, Jetboil authorizes full-scale component manufacturing. To expedite the initial product run, UPS utilizes direct flights to the United States, ensuring timely delivery.
Throughout the entire process, Jetboil leverages UPS’s software and services for complete shipment visibility. UPS WorldShip software allows Jetboil employees to easily calculate shipping costs, prepare customs forms, and generate labels with a simple point-and-click interface.
By entrusting its shipping and logistics to UPS, Jetboil has been able to concentrate on core business growth. “The expertise in international shipping isn’t where we add value,” explains Tim Wilson, operations planning director for Jetboil. “Therefore, having a reliable partner is absolutely essential.”