Overview

These standards keep merchandise moving efficiently from shipment to store shelf. Compliance helps us meet peak inventory demands, scale for growth and serve our customers. Violations of this guide result in chargebacks.

Shipment preparation

Cartons

• Minimum 200 lb burst strength, sealed with a 3" tape seal or equivalent.
• Packed cartons must not exceed 50 lbs.
• No bagged, hanging or loose goods.

Packing

• One Purchase Order (PO) per carton.
• One style per carton unless the PO calls for an assorted pack.
• Exact units per carton and color/size assortment as shown on the PO.
• No substitutions without prior written buyer approval and an updated PO, reflected on the Packing Slip/ASN before arrival.
• Sets must be matched by size, packaged together and shipped as a set.

Carton labeling

Labels are created through the ASN process in the Vendor Portal.

Style separation

• One style per pallet whenever possible.
• Multiple styles on a pallet must be separated by a divider sleeve (cardboard or Kraft paper) and grouped, not co-mingled.

Packing slip

Prepare one packing slip per PO in a sealed envelope on the outside of the Lead Carton (top left row of the pallet, clearly marked "Lead Carton"). Include:

• PO number
• Vendor style numbers
• Size range and quantities per carton
• Color assortment per style
• Total cartons and units shipped

Order accuracy

• No substitutions or incomplete orders will be accepted.
• If you can't complete a PO as written, contact the buyer on the PO for written approval and a PO modification before shipping.
• Shipments that don't match the PO delay receiving and are subject to chargebacks.

Shipping instructions

Vendors are responsible for all freight charges to the SWFM Distribution Center and arrange and pay carriers directly. All shipments are FOB to Cinnaminson, NJ. A 2% warehouse allowance is deducted from all warehouse shipments.

Required documentation

• Shipment commodity and NMFC freight classification
• Number of pieces and weight (including dimensional weight if required)
• PO number
• Multiple BOLs shipped the same day consolidated into one Master BOL

Pallets

• All shipments palletized and double-wrapped.
• Pallets easy to count, with all carton labels facing out.

Carriers & ports

Volume carriers for California vendors

Use any carrier you choose. These are available options:

• City Logistics · forms@cityx.com · 310-223-1010, option 1. Include pickup location, cartons, weight, pallets and cube. Schedule 48 hours ahead.
• Omni Logistics (formerly Pacific Logistics)
• Tiger Freight

Plus fuel surcharge. Rates are tiered: a 10-pallet shipment bills pallets 1–8 at $225 and pallets 9–10 at $200.

Container shipments to ports

Email the Packing Slip and Delivery Order to WH@shopperworld.net with "Container Request" in the subject at least 48 hours before the container arrives. SWFM is not responsible for demurrage at NYC or California ports.

UPS Ground

• Email routing@shopperworld.net for order validation before shipping. Unvalidated shipments are subject to penalties.
• UPS shipments should not exceed 100 lbs.

Pre-ticketing

Order tickets through Fine Line (log in to Shoppers World and Forman Mills separately at finelineglobal.com/FastTrak) or Velocity (all SWFM POs together at 3qprint.azurewebsites.net).

Ticket placement

Late shipments & deliveries

All POs must ship exactly as written, complete, and between the Start Ship Date and Cancel Date. Changes require prior written buyer approval; verbal approvals are not accepted. If merchandise arrives after the Cancel Date and SWFM keeps the order:

• Shipments without an appointment may be refused. If accepted, a 15% chargeback applies (max $1,000 per order).
• Arrivals after 12:00 PM on the appointment date may be subject to violation fees.

Chargebacks

Returns & disputes

Return to Vendor (RTV)

• Unsellable merchandise is classified as RTV; vendors pay all return freight.
• Goods not picked up within 7 days of notice may be destroyed, disposed of or donated.
• Invoice value is still deducted; RTV violations are $100 per infraction plus $10/carton.

Violation notices & disputes

• Notices are included with payment remittance.
• Disputes must be submitted within 30 days of invoice payment to Vendorviolations@formanmills.com with vendor name, violation date, nature of violation and PO number.
• Only the original email (with PO number and sent date) is accepted as proof of a submitted packing slip.

Vendor Portal

1. Log in at portal.shopperworld.net. Your first-time Vendor ID and password are your 5-digit Vendor Number from your PO (add a leading zero to 4-digit numbers, e.g. 1262 → 01262).
2. Set a new password: 8–10 characters with at least one number and one special character (!@#$%^&).
3. Add confirmation emails on the Open POs screen and click Update Email.
4. Select a PO to create carton labels and the ASN, then schedule your delivery appointment. If a PO is missing, confirm your Vendor ID and contact your buyer.