The ubiquitous wooden pallet, which is critical to every business’ supply chain as the platform on which millions of shipments ride in trucks and trains every day across the U.S., has joined the world of e-commerce marketplaces with the launch of PalletTrader (www.pallettrader.com).
The new online platform, designed and built exclusively for the sourcing, buying and selling of commercial wooden pallets, bring the ease, simplicity and efficiency of a common e-commerce transaction experience to what has been a fragmented world of suppliers and pallet recyclers, noted John Vaccaro, president of Bettaway Supply Chain Services.
Bettaway funded, built and is operating PalletTrader as an independent, neutral online business platform, enabling and streamlining the digital trading and sale of pallets in a collaborative, secure e-commerce environment, providing its user community with workflows and tools to drive new efficiencies into pallet supply and management, Vaccaro noted.
PalletTrader is changing that dynamic. “We have created a go-to, dedicated e-commerce site, open to anyone to sign up and participate,” Vaccaro explained. “Those who have pallets can post their inventory, negotiate with buyers, complete a transaction instantly online, and then set up pallet delivery, all in one process, with real time tracking and tracing.”
“It’s much like in the trucking world where brokers and shippers use online load boards to match available trucks with freight,” Vaccaro added. “We are bringing the convenience and efficiency of online commerce technology to the world of pallets. And we are providing a common set of tools and processes the can be shared by everyone to manage and optimize pallet inventory as a renewable asset, not discarded as a throw-away piece of wood.”
While the majority of PalletTrader’s market is expected to be “white wood” pallets, the platform can accommodate all other types of pallets as well, including those made of plastic, composite or other materials.
Vaccaro explained that the platform is applicable for small “Mom and Pop” pallet businesses, all the way up to the largest consumer products companies that use thousands of pallets a year. A small operator might have a handful of pallet yards in a state or region. A major consumer products company could be managing as many as 50 manufacturing or production sites that go through thousands of pallets.
Vaccaro said, “Yet until now the management of pallets has been completely fragmented and decentralized, with no common management platform or shared process.” That’s the problem that PalletTrader is answering.
In addition to its public marketplace, “PalletTrader allows users to set up their own private networks in a secure, permission-based environment, creating defined communities of specific customers. “It’s like using Venmo, where you transact with many others, you have your own account and you can make your transaction public or private,” Vaccaro explained. “The private network option is an important feature as many pallet businesses want to protect the identity of their customers, but still want to enjoy the ease and cost-savings of a collaborative online platform.”
For the first six months, businesses who sign up on PalletTrader will get the service for free with no monthly subscription fee. The only cost is a small transaction fee of 1.5% from the buyer, and 1.5% from the seller (brokers pay a 2.5% per-transaction all-in administrative fee). Fees do not include any credit card or ACH fees from the payment entity.
To receive six months of membership for free, use the code REIMAGINE. After the initial trial period, the monthly membership fee is $79 for individuals/companies (up to three users per location) and $279 per month for brokers (up to ten users). Since the payment is conducted through the website, no credit checks are required.
PalletTrader is launching with a core group of sponsors, who comprise the “Founders Circle” of initial members. Among the inaugural industry users are Paltech Enterprises, John Rock, Inc. and San Fernando Valley Pallet Co.
Interested parties can sign up and begin using the platform at www.pallettrader.com, make sure to use the code REIMAGINE to receive a discount.
Buyers Advantages
- Find new core sources and pallet suppliers for one low cost.
- Develop private networks connected to a public marketplace.
- Take advantage of online tools offering tons of customization.
- Reduce costs associated with managing pallet purchases.
- Find odd-sized pallets, set own specifications.
- Access large database of pallet contacts.
Sellers Advantages
- Find new pallet buyers for one low cost.
- Develop private networks connected to a public marketplace.
- Options for pallet manufacturers, recyclers and brokers.
- Provide customers online tools they want to manage their pallet purchases.
- Tons of customization and activity alerts.
- Get paid faster, guaranteed.
- Eliminate the need to conduct credit checks.
- Reduce costs associated with having a large sales team.
- Sell excess inventory and odd-sized pallets.
