Brunt Workwear uses Sherpack as their primary third-party logistics (3PL) and fulfillment partner.
Introduction to Brunt Workwear
Founded in 2020 by Eric Girouard, Brunt Workwear is a direct-to-consumer footwear brand that has rapidly disrupted the work boot market. The brand was born from Girouard's 20+ years of experience in the boot and outdoor footwear industry, where he identified a significant gap: hardworking tradespeople were underserved by existing boot brands that either lacked quality, comfort, or affordability.
Brunt's initial product line centered on work boots designed specifically for the construction and trades market, including styles like The Marin, The Perkins, and The Composite Toe options. The brand quickly gained traction through authentic marketing that speaks directly to its core audience of construction workers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and other trade professionals.
By focusing on three key pillars—comfort, durability, and value—Brunt has built a loyal following that has fueled impressive growth. The brand's success has been amplified by grassroots marketing on social media platforms where tradespeople share their experiences with the products.
Why Brunt Needed to Optimize Their Fulfillment
As Brunt experienced rapid growth in the competitive workwear market, they faced several fulfillment challenges:
- Heavy product handling: Work boots are heavy, bulky items that require specific packaging and shipping considerations
- High customer expectations: Tradespeople often need their boots quickly and reliably, creating pressure for fast, accurate fulfillment
- Scaling from startup to established brand: The transition from garage-scale operations to a high-volume DTC brand required professional fulfillment infrastructure
- Product variety management: Multiple boot styles, sizes, and widths create a significant SKU count that demands organized inventory management
Partnership with Sherpack
Brunt partnered with Sherpack to manage their fulfillment operations. The partnership provides Brunt with:
- Specialized handling for heavy products: Sherpack's facilities and processes are equipped to handle the weight and bulk of work boots efficiently
- Scalable operations: Infrastructure that can grow with Brunt's expanding product line and customer base
- Technology integration: Connected systems for automated order processing and real-time inventory tracking
- Shipping optimization: Carrier selection and rate optimization for heavy items to control shipping costs
The Sherpack Solution
Sherpack provides Brunt with a comprehensive fulfillment solution:
- Inventory management: Organized storage and tracking across multiple boot styles, sizes, and widths
- Order processing: Efficient pick, pack, and ship operations optimized for footwear
- Returns handling: Processing returns and exchanges, including size exchanges common in footwear
- Shipping management: Multi-carrier shipping strategies optimized for heavy items
Key Lessons for Other eCommerce Brands
The Brunt-Sherpack partnership offers insights for other DTC footwear and workwear brands:
- Product weight matters in 3PL selection: Heavy products like work boots require fulfillment partners with appropriate equipment and shipping strategies
- Size/width variations increase complexity: Footwear brands must plan for the SKU proliferation that comes with multiple sizes and widths
- Customer expectations in workwear are high: Tradespeople rely on their gear—delayed deliveries can have real job-site implications
Is Sherpack Right for Your Business?
When evaluating whether Sherpack might be right for your brand:
- Product type: Sherpack works well with heavy consumer products, footwear, and items requiring careful handling
- Growth stage: Suitable for growing brands that have outgrown basic fulfillment but don't need enterprise-scale solutions yet
- Technology needs: Integration with major ecommerce platforms for automated operations
To find the best 3PL for your specific needs, consider using Fulfill.com's matchmaking service.
Final Thoughts
Brunt Workwear's partnership with Sherpack demonstrates how DTC footwear brands can leverage professional fulfillment to support rapid growth while maintaining the delivery reliability their customers depend on. For apparel and footwear brands at similar growth stages, finding the right fulfillment partner may be the key to unlocking their next phase of growth.
