How to Thank Your 3PL This Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Meaningful Ways to Show Appreciation During Peak Season

How to Thank Your 3PL This Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Meaningful Ways to Show Appreciation During Peak Season

Black Friday–Cyber Monday (BFCM) isn’t just another retail milestone—it’s a pressure test for the entire logistics ecosystem. While shoppers celebrate deals and merchants celebrate sales, 3PLs are grinding through the real chaos: extended shifts, midnight inbound trucks, tight carrier cutoffs, and order volumes that don’t slow down for anyone.

If your 3PL kept operations running smoothly and helped you deliver on your promises to customers, this is the perfect moment to show a little gratitude. Here are meaningful and actionable ways to thank your fulfillment partner and strengthen the relationship heading into the new year

1. Leave a Review on Google and Racklify

This is one of the simplest yet most impactful things you can do.

3PLs rarely get public recognition despite being the backbone of e-commerce. A thoughtful Google review boosts their local search visibility and helps them attract quality clients.

Even better: leave an additional review on Racklify, where merchants actively search for fulfillment partners. Positive feedback on Racklify helps 3PLs stand out in front of the exact audience they want to reach.

Share specifics: fast communication, great accuracy, strong packaging, proactive updates—anything that showcases what they did exceptionally well. Two minutes of your time can help them win business for years.

2. Send a Thoughtful, Specific Thank-You Message

A sincere message can mean more than you think, especially after a peak season sprint.

Instead of a generic “thanks,” call out particular wins:

• How they handled an unexpected surge
• Moments where they went above and beyond
• A team member who stood out
• Proactive communication that saved you from scrambling

If you want your appreciation to resonate, send a note not just to your daily contact but to their leadership team as well. Showing that your gratitude goes beyond the account level reinforces that the entire organization made an impact.

3. Share a Social Shoutout

3PLs don’t always get public credit even though they’re critical to a brand’s success. A social shoutout—especially on LinkedIn—can be incredibly meaningful.

Highlight how they helped you during BFCM, tag the company, mention the location team if appropriate, and share a genuine note about the partnership. If you have behind-the-scenes photos or a moment from a warehouse visit (with permission), even better.

Visibility matters in logistics, and your post helps the 3PL:

• Build credibility
• Attract future clients
• Boost employee morale
• Recruit warehouse talent

A single post can reach far beyond the week of peak.

4. Share Forecasts and Promo Calendars Early

One of the best ways to thank your 3PL isn’t just praise—it’s predictability.

Warehouse teams plan staffing, space, labor allocation, and equipment needs around your forecast. If you can provide updated numbers for December, outline your holiday promotions, or flag expected spikes in returns, you're helping them plan smarter and avoid scrambling.

Better forecasting leads to:

• Faster processing
• Fewer errors
• Better labor scheduling
• A happier warehouse team

When you make their operations easier, they make your customer experience better. It’s a win-win that strengthens the partnership.

5. Provide Constructive Debrief Feedback

Peak exposes strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the relationship.

A thoughtful post-BFCM debrief is one of the most valuable gifts you can give.

Instead of sending complaints as they happen, compile what worked and what could be improved into a structured recap:

• What processes ran smoothly?
• Where did delays happen?
• Did communication meet expectations?
• What would improve next year’s peak?

Frame feedback around partnership, not blame. Your 3PL will appreciate the clarity, and you’ll get a smoother Q1 because of it.

Constructive feedback today leads to operational excellence tomorrow.

6. Send Snacks, Coffee, or a Small Gift

This might seem simple, but it’s one of the most memorable ways to thank a 3PL because the warehouse team actually feels it.

During BFCM, fulfillment staff are often working long shifts, lifting more, moving faster, and solving problems in real time. A thoughtful gesture—whether it’s trays of cookies, a stack of pizzas, branded treats, or boxes of hot coffee—can turn a stressful shift into a morale-boosting moment.

Even better is something personal: a handwritten card addressed to the warehouse crew, thanking them for their hustle and care. These kinds of gestures stand out because most brands never take the time to acknowledge the people behind their operations.

And yes, warehouse teams do talk. They remember the brands that treat them well, and that goodwill often shows up in faster communication, extra care in packing, and a stronger long-term partnership. Being “that brand” pays dividends far beyond peak season.

Your 3PL Shows Up for You — Show Up for Them

BFCM is where fulfillment partners prove their value. If your 3PL showed up for you, took on the chaos, and helped you deliver a smooth customer experience, now is the perfect time to return the favor.

• A thoughtful message.
• A clear forecast.
• A helpful review on Google and Racklify.
• A simple gesture of appreciation for the people doing the heavy lifting.

These actions don’t just show gratitude—they strengthen the foundation of your partnership for 2026 and beyond.

If your 3PL knocked it out of the park this peak season, let them know. They earned it.