Inbound Logistics | January 2023

[ IN PRACTICE ] CASEBOOK

Easing the Pain of Fulfillment and Shipping THE CUSTOMER

Since its launch in 2006, Tiger Tail USA, a pioneer in muscle care and recovery, has expanded from the garage of Spring Faussett, its founder, to producing and selling tens of thousands of units.

Tiger Tail USA pioneered making muscle recovery mainstream in the United States and around the world. The company, based in Kent, Washington was the first to successfully create and market the hand-held foam roller, which is now a part of top-level training rooms across the country. THE PROVIDER Pacejet, a division of 3Gtms, is an enterprise multi-carrier shipping software that seamlessly connects users to every part of their shipping ecosystem, ensuring the best shipment rates with fewer clicks.

Faussett gave both a try, but she couldn’t get down to the ground to use the roller, while the rolling pin offered no relief. An idea was born, however. “I wondered what would happen if I crossed a rolling pin with a foam roller,” Faussett says. That lightbulb moment led to the launch of Tiger Tail USA. UBIQUITOUS FOAM ROLLERS Today, Tiger Tail USA’s orange and black handheld foam rollers are part of training rooms across the country. They also can be seen on the sidelines of multiple professional sporting events across the United States and around the globe. The foam roller actually is one of several product lines Faussett, who has invented products since she was a tween, has created. Her other inventions include SoundFlips Acoustic Ear Warmers and the ZooKeeper Pet Barrier. To start Tiger Tail, Faussett spent several hundred dollars on supplies, created a prototype foam roller, and then made 125 of them. She hauled them all to a trade show, where they quickly sold out. She built another 150 and took those to another show. Once again, she sold out. Several trade shows later, it was clear her idea was viable.

As her company grew, Faussett needed an efcient way to package and ship its agship muscle massage stick foam rollers, as well as massage balls, self-help books, handheld massagers, and other products. Tiger Tail has also grown to offer a corporate wellness and employee injury reduction program called “Happy Muscles 365.” In 2016, Faussett opened a factory in the United States and searched for a solution to help her manage order packing and shipping. She turned to Pacejet from 3Gtms Inc., a provider of multi-carrier shipping and parcel solutions. Pacejet has been able to support Tiger Tail’s manufacturing and distribution operations, ensure reliable product fulllment, and help it grow. A PAINFUL IDEA After years in competitive sports, including as a varsity soccer player at Washington State University, Spring Faussett was used to dealing with pain. Then she tore her ACL and underwent a hamstring autograft harvest. The result? “Piercing pain,” she says. Faussett’s physical therapist recommended she use either a rolling pin or a roller to help manage the pain.

by Karen Kroll

January 2023 • Inbound Logistics 241