As Swiss swimwear brand Franca Vinka grew internationally, shipping, customs and returns became harder to manage in-house. Working with SMS gave the team a simpler way to handle fulfillment from Austria.
At a glance
Client: Franca Vinka
Industry: Swimwear and resort wear
Based in: Switzerland
E-commerce platform: Shopify
Key markets: United States and Europe
Fulfillment location: Austria
SMS services: Warehousing, pick & pack, international shipping and returns management
About Franca Vinka
Franca Vinka is a Swiss swimwear and resort wear brand inspired by Mediterranean living and timeless design. The brand sells directly to customers through its Shopify store and ships worldwide, with the United States and Europe among its key markets.
Like many young e-commerce brands, Franca Vinka started by managing fulfillment in-house. But as international orders became a bigger part of the business, the logistics behind every order became more demanding.
From shipping orders in Switzerland to fulfillment from Austria
Before working with SMS, the Franca Vinka team shipped orders themselves from Switzerland.
The process worked, but international shipping brought more complexity. The team had to navigate different customs requirements for the EU and the U.S., while also finding shipping options that made sense for the business and its customers.
With the U.S. becoming Franca Vinka’s main market, handling international deliveries and returns efficiently was especially important.
“One of the main challenges was figuring out customs requirements when shipping to the EU and the U.S., and keeping shipping costs at a reasonable rate.”
The team wanted a fulfillment partner that could take care of the practical side of logistics without making the process more complicated.
That led them to SMS.
Why Franca Vinka chose SMS
For Franca Vinka, one of the main advantages was being able to manage several parts of the fulfillment process with one partner.
Today, SMS supports the brand with:
- warehousing in Austria
- pick & pack
- international shipping
- returns management
- Shopify integration
Through SMS fulfillment services, orders from the Franca Vinka webshop can move directly into the fulfillment process, while the team can rely on SMS for storage, order handling, shipping and returns.
The onboarding was straightforward, and the Shopify integration made everyday order management easier.
“The onboarding process was easy. The Shopify integration makes managing orders simple, and communication by email has always been very good and fast.”
For a growing brand working across several markets, that communication matters. When a question comes up, there is a team on the other side that already understands the fulfillment setup.
Fulfillment from Austria
Franca Vinka now fulfills its online orders through SMS in Austria.
Keeping stock in an EU fulfillment center gives the brand a more practical base for serving customers across Europe while still supporting international orders to markets such as the United States.
It is also a setup that has become increasingly relevant for brands based outside the EU. We look at this in more detail in our guide to fulfillment and warehousing in Austria.
For Franca Vinka, however, the value is simple: the logistics are easier to manage.
Orders are processed and shipped quickly, while the SMS team supports the brand in finding suitable international shipping options and navigating customs-related requirements.
Making U.S. shipping and returns easier
A large share of Franca Vinka’s orders currently goes to the United States, making U.S. shipping an important part of the brand’s fulfillment setup.
This was also one of the areas where the team felt the biggest difference after moving fulfillment to SMS.
“SMS has definitely supported our growth, especially since we ship many orders to the U.S. They help us navigate customs requirements and keep shipping costs reasonable.”
Returns are an equally important part of the experience, particularly for an online fashion brand where customers may need to return products from another country.
“SMS has made shipping to and handling returns from the U.S. much easier for us, helping us support customers in our main market.”
Instead of managing international shipping and returns alone, Franca Vinka now has one fulfillment partner handling the process from its Austrian warehouse.
More time to focus on the brand
For Franca Vinka, the biggest result is not a single percentage or logistics metric.
It is the time the team no longer has to spend managing fulfillment themselves.
Orders are shipped quickly, international deliveries and returns are easier to handle, and the team has someone to contact when logistics questions come up.
That leaves more time for the work only Franca Vinka can do: developing its products, building the brand and growing the business.
“As a new business, having a helpful and reliable fulfillment partner has made a big difference. It gives us more time to focus on growing our brand.”
This is particularly valuable for a seasonal business. As a swimwear brand, Franca Vinka naturally sees demand change throughout the year, which makes having a fulfillment setup that can adapt to different order volumes important.
For other e-commerce brands preparing for seasonal changes in demand, our peak-season fulfillment checklist covers the key areas to plan in advance.
What Franca Vinka values most about working with SMS
When asked what they would highlight to another e-commerce company considering SMS, Franca Vinka came back to something very practical: reliability and communication.
“The team at SMS has always been helpful and made everything easy and stress-free. I would recommend them to another e-commerce business looking for reliable shipping support and good communication.”
They also pointed to the Shopify integration, quick order processing and the ability to manage international shipping without having to build the logistics operation internally.
For a growing e-commerce brand, sometimes that is exactly what good fulfillment should do: work in the background, without becoming another thing the team has to constantly think about.
Looking for a fulfillment partner for your e-commerce brand?
SMS works with e-commerce businesses that need a practical way to manage warehousing, pick & pack, international shipping and returns.
Our fulfillment network and in-house IT team support webshop integrations including Shopify, while our team works with multiple postal and courier partners to ship orders internationally.
Explore our e-commerce fulfillment services or contact the SMS team to discuss the right setup for your business.
FAQ
Where are Franca Vinka orders fulfilled?
Franca Vinka works with SMS Fulfillment Solutions to fulfill online orders from Austria.
What fulfillment services does Franca Vinka use?
Franca Vinka uses SMS for warehousing, pick & pack, international shipping and returns management, with its Shopify store connected to the fulfillment process.
Does SMS support Shopify fulfillment?
Yes. SMS supports Shopify and other e-commerce platforms through its fulfillment and IT integration setup.
Which markets does Franca Vinka sell to?
Franca Vinka sells internationally, with Europe and the United States among its key markets. The U.S. currently represents the brand’s main market.
Why did Franca Vinka outsource fulfillment?
Managing international shipping from Switzerland meant dealing with different customs requirements, shipping costs and international returns. Working with SMS allows the team to manage these processes through one fulfillment partner and spend more time focusing on the brand.
