MACALLAN 1926 · August 21, 2026

CarParts.com pushed its A-Premium partnership from $45M to $50M run rate in 90 days

The auto-parts retailer scaled a white-label fulfillment deal by stacking last-mile ops and brand distribution into one partnership contract.

Source Seeking Alpha ↗

CarParts.com took a single partnership from an approximately $45 million run rate in Q1 to approaching $50 million in Q2, according to Seeking Alpha. The partner is A-Premium, a parts brand that CarParts.com both distributes and fulfills. The company is targeting 300,000-package last-mile operations under the same deal structure and expects to reach free cash flow positive in 2026.

The mechanism is stacked partnership value. CarParts.com does not just sell A-Premium parts on its own site. It warehouses the inventory, picks and packs orders, and delivers them last-mile. A-Premium gets distribution, logistics, and delivery in one contract. CarParts.com gets product margin, fulfillment fees, and delivery revenue from the same SKU that moves through its warehouse. One partner relationship generates three revenue streams.

This works because automotive parts require specialized handling and speed. A transmission part ordered Monday needs to arrive by Wednesday or the customer loses a work week. Generic 3PLs can warehouse anything, but they do not stock the right part density for next-day regional coverage. CarParts.com already built that network to serve its own customers. A-Premium paid to plug into it. The partnership grew $5 million in run rate across one quarter because the infrastructure was already live and A-Premium could layer on volume without CarParts.com building new capacity.

The steal for a small physical-product brand is to sell your logistics as a product. If you already ship your own goods with any reliability, you have an asset another brand will pay to access. Start with one complementary brand that shares your customer but does not compete on product. Offer them warehousing at cost plus 8-12%, pick-and-pack at $2.50-$4.00 per order, and last-mile delivery at your negotiated carrier rate plus 10%. You make margin on three lines instead of one. They get faster delivery than they could build alone. You do not add headcount—your existing team picks two brands' orders in the same shift.

Run it with one partner for 90 days. Track total orders, average cost per pick, and delivery speed. If your accuracy holds above 98% and your partner's delivery complaints stay under 2%, add a second brand. Do not add a brand that doubles your SKU complexity—add one that moves similar cube sizes and ships to the same regions. Your warehouse density improves and your per-unit cost drops. A-Premium worked for CarParts.com because both companies move heavy, oddly shaped parts that need regional proximity. Your version works when the new partner's shipments look like yours.

The broader pattern is that infrastructure built for your own operation becomes a revenue product when you invite others in. CarParts.com did not wait until it had spare warehouse capacity. It monetized the system it already ran. A small brand with consistent weekly shipments and reliable delivery has the same play available. You just need one other brand that wants what you have already built.

Jenny Huang Goodman MPA MSc MHSA Named-Account Desk Virginia Beach Since 1997 ASI #217876 DUNS 18-204-6339 (757) 390-0424

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