LovelySkin, one of the largest dermatologist-owned skincare retailers in the U.S., grew from Dr. Joel Schlessinger’s Omaha dermatology practice into a thriving e-commerce brand shipping thousands of dermatologist-selected products worldwide. With a new high-speed fulfillment system, the company now handles peak surges of 12,000+ daily orders while maintaining brand consistency, accuracy, and a better balance for its team.

About LovelySkin

Dr. Joel Schlessinger is a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon in Omaha, where he has built a respected practice focused on helping patients achieve healthier skin and improved confidence. Over the years, his patients came to trust not only his expertise, but also the professional skincare products he recommended. When some of those patients moved away, they began asking if there was any place to purchase them in their new environment. Out of that simple request, and the desire to help them continue their regimen, LovelySkin was born.

That insight drove the creation of LovelySkin.com back in 1997, now the largest dermatologist-owned online skincare retailer in the United States. Today, LovelySkin offers thousands of dermatologist-selected products and ships them to customers nationwide, and even internationally, all with award-winning customer service.

At its core, LovelySkin is about making expert skincare accessible—combining clinical expertise with the convenience of online shopping, so that everyone can feel more lovely in their skin.

The Growth Challenge

As demand for dermatologist-approved skincare grew, so did LovelySkin’s order volume. By the mid-2010s, daily orders were increasing rapidly, especially during promotions and holiday seasons. Fulfillment was becoming a critical factor in maintaining the high standard of customer experience that is part of the brand’s DNA.

LovelySkin faced a familiar but challenging balance:

• Keeping up with fast-growing order volumes
• Protecting each order with branded, consistent packaging
• Ensuring that holiday surges didn’t overwhelm staff or delay customers’ deliveries
• Offering each product in each line they carry, despite some being slow movers

The team knew they needed a long-term solution that could grow alongside the brand.

Building a Scalable Fulfillment Operation

In 2016, LovelySkin took its first steps into warehouse automation with the installation of a Sprinter™ system. Over the next several years, this solution helped them keep pace with steady growth while maintaining accuracy and reliability.  It was upgraded a number of times with extensions to conveyor, additional print-and-apply systems, and expanded parcel sortation.  

But the real transformation came in 2024, when LovelySkin moved into a new, 75,000 square foot fulfillment center and upgraded to a fully integrated high speed in-motion shipping system.

The new facility was designed around LovelySkin’s growing order volume and their desire to keep operations smooth during peak demand. Orders now flow seamlessly through each stage of fulfillment.  Here’s how the system works:

1. Carton Erectors and Case Formers – Case erectors/formers build branded cartons featuring LovelySkin’s logo and messaging.
2. Picking & Packing – Orders are picked, packed, and sealed for protection at ergonomic workstations.
3. In-Motion Weighing & Dimensioning – Each carton is automatically scanned, weighed, and measured without stopping.
4. In-Motion Labeling – Three labelers apply shipping labels in motion, ensuring accuracy and uninterrupted flow.
5. Automated Sortation – Orders are routed into one of 13 outbound lanes for fast carrier handoff.
   

Results

The upgraded system showed its value almost immediately. During Black Friday 2024, LovelySkin fulfilled over 12,000 orders in a single day—the largest single day volume in its history.

For the first time, employees were able to finish early, even during the busiest week of the year. This milestone marked not just greater throughput, but a better balance for the people behind the operation.

Key Outcomes:

• Fulfilled 12,000+ orders per day during peak season
• Consistent brand presentation with custom cartons
• Reduced late-evening shifts during holiday surges
• Scalable system ready to grow with customer demand
  

Conclusion

LovelySkin’s story is one of vision and steady growth. What began as Dr. Schlessinger mailing products to a few loyal patients has evolved into a thriving e-commerce brand serving skincare customers across America and beyond.

By investing in scalable fulfillment, LovelySkin has created an operation that reflects its brand values: trusted expertise, reliable delivery, and care at every step. With the right systems in place, the company is well-positioned to continue its mission of making professional skincare accessible to everyone.