Royal Mail | Same Day Courier Services, Essex

Posts Tagged ‘Royal Mail’

Do you need to look at the delivery aspect of your online business?

Posted on January 8th, 2010 2 Comments

Are you thinking of starting an online shop? If you are, and all the indicators imply that 2010 is going to be another year of growth for online businesses, then you need to look at the delivery options and delivery costs for your company.

If the items are small, low value and less than 2kg in weight then your best, economically viable option is the Royal Mail. If the items are worth more than £2,500 in value then you need to source alternatives or you will find you are not insured or under insured should something get lost in the post. Although the Royal Mail is very good, inevitably somethings will get lost, you will need to factor this in when pricing your products.

: Image via Wikipedia

Parcel carrier such as DHL and Interlink offer good prices for volume. Thats actual volume and not predicted volume. I mention this as people often prefer to state their forecasted volume and not their actual volume. If you say you are sending 50 packages a week and only send 10, you may get a surcharge added to your bill or charged at a higher rate, as discounts are specific to volume.

If your online business is selling bigger items such as

beds
sofas
mattresses
ovens
white goods such as washing machines and tumble dryers

Then you need to look at the options available. Pallet networks are good for items that can be shipped on a pallet and withstand the weight of other items (depending on how the vehicle is loaded). Pallet networks work on strict capacities, items that are oversized or ‘ugly’ freight will be charged extra. This is not recommended for goods that are likely to break. A courier service normally charges a flat rate for your delivery based on the items, and while this may be slightly more expensive when just making a comparison on price, a good courier service won’t have the hidden surcharges.

For items that are ad hoc or don’t fit the Royal Mail, parcel carriers or the pallet networks, then a courier may fit the bill. A good courier service will help you source the right solution for your online businesses deliveries. Communication with a same day courier is better than what you get with the Royal Mail, parcel carriers or pallet networks.

Many online businesses leave the delivery aspect to the last minute and price it incorrectly, eroding into their profits. We suggest you look at a variety of transport suppliers for your needs and also take into account your customers needs.

Sarah

0844 884 3331

Posted in courier services

Hot in the Kitchen?

Posted on November 21st, 2009 No Comments

Is the safe, secure delivery of your kitchenware making you hot under the collar? Are you getting too many breakages? Are you a kitchenware manufacturer looking for greener delivery? We may be able to help

With the modern trend of designer kitchens and designer kitchenware you would think delivery of the items was not important, and we would forgive you for thinking that! Sending out items to customers is an important aspect of the sale, and your kitchen businesses reputation.

You see, bespoke kitchen items need bespoke delivery.

Lets look at the glass splashback that are both popular and easy to clean (and a quick way of changing you kitchens look), strong packaging means it can go through the parcel networks. Inexpensive and if packed correctly, unlikely to break. The only downside to this type of delivery is the customer may have to drive to a depot to collect if they are not in. A popular and effective method of delivery in this instance.

Where it becomes more difficult is when you have 4m granite worktops to deliver, they are heavy and not exactly able to be sent via the Royal Mail! They are oversized and not often able to go via a parcel network and thats where we come in, we collect and deliver granite worktops via our same day courier services. When it’s granite it is possible it can be co-loaded with other goods going that way. If the worktops are wood or eco friendly material, then its a dedicated vehicle thats needed.

Some worktops are not so difficult on the delivery front – they have veneers and other finishes that are not easily scratched, and their delivery journey can be shared with other items – the greener delivery way

Ovens and hobs can go via the pallet networks and delivered overnight, unless they are all going to the same end destination and then it’s cheaper to use us, give us a call and we’ll give you a quote for dedicated delivery. We can also deliver your white goods, and as with all our services we’ll recycle the packaging for you – just send it back with the driver

If you need advice on delivering small or large amounts of kitchen items, give us a call – we’re happy to quote

Sarah

Images courtesy and copyright of My Kitchen Store, used with permission.

Posted in BT Tradespace, Competition, Courier Business, Sameday Courier

The postal strike – how to use your courier

Posted on October 12th, 2009 4 Comments

With the Royal Mail set to strike, small businesses across the country will be affected. Here at Arrow Light Haulage we have been thinking up some solutions as to how to continue business as best as possible and where a courier is essential.

Firstly and perhaps most importantly, Parcel Force is not going to strike. That means the cheapest option for sending out parcels and packages under 5kgs is still available.

So if you are a business that sends out one or two parcels a day, and send your invoices by email and pay your customers by Bacs, you will be in a strong position to carry on business as usual.

Until the 14th of October, if you click the link above to book your parcel delivery through Parcel Force and type ‘new’ at the checkout, you will receive a 15% discount.

Secondly, as mentioned above. Use bacs to pay suppliers instead of posting cheques, it’s greener and far more efficient. If you are sending invoices, send them by email too. If like us you have to send additional documentation, scan and email that too. Again it’s greener, faster and far more efficient than the Royal Mail.

For companies that use direct mail for their marketing campaigns, have a look at other methods such as an email mailshots – think of the benefits to your carbon footprint as well as the traffic to your website and the ways to reach customers that may not respond to direct mail. If you need support for this we recommend business consultant Jeff Nutbeem, he can be found via his website – Small Business Consultant

You could be really old fashioned and pick up the phone and call the customers direct and send them a tailored email afterwards. More time consuming perhaps, but may have better results. If the Phone isn’t your thing then talk to an expert, we recommend Shaun Gisbourne at Phone for Business

More importantly, when to use your courier.

Use them when you usually do - for same day deliveries, for urgent items, for fragile items. You may think you need to use one for your every day mail service but the truth is, you can do a lot of it now via email, fax and instant messenger. These are often secure and safe, and if it really is that confidential you will already be using a courier to deliver it.

Sarah

Same day couriers in Essex

PS if you need to send birthday cards either send them with a present, arrange friend to do it if they live nearby, send a video via email – think a bit creatively! The chances are this won’t be the last strike and we can find ways not to let it affect our businesses or personal lives.

Please note, we have used an affiliate service to obtain the codes and links for the Parcel Force discount.