Category Archives: Courier Service

11 Smart Questions to Ask When Hiring Express Courier Services for Your Business

Seeking to hire an express courier service for your business? You may be wondering how to go about choosing one that’s just right for your business needs.

There are a few factors to consider such as cost, services offered, delivery options and reliability.

If you are trying to decide whether or not you should outsource your business deliveries to a courier service you are going to need a guide. Take a look at the eleven questions you need to ask when hiring express courier services for your business.

1. How Long Have You Been Doing This?

If you’re shipping a personal package then the cheapest courier will do. However, the courier service that you use for your business must be reliable and established.

To hire a third-party courier service means to put an area of utmost importance for your business in another person’s hands. It is important to verify how long they’ve been doing deliveries. Be sure to check reviews on sites such as Google and Better Business Bureau.

2. What Kind of Services Does Your Business Offer?

Different couriers offer different services, so always ensure that the courier you choose to use can manage all your needs. Availability is important, so make sure you find out if they have a 24/7 service and if they do deliveries on weekends and public holidays.

Pricing is also important. Check if they have different rates and services for commercial shipping compared to personal shipping. Finding out if they offer online services as well as same-day services is a must.

In the same breath, find out about any tracking or insurance that they have. Ask how tracking is done and if it is accurate.

3. What’s the Size of Your Fleet?

Whether you’re going to ship a small or even moderate amount monthly you should still be concerned with the size of your courier’s fleet.

Fewer trucks or cars, as well as drivers, means a higher likelihood of having your packages being delivered late. Do your checks to ensure that the courier’s fleet is able to meet customers’ needs including yours.

4. Do You Have Good Drivers?

Let’s face it unreliable drivers will lead to unreliable service.

First, verify if they wear uniforms. Wearing them is a sign of their professionalism and indicates that the drivers like the courier are serious about business.

Next, verify their training and how fast they drive or are allowed to drive. Check if they have good customer service skills.

They may act as the only source of contact with your customers and partners for your business. You need to be sure that they’ll represent you well.

The last thing to verify is the company’s insurance and whether or not they do background checks on their drivers before employing them.

5. How Do You Secure Shipments?

Bad drivers are one thing but knowing how shipments are protected is essential. Find out how packages are handled at all stages of shipment. Ensure that you ask if packages are secured during driving.

Ask if they use insulated trucks and if they have insurance against damage caused during handling. Ensure that you verify what measures are in place to protect your shipment.

6. How Will You Stay in Touch With Me?

The truth is that your delivery will not always go as planned. Be sure to find out in these instances how the courier service will communicate with you.

Find out how you’ll be notified of weather delays and details on cancellations.

If your courier lacks standard responses or can’t properly address your concerns, choose another one.

7. What is the Timeframe for Deliveries and are They Guaranteed?

Find out how they calculate their deliveries as well as how accurately they deliver to meet their timeframe. Does a three-day delivery mean exactly three days, less than three days or four to five days?

These questions are crucial to ask.

8. How Else Will I Be Notified?

Besides communicating with you about cancellation or delays, how else will you be notified? Check if it’s possible to get confirmation of your delivery as well as any other shipping status updates.

Find out if there’s an app, website or text service. Ensure that they have a way of keeping you informed and updated.

9. Is Your Price Better Than Other Competitors?

Most services will already have competitive pricing, the catch is that the pricing is not usually for all customers but for a specific type. Ask this question to find out why their price is the best in order to identify if you match the customer type it caters to.

10. Do You Offer Package Pick-up?

Whether they can pick up a package in a timely manner is crucial to your business. Find out if they offer same-day, immediate pickup or if it depends on the size or time of the request.

Look for a service with a regular pick up schedule that is fast and reliable.

11. Are There Any Package Restrictions?

Verify package contents. Find out the rules they have for packages. Are there some packages that they absolutely do not deliver?

Are there any special rules for certain packages?

A Final Look at Hiring Express Couriers

When hiring express courier services for your business you need to consider many factors so that you choose the right one.

Ask questions about their years in the industry, insurance, drivers and restrictions in order to be certain that they meet your business needs. This eleven smart questions checklist will ensure that you’re on the right track.

The last thing you want as a busy business owner is to be worried about whether or not your deliveries will reach your customers late or worse yet, damaged. All these are factors that you must think about if you want to succeed in business and retain customers.

If you would like to find a good courier service for your business please don’t hesitate to find one of our locations near you. We can help you with all your delivery needs.

Shipping a Bike: How to Travel With Your Bicycle

Airlines made $5 billion in profit from baggage fees in 2018. Anyone looking to travel with large gear on a plane needs to pack smart. If you’re trying to fly with your bike, things can get complicated real fast.

Trying to tour with your bike requires a lot of prep-work to avoid getting burnt on fees. Shipping a bike is possible through a variety of methods. You can hand ship it like any other package, store it as an extra check bag, or have someone else handle it all for you.

If you have the luxury of going with option three, you can skip ahead. Everyone else, consider your options carefully. This guide can safely secure your bike without sacrificing too much time or money.

Flying With Your Bike

Sometimes, flying with your bike is cheaper than shipping it. This is going to depend on the destination and the type of bike you have. If you have a full-sized bike in a special bike case, some airlines might charge you extra.

If you have a foldable bike that is no bigger than standard luggage, you could come out paying nothing (Southwest Airlines) as your second check bag.

Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, and United will charge you additional fees for your check bags. If you’re going overseas, expect to pay even more from airlines like KLM, British Airways, and Cathay Airlines.

Travel By Train

You may think that traveling by train is the least expensive option for shipping a bike with you, but it’s often not. For one, trains are expensive in the U.S. You get to your destination much later and pay more.

The irony here is that trains have a bike service on some routes. Stowing away a bike may only cost you $10 on Amtrak, for example. Bike boxes are sold at Amtrak, too, so at the very least you can use them for shipping materials.

When you reach Europe, though, it’s a different story. Biking is way more accessible and so are the trains. As long as you’re traveling on low-traffic commuter trains, you shouldn’t expect to pay high bike fees or bother with boxing it up.

Shipping a Bike

Planning ahead and shipping a bike to your destination is smart and can save you some money. Shipping a box with a major carrier is usually bad news, though. Bikes have gotten extremely light and compact, but not enough to dodge shipping fees.

Your bike, after it is packed into a box, is going to weight a lot and the dimensions will cause shipping rates to multiple. Insurance is often a huge premium, too. You’re best off going with smaller, experienced shipping service providers.

Bike Shops

One of the more expensive, but least troublesome ways to ship your bike is with the help of a local bike shop. They’re going to have the most knowledge when it comes to disassembling and packaging your bike. It’s also possible that you could get your bike shipped to another shop at your destination.

Then, when you arrive, the other bike shop can professionally assemble everything, tear it down when you’re done, and you never get your hands dirty.

Needless to say, all this hands-on labor will cost a lot, but it reduces the chances of something failing on the bike.

Bike Travel Cases

If you like the idea of traveling with your bike to every vacation or bike tour, you might want to invest in a travel case. This will significantly reduce the time spent packing it up and provide adequate protection. The top bike cases are between $300 and $600, but they’re worth it if you travel a lot.

The bike case materials and form will vary based on your needs. The sturdy, hard cases are more expensive and heavier. If you actually plan on carrying your bike over long treks, go with a soft-shell case that won’t add too much weight.

Packing It At Home

Shipping your bike off in a box is a delicate process. It requires intimate knowledge with your bike, proper packing materials, and time. If you think you have all of these three things, this could save you a lot of money.

There are plenty of detailed bike packing instructions and tutorials on the web, so we’ll just cover the basics. Use this as a sort of checklist to avoid skipping or forgetting to do things.

Remove handlebars, rotate fork, and stem backward.
Place bike chain on the highest gear.
Remove pedals, seat post, and seat.
Wrap handlebar, seat post, seat, and pedals in foam.
Take off racks, bottle holders, lights, splash guards, and wrap them.
Tight and tape together the smallest parts to reduce box travel.
Label contents clearly and create a manifest.
Remove all previous labels or barcodes if using an old box.
Create two labels, one for the outside, spare on the inside.

If you follow these steps in order, your bike and your investment are secure. By taking every precaution and documenting it, you will avoid being denied insurance payouts. Packages get lost, stolen, and damaged all the time, if it happens to you then you’re covered with your preparation and proof.

Need It Now?

You have lots of options available if you’re shipping a bike. Don’t settle for subpar service or expensive shipping rates. There’s nothing special about shipping a bike if done correctly.

Don’t let other carriers tell you that your bike is a special exemption. Go with a shipping courier who is honest and fair with their rates. Need It Now courier service can get your bike where you need it, safe and efficient.

Get a free quote instantly or call us if you have any more questions about shipping logistics.

How to Ship Heavy Items Without It Costing You a Small Fortune

If you’ve ever looked up couriers online, you might find out some fun facts.

For example, did you know that courier services date back to Ancient Egypt? Pharaohs used them to communicate with other important people! It’s pretty interesting to see how these mailing services have been used over the years.

In the present day, lots of people still use courier services. If you’re someone who wants to use them, either personally or professionally, you likely know how expensive it can be. But don’t be alarmed! There are ways for you to ship even large items without it costing you a ton of money.

Here, we’re going to give you insider tips about how to ship heavy items and save money, all at once.

Find a Great Courier Service

If you’re a person or a small business that’s trying to ship a box, whether it’s overseas or not, you might have the instinct to try to do everything yourself. This isn’t the most effective or easy way to do things, though contacting a good courier service can save you both time and money.

Basically, a courier service is someone you hire to work out how to ship your packages in the best possible way and see it off to the destination. These professionals will make sure that both you and the person at the other end of your shipping route are happy and satisfied.

With the help of a service that will let you ship your boxes, you won’t need to worry about getting the boxes to the post office by yourself. You also will have to deal with a ton less shipping paperwork. This will give you the time and energy you need to focus on other things to make your business grow.

Research How to Ship Heavy Items

Shipping heavy items can be a difficult thing to look into because what you need to do depends on where you’re shipping them to. But one thing’s for sure: whether you’re shipping abroad or domestically, you’re going to want to do your research.

Our service can help with this a little bit, sure, but it’s still good for you to be in the know about what’s going on with packages you’re shipping to your friends and family in other places or to business clients you’ll be working with. This way, if you have to field a barrage of questions, you’ll have actual answers.

Plus, researching about shipping large items will make it easier for you and the person you’re sending to track the item, so that’s an obvious plus. You’ll know how to look into this and make sure your package gets there cheaply and quickly.

Look into Flat Rate Boxes

Presumably, you’re reading this article because you want to ship your heavy items as cheaply as you can. One of the best ways to ship anything is by packing your items in a flat rate box.

Flat rate boxes come in all sizes and can be shipped by you or your courier service using any major US shipping service. Basically, these boxes aren’t measured and shipped by weight but instead are shipped at one price for the size of the box, regardless of how heavy its contents are.

So if you’re shipping something really heavy, flat rate boxes are your best friend. If you want to save money, ask your hired service what you can do to make sure you’re sending at a flat rate instead of shipping by weight.

Learn About the Fastest Options

Even if cost and saving money is your top priority, it’s likely that speed is also a factor in how you’re going to ship your heavy boxes. After all, you don’t want to keep the person on the other end of the shipping route waiting, especially if they paid their own hard-earned money for your goods.

Same-day courier companies are really amazing for making sure that your package gets to where it’s going, and fast. They’ll make sure your box’s journey to its destination is as fast and smooth as possible, sometimes even taking responsibility for its next-day arrival!

Also, hiring services like this one and learning about the quickest shipping options go hand in hand with cost-effective shipping. Using same-day services can help you in reducing overall inventory costs as well as vehicle costs!

Do Your Packing

You probably are rolling our eyes about now, thinking that there’s no way that packing can be such a hard thing that we need to dedicate a section of this article to it. But even though packing up your heavy items might not sound too difficult, it’s definitely something you need to consider.

Even though courier services can help with your packing in some circumstances, sometimes you’re going to have to get down and dirty with the fitting of items into boxes yourself. There are a lot of ways that you can maximize your packing space, from folding up certain kinds of items to using the best bags and boxes for what you’re doing.

When you do a good job of packing, you aren’t just making things easier on yourself, your client, and your courier. You’re saving money. Better packing means that fewer boxes or smaller boxes are going to be used in transit, which means that shipping costs are sure to be lower.

Look into the Best Services!

When you’re shipping heavy boxes, you want to find courier services that work for you, learn about different shipping rates, and pack well.

Now that you know all about how to ship heavy items effectively, you might want to check out our courier registration page to get the best services for your shipping needs.

Save a carrier pigeon; hire a courier!

How a Local Courier Service Kicks Up Your Customer Experience And ROI

Whether it’s waiting in line or waiting for a delivery, no one likes waiting longer than they have to.

That’s why quick delivery is a cornerstone of the customer experience.

Just how important is delivery?

More than half of online consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 expect same-day delivery from retailers. And more than 60% of consumers surveyed would pay more for same-day delivery if offered.

Not only is your overall customer experience at stake, but so is your return on investment. Here are several more reasons why a local courier service is beneficial for both.

Local Delivery Helps You Stay on Message

Have you thought about the role delivery plays in your branding identity?

If not, you may be going off-message without realizing it.

If you’re a sandwich shop that prides itself on quick service and fresh ingredients, a poor delivery experience does not align with your brand’s message. Likewise, a high-end boutique that prides itself on personal service would also have their brand tarnished by a bad delivery experience.

The only thing worse is offering no delivery at all!

Here are several more industries that rely on dependable local delivery:

Florists and flower shops
Food catering services
The gift industry
Pizza parlors
E-commerce businesses
Diners and restaurants

Without a local courier service, these industries run the risk of hurting their brands and losing business from profitable customer segments.

A Local Courier Increases Customer Engagement

Customer service is more than just picking up the phone, taking an order, or dropping off a meal. Great customer service inspires engagement, opening the door for more up-sells, cross-sells, and continued customer loyalty.

One survey found that more than half of customer engagement is driven by convenience and 80% driven by product quality. Furthermore, customer loyalty depends on likability and trust by more than 80% of consumers surveyed.

What does this mean?

Not only is delivery necessary, but it’s also an opportunity to improve upon engagement, and ultimately, the customer experience.

Here are a few ways a local courier service can increase customer engagement:

On-time delivery
Friendly, personable service
Fresh, piping hot products
Solid communication
Product knowledge
Valuable customer feedback

A local courier service is also a great way to distribute more direct marketing materials like menus, fridge magnets, business cards, delivery-only specials, and other coupons.

Damage control

Mistakes happen. We’re only human. That’s why every business needs a damage control plan.

If a local diner makes a mistake with a takeout order, a local courier service can be an indispensable tool to have on hand. Within minutes, a take-out customer can go from disgruntled to dissatisfied without having to call a manager.

This is a great way to avoid those dreaded bad reviews on Yelp and Google.

Furthermore, using a local delivery service helps you go the extra mile in pleasing a disgruntled customer. You could quickly rush complimentary desserts, condiments, or even free food to make up for the mistake.

Short on Staff?

Speaking of damage control, we all know how staff shortages can negatively impact the customer experience.

This is where your Local courier service comes in.

Just because your diner or boutique is short on staff doesn’t mean your deliveries have to skip a beat. Instead, use a local courier service for those times when you are short staffed or an employee calls out sick.

Local couriers are particularly helpful for those holiday rushes!

In fact, if you like the ROI you see from local couriers, you may want to permanently add it to your business model.

Integrate Your Order Fulfillment Process

Are you still relying on your landline for order fulfillment? It’s time to step into the 21st century, and a local courier service will help you get there.

How so?

More service-oriented businesses like yours are using web apps to streamline their order fulfillment processes. This means your customers can order from you online if your landline is busy.

Furthermore, online ordering may even be mandatory for retaining profitable consumer segments.

According to a recent survey, the majority of consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 prefer shopping online to the brick-and-mortar experience. Couple this with a Deloitte study that found that more than $0.55 on the dollar is influenced by digital devices.

What’s the big takeaway? Convenience is key.

Integrating both apps and local courier services into your delivery process can improve the customer experience exponentially. This would mean shorter wait times, quicker service, and improved communication, all hallmarks for solid customer satisfaction.

Make Your Brand Exciting Again

Taco Bell literally broke the internet when it announced it was adding delivery to select stores.

If your business isn’t offering a delivery option now, this could be a great way to generate excitement for your brand.

For years, consumers decried the fact that their favorite fast food chains didn’t deliver. Well, all that started to change just a few years ago when such popular brands as McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Subway, Burger King, and Shake Shack started to deliver.

By delivering through third-party services, these companies gave the term ‘fast food’ a brand new meaning. Why wait forever in a drive-thru line when you can have your Big Mac delivered right to your door?

As more big Brands add delivery to their service options, expect your customers to expect the same from you.

The Next Step in Your Customer Experience Journey

Think your business can live without delivery? Think again!

Without a local courier service by your side, you run the risk of hurting your brand’s message and missing an opportunity to excite your base. Plus, you’ll miss even more opportunities to boost customer engagement, reduce damage control, and drastically improve your order fulfillment process.

Ready to rethink how delivery can impact your business?

Keep this article bookmarked as you revamp your customer experience strategy. Check back often for more customer service tips or speak directly to a local courier professional.

7 Questions to Ask Before Your Hire a Business Courier

Are you looking for courier services to handle the shipping needs of your business? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 74,120 couriers in the United States. The sheer number of couriers means that there is a lot of competition for your business.

But how can you find a courier that provides the services you want at an affordable price? What other things should you be looking for in your courier? Read on to learn 7 questions to ask before you hire a business courier.

1. How Long Have You Been Handling Courier Services?

It’s important to ensure the courier you are considering has experience in the industry. This is because you will want to know if they are familiar with the business and how to best deliver the services they promise. A courier service that has a reputation for customer service and on-time deliveries can go a long way.

After all, you are hiring a business courier because you have time-sensitive documents or items that need to make it to their destination as you request.

2. What Sort of Training Program Have Your Drivers Received?

Before hiring a business courier, you should learn about any and all training programs they put their drivers through. But why does this matter?

Simply put, having a well-trained driver can help you be more confident that your items will be delivered safe and sound. Besides being a safe driver, you should learn more about their other qualifications.

For example, if you are in the medical field, your documents may include information that is personal and protected. This means you will need someone who is familiar with HIPAA compliance.

3. What Is Your Responsiveness to Customer Needs?

Whether you are shipping goods or buying a product from a retailer, you should only deal with a company that is responsive to your needs.

You can speak with a prospective courier about their customer service program. This will help you get a sense of how they handle special requests and inquiries about delivery status.

In the shipping industry, there are also important considerations like inclement weather and traffic considerations. How does this courier handle communicating a change of plans?

If you are having trouble receiving direct answers to these questions, this could be a red flag. After all, if a business won’t address these inquiries directly right now, how can you expect them to help you when they are handling your courier services?

It’s better to learn these things ahead of time than to learn the hard way in a delivery gone wrong.

4. What Technology Do You Use?

Years ago, hiring a local courier meant finding someone with a good reputation and a reliable mode of transportation.

But that’s changed in today’s digital age. You should speak with your courier about the sort of technology they use in their day-to-day operations.

Some of these technologies you should ask about include whether or not they offer a live tracking system. Another convenient feature to consider is if they allow you to place your orders on the internet.

These forms of technology can help streamline your requests and improve your overall shipping experience.

5. What Delivery Options Do You Offer?

Your business courier should offer a wide range of delivery options and stand by their services.

This is important because you want to be confident that you can count on the courier to complete your delivery under the time constraints for that order.

Does the courier offer same-day delivery for all items? If not, what items are excluded from that list? Consider the sort of items or documents you will be shipping often and the average delivery time.

If a courier does not offer you the options you need, you should look elsewhere.

6. How Does Your Pricing Compare to the Competition?

When you are looking for the best courier, it’s also important to consider whether or not their pricing is competitive.

Speak with a prospective business courier to learn their pricing structure. Then compare it to the competition so that you can determine if it is a reasonable price.

When comparing prices, consider the type of service being offered, along with other unique features of the service that may help justify the cost.

It’s also a good idea to speak with the courier about whether they offer any pricing discounts based on shipping volume. There may be some opportunities to save significant money if you use their services up to a certain level.

If a courier does not offer any volume discounts and they have a high price, they may not be the courier you are looking for.

7. What Makes You Stand out from Your Competitors?

To earn your business, a courier should stand out from the competition in a unique way.

This can be because of the way they handle receiving deliveries, their pricing structure, or the technology they use. But more importantly, it may be the way they treat customers and their focus on providing premier service.

You should speak with a courier about what makes them different. This can help you be more confident that you are choosing the right courier for your company.

Wrapping Up: Questions to Ask Your Business Courier

A courier can help deliver documents or packages in a timely manner at an affordable price.

But to find the best courier for your business, you should speak with them about their service and get a feel for how they operate. By learning in advance what is offered by a courier, you will be able to make an informed decision.

At National Courier and Logistics, we offer a wide range of unique courier services. These include warehousing, freight forwarding, luggage delivery, and other shipments.

Our well-trained staff will identify the best solution to your situation. We do this by weighing all your options and evaluating them against your needs. This allows you to capitalize on our services and complete a fast, successful delivery.

10 Benefits and Reasons to Use Refrigerated Services

Refrigerated services are far from new. The first refrigerated railroad car was patented in 1867.

This invention sparked a revolution. Food, dairy, and meats underwent a cultural transformation. People could expect different quality and different products all across the United States as a result.

But the benefits of refrigerated services today go far beyond the access to traditional goods. Businesses that select the best-refrigerated transport services can gain access to a larger market base.

With the support of specialized services, companies can lower costs, increase sales, and create more value to the bottom line. Preserving assets, lowering liability, and creating more solid customer relationships are all benefits of refrigerated shipping.

Here are 10 benefits to expect from quality service:

1. Efficient Packing

Professional refrigeration shipping services go beyond keeping products cool. With a trusted service partner companies can realize the major value of logistics support and shipping.

Controlling temperature and protecting shipments has two major components. This includes the density and packing of the cargo, as well as the temperature controls.

Unless both are factored, along with the delivery of cargo along the way, businesses won’t get the protection from their refrigeration systems they need.

Also, too many businesses that use their own shipping fail to maximize their spend. With efficient packing as part of the service, each business can get the full value of every shipment.

2. Training

The business world is increasingly specialized. As part of a standard operating plan, most businesses are working to decide what their core competency is.

Unless businesses focus on their core competency, they are working at a disadvantage. Everything from tech services to human resources is typically open for outsourcing to remain competitive.

The reason is that these partnerships strengthen service offerings. Further, they allow every essential component to be at the high end of expertise.

A trusted refrigerated services provider will have trained professionals to meet every need. This level of training and expertise is impossible for most companies to achieve on their own.

3. Safety

Professional services are more complex than many companies understand. Logistics and transport are the backbone of many successful businesses in the digital marketplace.

But beyond the benefits of these core requirements comes a complex safety standard. The training, documentation, and products required for safety compliance demand experience and attention.

Utilizing the right refrigerated services assures these aspects of business operations are in full compliance. The safety of transport services, as well as the safety of the transported goods, can be assured.

4. Unparalleled Control

Today’s refrigerated transport services offer a high level of temperature control. This control allows for medical supplies, food, and other cargo to be in full adherence to temperature standards.

These temperature controls also offer protection in the unlikely event of a breakdown or flat tire. Even with a delay in the shipment due to unforeseen circumstances, businesses can rest assured their assets will be protected.

Refrigerated serviced don’t simply mean freezing the product. From flesh flowers to highly controlled medical shipments, the level of control from refrigerated transport is the support many businesses require.

5. Keep It Fresh

In the book Ten Restaurants that Changed America, author Paul Freedman details the cultural changes that have shaped American culture. One of the clearest trends in recent time is the shift from mass-produced food goods to local and fresh foods.

People are continually demanding a fresh and customer-centric experience. This expectation requires the support of refrigerated trucking.

Keeping it fresh doesn’t just apply to foods, but it can. Consumers don’t just want healthy, fresh foods — they are willing to pay more for them.

6. Adjusted to Cargo

Refrigerated services are not a one size fits all offering. Different companies have fluctuating needs.

The needs of each shipment are precisely adjusted for with refrigerated services. A trusted service provider will take care to match expectations against equipment performance.

This level of expertise offers companies peace of mind. As their offerings change they can rely on the same provider to tailor service to their cargo requirements.

7. Tracking

Businesses need to provide consumers and 3rd parties information in the now. With tracking services integrated into shipping, every moment is accounted for along the way.

Companies can provide internal and external stakeholders with information in real-time.

8. Overcome The Hot/Cold Barrier

The success of Amazon and other online retailers is a result of catering to the customer experience. In the digital age the more that companies can cater to the unique expectations of their clients, the better.

There is a $600 billion opportunity in the marketplace. Millenials have a preference for ordering food, including hot and cold items.

The right transport partner won’t just give you reliable service. The right transport service will give you access to a whole new opportunity with a changing digital marketplace.

9. Analytics

It isn’t enough to collect data. The competitive advantage data offers resides in the analytics it provides.

Refrigerated transport services professionals will go beyond the basics of data collection. They can match the KPIs of transport to the metrics each company uses to measure performance.

10. Asset Protection

Manufacturers and service providers are right to cringe at waste. Without asset protection, an entire lot can spoil, or fall out of compliance.

Refrigerated transport offers the boost to ROI companies are searching for. By protecting every asset, each component of manufacture or harvest is brought to full potential.

Companies don’t get paid unless they deliver.

The Best Refrigerated Services

Businesses that know the value of securing refrigerated services need to go one step further. It isn’t enough to understand the benefits and reasons.

It’s just as important to select a service partner that can deliver the full benefits of these services. Without experience, expertise, and dependable quality, companies will find their services fall short of reaching their goals.

1-800 Courier is the provider of choice. We help companies boost sales, and provide dependable support and service.

Companies can’t leave their refrigerated transport services to chance. There is too much at stake.

Contact 1-800 Courier today and discover more about how we can help you achieve your refrigerated transport goals.

Sainsbury Tests Same-Day Grocery Delivery in 30 Stores

We’ve seen Amazon pioneer successfully a wave of engagement into Same-Day Delivery of groceries with Amazon Fresh in the US. From Seattle to New York, the service is in a variety of markets in the US, in addition to launching it in London. Now same-day grocery is growing in London and BBC Radio talked with grocery chain leader Sainsbury about the service and where it’s headed.

BBC Radio in London has discussed how same-day grocery service is becoming more and more attractive for supermarkets. Three out of the big four have become involved with implementing and testing online grocery delivery. Tesco is testing the service in London and the South-East, Morrisons has partnered with Amazon Fresh and Sainsbury’s is piloting it in 30 stores. Grocery retailer Asda has not decided to jump into same-day groceries yet.

Sainsbury is currently testing same-day grocery delivery in 30 stores, and has its’ sites on expansion. However, the grocery chain leader wants to work out all of the kinks before it does. Right now with the stores that are offering same-day grocery service, a customer can place their order online by midday and have it delivered that evening. The fee can be up to 9 pounds, which equates to a little over $11 US dollars. Orders made by subscribers, or over 100 pounds, would be be free.

One of the primary hurdles for delivering groceries fast has always been costs. It could be a challenge to generate a profit. Same-day grocery delivery goes beyond the transportation element. It entails the pick and packing costs, storage, employee, and other operational expenses specific to the business that could be involved. Sainsbury mentioned that its’ focus was on giving its’ customers what they want, and relative to taking a loss to offer same-day grocery delivery, it would consider individual store costs on a whole scale.

The radio did a spotlight of a grocery store worker picking and packing an online order. One part of the process discussed was the actual selecting of the fresh fruit and vegetable items that are ordered. Although time is critical, the employee stated they had to make sure that the foods selected were ripe and fresh, even something themselves would pick. With grocery delivery already with a small margin at start-up, choosing the wrong food items or selecting rotten fruit could result in re-delivery costs, as well as customer loss.

An actual delivery by Sainsbury was made that afternoon and BBC went along with them. The Sainsbury store packed up 45 orders to deliver. One customer delivered to when asked about same-day grocery service, said that he used it before and it was good. Upon delivery, when asked about the cost of it, the customer stated they paid 5 pounds and that it was fine.

Convenience is heavily trending right now and the retailer that can meet customer demand, will be the ones that thrive. A Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier can partner with grocery stores that are seeking to test and implement the service in the US. The Los Angeles Courier has a national footprint and the delivery expertise to develop an optimal same-day grocery service solution that works.

Reference: 1.25.17, BBC News, Why same-day online food shopping is the next big thing

With Distribution Challenges, Neiman Marcus Quarter Sales Down

Taking a look at their distribution system, Neiman Marcus observed areas of development that it could improve on. The retailer implemented a new cross-channel merchandising system, which costs Neiman Marcus up to $35 million during its fiscal first quarter. According to a new article, the investment resulted in overall losses due to inventory issues and order fulfillment.

Internet Retailer reported how their retailers has had first fiscal quarter losses for 2017 due to facing distribution problems. Neiman Marcus stated, “These issues primarily related to the processing of inventory receipts at our distribution centers, the transfers of inventories to our stores and the presentation of inventories on our websites. These issues prevented us from fulfilling certain customer demand in both our stores and websites that we estimate resulted in approximately $30 to $35 million of unrealized revenue.”

Since this fiscal quarter occurs during the holiday season, Neiman Marcus’ challenges have impacted sales revenue online. Neiman Marcus reported online sales accounted for 29.2% of overall sales in the first quarter, which ended October 29th, at $315.1 million. This figure is down from $315.7 million from the previous year. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Neiman Marcus revealed problems that related to the implementation of NMG One, its new cross-channel merchandising and distribution system. It resulted in a negative impact on online and offline sales. More specific numbers mentioned in the report were Neiman Marcus’ earnings, which included:

A year-over-year total comparable sales decline of 8.0%, compared to a 5.6% decline last year.
Net revenue of $1.079 billion, down 7.4% from $1.165 billion.
A net loss of $23.5 million, compared to a net loss of $10.5 million.

Companies like Amazon not only have sophisticated distribution systems, but also have coupled it with Same-Day Delivery to literally meet online shoppers right where they are. Amazon has engaged same-day delivery into its’ supply chain, even offering it free in 27 major US markets. Amazon Prime is in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, Orlando, Chicago, Raleigh, New York, Atlanta, Tampa, and more. Optimal distribution system inefficiencies has been the key foundation for Amazon, yet the company is still only an e-retailer providing same-day delivery. Retailers like Neiman Marcus can partner with a Chicago Courier like 1-800 Courier and fulfill online orders directly from their stores.

Same-day delivery is revolutionizing the way we ship to the end customer. Nordstrom’s,Best Buy, PetSmart, Toys-R-Us, and others have all implemented some level of same-day delivery, using their store locations as close proximity warehousing, using them to carry inventory. Macy’s is fulfilling online orders with same-day delivery in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Chicago, New Jersey, Washington DC, and more. With over 880 store locations, the department store leader has shifted with e-commerce trends and distribution centers have the added supply chain to deliver items to customer’s front door. Neiman Marcus can use Nationwide Courier to develop a same-day logistics solution to create the omnichannels to help strengthen its’ distribution system.

Reference: 12.15.16, www.internetretailer, Matt Lindern, Distribution problems cost Neiman Marcus during its first quarter

China Malls Traffic Down, Compete With E-Commerce Via Same-Day Delivery

China is on pace to grow its’ e-commerce at a more faster rate than ever before. Alibaba, China’s largest e-retailer, is driving a lot more traffic via its’ online store versus shoppers physically going out to make their purchases. A recent article shows how indeed the malls in China are experiencing less traffic and it hurting sales. With the expectations of the retail industry to generally make up for any quarter losses and boost sales, these November results are not what mall owners and retailers want to hear during the holiday season.

Internet Retailer via Bloomberg News discussed in an article about how China mall traffic id decreasing and is directly affected by e-commerce. This was due to a surge of online shopping activity for the holiday season, according to Baidu, operator of China’s dominant search engine, and JD.com. It stated that China’s wealthy consumers are shopping online for more pricier items from e-retailers like Alibaba, which made $18 billion in one day during the month of November and Same-Day Delivery attracts customers as well. This attests to how online shopping is moving beyond just being a trend globally.

“China’s two-speed scenario is having a major impact on the country’s retail industry,” Jason Yu, general manager for China at consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel, said in a report. He also stated, “This massive explosion of online sales growth is being fueled by increasing diversification in the categories purchased online, as well as huge gains in imported products and consumers taking advantage of promotions.”

In regards to the overall trends of retail in China, Matthew Hassan, a Sydney-based senior economist at Westpac Banking Corp., said in the article, “The gradual improvement in the consumer mood over the last two years, from extreme lows in late 2014, seems to again be losing its way. With confidence still materially below long-run averages and consumers still concerned about job security and the economic outlook the consumer recovery is clearly still fragile.”

Although malls are being affected by online retail, these same stores can implement same-day delivery to move product and deliver them to customers. Macy’s partnered with Deliv and launched same-day delivery in multiple major US cities last year in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Houston, Chicago, New Jersey, and Washington DC, in addition to adding more. Its’ sister company Bloomingdale’s also launched the service in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, and Chicago.

Mall retailers experiencing the same downturns in the US, can have a Nationwide Courier like 1-800 Courier to develop a same-day solution also. The Houston Courier has a national footprint, able to pick up and deliver from malls. Online retail is expected to reach $500 billion by 2018, and malls can partner with 1-800 Courier to get their store product sold via omnichannels that connect physical store to online sales growth.

Reference: 12.12.16, www.internetretailer.com, Bloomberg News, China’s e-commerce boom shrinks mall shopping traffic

Amazon Completes First Drone Delivery in England

Amazon has reached an unmatched pinnacle for Same-Day Delivery, as now the e-retail leader has officially completed its’ first drone delivery.

Fox News released an article discussing the first delivery for Amazon Prime Air via drone in Cambridge, England. It appears that drones won’t be used to shipping any heavy items. The delivery comprised of an Amazon Fire TV and some popcorn, which weighed less than 5 pounds. The total time of delivery was only 13 minutes, which is beyond impressive, but revolutionary. Amazon says that drones will only take 30 minutes to deliver its’ packages. In light of what most retailers do in their shipping time frames, 30 minutes will shift many shoppers to getting their items online, instead of stores.

Globally, we are already seeing glimpses of how attractive online retail is becoming. For example, China’s mall traffic decreased in as more November, being that wealthier shoppers are saving their time and enjoy the level of convenience it brings. This is during the busiest shopping season of the year, which is consistently the most profitable season for malls. In contrast, China’s largest e-retailer Alibaba, made $18 billion in one day. Alibaba doesn’t use drones, but does have a robust online retail operation, even offering a same-day delivery option.

Amazon is the largest e-retailer in the US and is expanding at a high rate, utilizing fast delivery options to attract customers as well. Amazon Prime is a free service in a total of 27 major US cities, which include cities like San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas-Fort Worth, Boston, New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Washington DC, Nashville, Raleigh, Tucson, Atlanta, Orlando, and Tampa. Amazon has even crossed borders, venturing into Canada and has launched free same-day delivery in Toronto and Vancouver as well.

“One day, seeing Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road,” Amazon says. It appears inevitable that Amazon will be using drones in every major city in the US, eventually worldwide. This means drone delivery will cross over into other industries and more business will be found following the pattern of success by Amazon. The question is how will it affect physical stores and will they make the adjust into moving product via e-commerce. It’s clear that every business will have to begin putting a heavier focus on convenience shopping and meeting the demand of it.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos tweeted the success of the retailer’s first drone flight, which actually took place on December 7th. It was guided by GPS and flies no higher than 400 feet. It was noted that Amazon is very careful with its’ drones use in inclement weather, such as no flying them in rain, snow, or ice, as well as flying in separate air spaces to avoid planes. The article also mentioned that Amazon only has a few customers in the UK that is privy to using them, yet, the e-retail giant hopes to expand to a larger demographic there.

To keep pace with fast delivery, companies can partner with a Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier to implement a same-day logistics solutions quickly. The San Diego Courier has a national footprint and able to deliver in major US cities for retailers, as they compete with Amazon.

Reference: 12.14.16, Fox News, Lulu Chang, From high-flying dream to reality: Amazon fulfills its first order using a drone

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