Shipping can be costly for small business owners. If you fail to plan you should plan to fail. In the following article, we will give you a plan of attack so that you can achieve the lowest possible shipping for you and the shoppers you service.
Create A System For Your Shipping Needs
Make sure to create a system that anticipates the financial ramifications of shipping problems in terms of bang for your buck. This should be in place before you ever encounter your first customer. Invest time in investigating shipping companies. There are a couple of shipping companies out there but the best ones are:
- U.S.P.S.
- UPS
- FedEx
- DHL
Each of the above-mentioned companies has a department and/or person dedicated to working with small businesses. It would behoove you to get in contact with them. Create a list of questions beforehand and ask them if there is anything they can suggest to make your life easier in terms of shipping procedures and costs. This can save you a headache and tons of fees associated with sending your products out.
There will be times when you’ll receive a small order that will have you concerned about the cost associated with shipping. What is one to do in this case? You want to strive to up-sale whenever possible. Make sure to offer complimentary services and products to entice the shopper to spend more. If the final sale is a small one you should have a cost-effective choice in place.
When Should I Be Shipping Boxes By Air? VS When Should I Be Shipping Boxes By Ground?
These questions can be easily answered by the professionals at the shipping companies that you will investigate. Factors to take into consideration besides the value of the package are the distance the packages are traveling, the total weight of those packages as well as the size.
What Are Some Of The Most Common Shipping Errors Small Businesses Make?
Besides failing to have a plan in place before opening their doors here are some of the most common faux pas:
*Not having clear instructions for those handling the packages
*Not having their shipping policies and cost list of services for your customers (shipping rates and options)
*They don’t utilize a meter for their postal charges.
Freight Consolidation Services
When dealing with shipping your products that fall in the area of 150 lbs to 20,000 lbs your best option is to employ a freight consolidation company which will handle transporting your products in the most cost-effective way. A completely loaded truck will garner you a lower load rate than a partially loaded one because of the rates and time associated with dealing with your contents.
Analyze Your System And Tweak It To Maximize Favorable Results
Keep a record of the services you use and the related costs. Make note of delivery times, weight, distance your packages have traveled and all associated factors in terms of the various service options such as:
*Standard delivery option
*Faster delivery option
*Overnight delivery option
Good Customer Service
In the event that you have a failure somewhere in your process work hard with not only your mailing option but your customer as well. Strive to make it right and/or give your customer some kind of questionnaire in return for discounted products.
Put the best shipping system in place and it will pay off for you and your customers.