As Christmas approaches, online retailers are getting snowed under an avalanche of orders. It’s been a tumultuous year for the parcel industry, and one that has been dominated by the privatisation of Royal Mail.
By James Greenbury, CEO of Parcel2Go.com
While many continue to mourn the loss of this beloved British institution, for others, this seismic rift potentially represents an opportunity for online retailers.
A more level playing field for the delivery sector will engender increasingly competitive offerings in terms of price and flexibility providing rocket fuel to the already unstoppable rise of eCommerce.
More than ever this Christmas, consumers are looking for flexible and convenient alternatives when it comes to delivery. After all, if they can do their shopping with the click of a button, it’s unsurprising that they’re starting to expect a similar level of ease when it comes to delivery.
The British are spending more and more online and the riches that can be gained by eSellers such as yourselves at Christmas are plain to see.
To help bring you Christmas cheer, we’ve put together some useful tips about how you can ensure your proposition is as attractive as it can be at a time of increased competitiveness.
1. Look at the alternatives – In recent years, options for sending and receiving parcels have flourished with the rise of a number of services – such as Click and Collect, drop shops, lockers and Collect+ – which offer an unprecedented level of convenience to the average user.
If offered by the retailer, gone are the days of trudging down to a far flung post office on a Saturday morning when you’d rather still be in bed. Conveniently located for high volumes of people, these services are often cheaper methods of sending and receiving parcels than the traditional last-mile service.
By offering your customers these options, you’re giving them convenience and saving them money to boot making you a standout retailer at Christmas.
2. Offer the best deal – As consumers head online to find lower prices, it’s important to ask yourself whether your business offers the best deal it can.
There is an often surprisingly high disparity between the costs charged by different parcel companies for the same size parcel. For example, sending a parcel with the Royal Mail can cost up to £18 more than using another delivery service.
To help your business ensure it finds the best deal, we’ve created the first ever parcel industry price tracker to help you offer the best value for money service to your customers.
3. Don’t forget about final deliveries – It may seem obvious, but let your customers know when the final Christmas delivery day will be. Check with your delivery company to find out when their final delivery day will be, and keep your customers updated to avoid any disappointment come Christmas Day.
To help with this, we’ve added our couriers’ final collection/drop off dates to our website, giving you as much information as possible to support you during this busy period.
4. Think about when final deliveries are in real terms – Whenever your parcel company’s final delivery day is, make sure that your customers are aware that their recipients might not be around to receive any shipments.
If your product arrives with the customer on Christmas Eve but everyone’s out carol singing, the recipient will have to wait until later to open it – possibly until the New Year.
Avoid any backlash by making customers aware of this fact as this will stand you in great stead to retain their custom come January 1st.
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