Women leaders have made their mark in this world. They’ve broken norms and stood for the values they believe in. They’ve bucked the trend and become an inspiration to millions of other women (and men). 

Resilience, tenacity, and hard work have brought them where they are now. These are women who have chosen the path less traveled and came out unscathed despite the hurdles. Here’s to every single woman who has inspired many in the course of their journey. 

This Women’s Day, let’s train the spotlight on 21 retail businesses with strong-willed, highly successful women in the driver’s seat.

The life-changing journey of New York-based designer Jessica Hendricks Yee began when she noticed that many Cambodian women lacked dignified job opportunities and were forced into sexual slavery. This pushed Yee into deciding that she had to help empower these women. And she certainly did make a difference!

Yee started The Brave Collection of bracelets with the twin aims of providing job opportunities to survivors of human trafficking and shining a light on the plight of vulnerable Cambodian women.

Artisans who work with The Brave Collection are paid above-average wages and provided fair and dignified working conditions at a studio in Cambodia. Many of them are young mothers who work from home. All of them are provided health insurance and stipends for their children’s education.

Such a noteworthy effort ought to be appreciated!

After a successful fight with breast cancer, Cashmere Nicole founded Beauty Bakerie in 2011 when she became extremely conscious about the products she uses and decided to share them with the world. 

The Beauty Bakerie brand is a direct reflection of Cashmere’s perseverance and passion for both high-quality and healthy ingredients, cruelty-free, all-inclusive cosmetics that enhance the beauty in everyone, every day.

The brand has also been instrumental in setting up Sugar Homes, an initiative that supports the needs of orphaned children worldwide and has been vocal for various issues such as addressing the disparities within the beauty industry and the Black Lives Matter movement, etc. Check out their collections here.

Founded by Kathy Cheng, Redwood Classics Apparel strives to provide its customers with the highest level of quality fabric available.

Their garments feature flatlock stitching which weaves in an extra thread to provide greater strength and durability and their entire process from sewing and dyeing to packaging and shipping combines traditional, handcrafted practices with state-of-the-art technology and computerization.

The brand stands for promoting and facilitating diversity and continues its efforts to help aboriginal and minority-owned businesses in Canada and strengthen a nationwide movement toward a more equitable, globally responsible industry. 

Their website has beautiful behind-the-scenes videos of their factory. Take a look at them here.

Founded by Noha Soliman, The Herbs & Bees is a business with a mission to bring safe, fresh skincare products into every household and overall, make the world a better place. 

They are an ethical and environmentally-conscious brand that uses flower extracts, plan-based and seed oils instead of petroleum-based oils, parabens and sulfates, etc so that your skin can detox and heal itself.

The products are fully produced in the USA, and their packaging is 100% reusable and recyclable as they believe in making their carbon footprint as small as possible.  

The brand uses ingredients such as activated charcoal, bergamot, bentonite clay, etc, and has been certified as organic, vegan, and cruelty-free by organizations such as PETA.

Why does it have to be so hard to shop when you’re a plus-size? Why do you not get the same options like everybody else? Why do you have to forgo the pleasure of shopping due to a lack of options?

These are some of the questions that enabled Alexandra Waldman and Polina Veksler to create their own brand: Universal Standard.

Their clothing line has all sizes (0 to 40), catering to any woman who walks into the store wishing to buy a garment. Nobody will be turned away as their size isn’t available.

They not only have clothes sizes up in their collection but also down. Gotta love the all-inclusive policy!

Good quality stylish clothes that fit perfectly should certainly be available to everybody! Way to go!

The post [Inspiration 2021] Celebrating the success of 21 women-owned eCommerce businesses appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

“Innovation will remain key [in retail] but customers will decide what works”

Hi Nicole, could you tell us something about your journey from working with leading retailers like Nordstrom, Adidas and Sears to founding Retail Minded?

I knew when I was a little girl that somehow I wanted to work within the retail industry and more specifically, I wanted to work behind the scenes of retail to help bring this dynamic industry to life. I had always been fascinated with the details of stores – from merchandising to marketing to customer service and more – so it came as no surprise when I narrowed in on this specific industry to gain my first job out of college. Make no mistake, though. My part time jobs leading up to my first “real” job out of college were all in the retail industry. I feel fortunate to have held a variety of roles in the retail space and have worked with both independent and corporate retailers alike. This variety and experience certainly helped to shape my appreciate for retailers and specifically, my core interest in helping smaller businesses. By the time I was in my mid twenties, I held the National Director of Marketing role for Franco Sarto Footwear – which was owned by a company called Bennett Footwear at the time – and that specific role introduced me to media companies such as Lucky Magazine, Glamour and other B2C publications. It also positioned me to interact with B2B magazines and various media outlets, helping me to gain a stronger grasp of how the media influenced both consumers and businesses alike. These experiences collectively led me to wanting to start Retail Minded, which I founded in 2007.

That sounds like quite a journey! So, how do you think logistics is changing the retail landscape?

Logistics undoubtedly has a powerful influence on retail. Thanks to logistics, consumers can gain products from all over the world… as well as gain convenience to their lifestyle preferences. Whether it’s due to last minute shopping or impulse spending or the desire to get something out of the comfort of their home versus going into a store, logistics makes this all possible. Quite frankly, without logistics retail would not be what it is today. Logistics is what brings modern retail to life.

Is there a person you admire as your retail superhero?

My retail superhero can’t be narrowed down to one person. Instead, it’s the thousands of small business owners who work so hard to bring retail to life in their communities across the country and across the world. I see firsthand how hard these retail superheros work and admire them so much for their ongoing, consistent efforts to keep up with the always evolving retail landscape – as well as their tough competition. They truly inspire me and encourage me, as well, to do my best in an effort to support them as best as I can.

Can you tell us your one social media strategy that never fails?

Communication is key on social media. It’s all about engagement. You can’t just share via social, you need to also respond and interact with your followers, the people you follow, customers and more. Very simply, being social is the key to social media success.

What has been your most successful moment in business?

It’s hard to narrow down my most successful moment in business since I have been very fortunate to do so many exciting things, but I can say that I have been honored to support American Express’s Small Business Saturday as their Spokesperson since 2014. Their support of small businesses is truly outstanding and I am proud to be a small part of their nationwide influence on retail spending during the holiday season and small business visibility all year round.

Who or what inspired you to write Retail 101: The Guide to Managing and Marketing your Retail Business? Is there another book coming out soon?

Retail 101 was written to deliver action steps to smaller merchants looking to gain some guidance. I was fortunate to be asked to write the book after an industry friend of mine, Jason Prescott who is the Founder and CEO of TopTenWholesale.com, wrote the book Wholesale 101 and was challenged with finding someone to write a retail version of it. We’re excited to bring some new book ideas to life soon, as well. Stay tuned for what those are! I’m excited about them and can tell you it will have to do with the evolving commerce landscape… including logistics

We look forward to it! So here’s a completely random question. You’re stranded on a deserted island, and you have only one book with you. Which one would you wish it to be?

Selfishly I’m going to say a photo book of my past memories. No traditional book would fill the void I’d have if I was on an island alone. Photos of past experiences, loved ones and life adventures would certainly be what I’d want… and this is coming from a gal that loves content!

That’s certainly interesting. Speaking of the retail industry at large, you hold a leadership position in an industry mostly dominated by men. Have you ever felt outgunned?

I am often surprised when people point out to me that I have a role dominated by men. The truth is, I am incredibly fortunate to work with talented, smart women from companies that include ASD Market Week and IBM – as well as many others – so I don’t feel as if I am among the minority too often. That said, I do recognize that leadership roles are more often than not held by men and I do feel a sense of responsibility to help other women in the retail landscape gain strength in their respective careers. Whenever time or situations allow, I’m always excited to extend insight, direction, support or simply an ear to women looking to increase their knowledge and opportunities in the retail landscape.

I think women have actually been taking up more leadership positions in retail of late. Which current logistics or retail trend would you bet on?

I’m pretty excited about the future of retail and how logistics will impact this. Specifically, I love what the company Luxer One is doing by bridging the gap between online and physical stores with their retail locker systems that not only enhance customer experiences but reduce workload among store staff. Additionally, I am excited to see how companies such as Roadie will impact retail logistics and more specifically, make an impact on major carriers such as FedEx and UPS. I think at the end of the day, innovation will remain key but customers will decide what works for them and what doesn’t.

If you could share a single piece of advice to someone just starting out in retail, what would it be?

Retail isn’t what it used to be and will not remain what it is today. This said, the core values of retail remain consistent. Customer service, customer experiences, store branding and employee performance all impact your retail success. Don’t overlook these key factors no matter how much tech or data eases your operations… which, by the way, they should. Just remember that combined with the human touch, tech, data and human influence can collectively make your retail store a success.

Interview by Bianca Barath.

Related:

5 Trailblazers to look out for in Retail and Logistics

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Shipping with Amazon also effectively cuts off the need for third party buyers, thus saving more money for businesses who wish to ship with Amazon. As Sriram Sridhar, the CEO of LateShipment says, “About one-third of customers won’t re-purchase from a merchant that has a late delivery. They need to know what’s happening on the other end, and what they can do about it.”

Amazon brings this transparency to its logistics business, thereby gaining the customer support of its worldwide customer base. Creating a better last mile delivery experience has become the touchstone by which shipping carriers are judged. LateShipment helps businesses achieve better last-mile deliveries by holding shipping carriers accountable for over 50 service failures and claiming refunds for them.

The post Amazon raises the stakes for shipping companies appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

UPS and FedEx have recently started to charge a dimensional weight fee. Until recently, your shipping rates with these two carriers depended on package weight. Now, the package size matters. So, if you have been shipping light weight goods that occupy significant space in shipping trucks or planes, you will be expected to pay more now.  Dimensional weight pricing was applicable only with packages that are larger than three cubic feet. If you shipped smaller items, there was no change in your shipping rates. But that again has changed and now, every package is subject to dimensional weight rules.

FedEx had changed its dimensional weight divisor from 166 to 139 on January 2, 2017, for only U.S. ground and Express shipments. Now, in 2018, FedEx SmartPost is also added to the list of service levels with the 139 dimensional weight divisor. UPS has a dimensional weight divisor of 139 for packages bigger than 1,728 cubic inches or one cubic foot. And the weight divisor is 166 for smaller packages.

Peak Shipment Surcharge

UPS announced a new peak surcharge fee in June 2017. And then, UPS updated it twice to expand its geographic reach. There are also added extra charges for excessively heavy packages going to Puerto Rico, Hawaii or Alaska, as well as packages from Hong Kong or China.

General Rate Increases

UPS raised its air and ground service rates by 4.9%  in 2017. FedEx has raised rates differently for these services.

Negotiable Rates:

FedEx and UPS account managers have the authority to lower your shipping rates if you offer volumes. So, if you are a higher volume shipper, ask your account manager to lower rates. FedEx depends on several middlemen to deliver their goods. So, there are bound to be more taxes in their invoices.

DHL is a great choice if you are looking to ship internationally. Within the US, it’s not a viable option. This is because DHL is headquartered in Germany and not in the US. They excel in international shipping. So, choose DHL services if your shipments are predominantly in overseas markets.

The USPS has affordable options within the US. In fact, it is the most affordable choice among all four. There are no surcharges for fuel, remote areas, additional handling etc.  Their delivery speed is not excellent but it works well if you are on a budget. If you deal with non-urgent, small-scale and nearby deliveries, USPS is your best bet.

Related:

Weighty Matters: Tips to handle dimensional weight rates

Shipping costs of FedEx and UPS – Compare for best deals

How To Choose The Right Shipping Carrier?

5 Smart strategies to master International Shipping

The post Compare Shipping Rates of USPS vs UPS vs FedEx vs DHL in 2018 appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re geared up to make the best of this week!

1. Inventory hard

Yep, you need to make sure you are fully stocked to handle the rush. A study by Fortune shows that over 51% of shoppers make their purchases online. The number is bound to increase when it’s Valentine’s week!

Just run a quick inventory of your sales during this time of the month during the last few years, and create a comprehensive list of all the items you’ll need extra stock of. This will ensure you are prepared to deal with large orders of those products. For instance, hallmark cards, chocolates and flowers are the hot favourites. If you sell live plants and flowers, then you might want to stock up on purple roses, blue roses, green roses, red roses and rainbow roses apart from the famous lilies and tulips, as they are currently in trend.

2. Flaunt those discounts

It’s not going to be enough if your business has a really cool website and a bunch of offers for V- day. No sir! You need to be able to market your best selling products with strategically designed content if you want an even bigger turnout. All those huge banners proclaiming an ongoing sale need to be attractive, to the point, and well placed.

Ease of access with a mobile option would be an added advantage to most customers. Offer super fast shipping as around 28 % of customers begin Valentine’s day shopping with less than a week to go! If you’re offering fast shipping options then advertise it in bold! The quality of your content will determine if a window shopper becomes a loyal customer, or if an existing one goes in search of better options. So get cracking on those knuckles and come up with some awesome content that will be extremely hard to say no to!

3. A truly personalized experience

Personalizing a customer’s online experience goes a long way in making an unforgettable shopping experience. Not only does it involve recommendations based on a customer’s behavioural patterns, it also ensures that a retailer’s best products are at the forefront of the customized search list.

For instance, this week’s recommendations could be on a Valentine based theme, in all categories. Studies show that singles treat themselves to Valentine’s day gifts too! So you’ll have to make sure customers can find the perfect gift to pamper themselves and their loved ones with. Various gift wrappings to choose from would be a great addition too!

4. Swoon worthy prices

This might suck, but there are a lot of price comparison options out there these days. So it’s definitely not a great idea to hike up the price of an item just so that the discount you offer sounds amazing. Making delivery options and shipping prices fully visible to customers is another excellent way to win more hearts this season!

Besides, no matter the percentage of discount you offer, it’s great quality merchandise and efficient delivery options which will speak in your favour.

5. Ship it like you mean it

You heard that right! Over 69% of customers have claimed that an unsatisfactory delivery experience reduces the probability of them shopping with the same retailer again. It does make sense, because a present meant for Valentine’s day does not mean the same if delivered a couple of days later!

As many customers pay extra for faster delivery options, you’re going to have one extremely unhappy customer on your hands if the package does not reach on time. As you well know, getting a customer to buy from you is just the first step. If you want them coming back time and again for more (fingers crossed), then you’ll have to offer them the complete package. Prompt and satisfactory delivery is the last mile you’ll have to cross. So make sure the shipping carriers you use are all on track. For help with ensuring that your shipping carriers are held accountable for their on time performance and getting the tools necessary to have complete visibility over your last mile deliveries, check out LateShipment.com.

I hope this helps prepare you to tackle this Valentine’s week sale in style!

The post 5 ways to make customers fall in love with your business this Valentine’s day appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google invest a lot of time and money on AI that can be used with real world issues. And one of those is to do with supply chain management of how goods are sent from one point to another. The future of AI in logistics is about driverless cars and deliveries. Drone deliveries are being tested as we read this. Uber has been continually testing its potential with deliveries. The Internet of Things or IoT, the most happening study subject of AI, is most likely to assume to major part of logistics in the future. It offers the possibility to interface just about anything to the Internet and can enable information driven co-ordinations.

We are looking at augmented AI with machine-human interaction and collaboration. Augmented reality offers the “smart glasses”, especially in order picking. These are smart glasses that enable intelligent, hands-free operations. Robots can replace human intervention in warehouses. They are lighter, more flexible, easier to program, and more affordable. As of now, several cutting edge technology majors are using “collaborative robots” that work side-by-side with human employees. These robots are of great help in supporting repetitive and physically demanding tasks in logistics.

Self-driving vehicles have made great inroads in logistics. We also have autonomous forklifts and other self-piloted equipment that greatly optimize warehouse operations. Very soon, we are looking at a future where self-driving vehicles in logistics will be to overcome regulatory and security challenges to deploy autonomous vehicles on public roads.

Amazon made news with its drone delivery service recently. Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can do last mile deliveries to end customers. Though it looks like a great prospect, drones will still require a bit more time before mainstream adoption as of now. But research in the arena looks promising. Drone deliveries could avoid traffic delays that occur on road.

3D Printing is another area that is being studied. There are several products that can, instead of being manufactured in large mass-production facilities and shipped around the globe, be sent to warehouses as product designs. These designs can be digitized and transmitted to small factories closer to the customers. And these smaller factories could manufacture with the help of 3D printing technologies.

Related topics:

How analytics can transform supply chain management

5 last mile delivery challenges to overcome in e-commerce

How can your online store leverage data analytics for a better customer experience

5 simple ways in which your shipping data can help your business offer exceptional customer support

The post How is AI set to transform logistics? appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

The most important areas in digital logistics are:

• Distribution: Improved, current generation fulfillment processes and real-time warehouse management system (WMS) technology.
• Transportation: Automated load building, optimization of inbound and outbound freight movements, and efficient management of carriers.

Digital logistics ensures that there is end-to-end visibility in inventory, orders, and shipments across the supply chain. It reduces network-wide inventory levels, maximizes customer satisfaction, and responds dynamically to logistics events. There is a central command and control centre to aid decision making. So, the system becomes very efficient. There is increased visibility to performance metrics that helps in continuous improvement. All information is accessible online and allows people to filter information and gain comprehensive knowledge on problems if any.

Everything becomes easy with GPS tracking system. A parcel can be tracked in real time from anywhere in the world. A slight delay in the parcel’s path is known immediately to everyone concerned. And if there is need for rerouting, it can be done as soon as possible. With the advent of digital logistics, it has become very easy to eliminate loss of packages, wrong destination deliveries and package delivery failures. Weather conditions are predicted and deliveries are scheduled accordingly. From the moment the item is picked from the warehouse to the second it reaches destination, the entire path is charted digitally. There is no room for error.

One of the important factors in moving to digital logistics is the need for flexibility to integrate with newer systems to communicate information, synchronize activities, and collaborate across processes. Digital applications are based on a central repository of all logistics information. Stakeholders can view information, add or modify details.

The incorporation of groundbreaking research like data analytics, data sciences, and machine learning are used in logistics, along with the digital know-how, to enhance the technologies and processes. People study previous data and come to conclusions on strategies. For example, last year’s peak season shipping data can help in shaping this year’s data.

Related:

Is logistics the new brand differentiator

Logistics Fulfilment Services

How to get a handle on your lost packages?

The post What is digital logistics? appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Horses for courses

In any business decision, you would want to seek the best quality that your budget can land. So, choose a delivery service that meets your specific shipping needs. If you ship to a remote country in considerable volumes, you have to look at the shipper’s operations there. Before you start off, you should have a fair idea of all your shipping plans, your shipping history, and specific needs. Draw a plan that clearly states the size and number of your packages, and how far you are sending them. Typically, businesses that ship large volumes over long distances tend to go for a regional or national freight carrier. It works out to be budget friendly. But if you are looking at same day delivery of delivery of small packages in your own area, you are better off with a local courier service with scalability inside your operation zone. This would be efficient and economical. If you need warehousing help, you should go for a transportation company that can handle all these requirements.

Also Refer: 5 Reasons to fight Late Delivery.

Background Check

Run a check of whether the company you go for is licensed to do business in the areas you intend shipping from and to. Most reputed brands would have their licenses. But, if you choose a local player, make sure you are getting into business with a legit partner with prerequisite permissions, bonds, and insurances.

Need for speed

For several businesses, speed is integral. While you might not need superfast, express deliveries on an everyday basis, you might still need the option if such an order arises. So, ask beforehand about how the partner will or can manage such special cases. Be specific about asking for same day, overnight and 2-3 hour emergency drops and costs involved. Go for a partner who has a proven record of ramping up when in need.

Reliability and Reputation

This is extremely important when you trust your package with someone else. Your company’s reputation is on the line until the package delivery is successful. So, choose a courier service that won’t let you down. It goes without saying that the freight partner needs to have a system for proof of delivery. Most players offer tracking processes over the internet.

Special needs

Does the shipping partner handle large packages? Do you send fragile goods that need special handling? Do you ship perishable and hazardous goods? Ask necessary questions before you decide. Do they offer help loading or unloading? Even if you do such packages only in one-off situations, it makes sense to figure all this well in advance. Also, ask about the necessary permissions the partner needs to handle such special cases.

Related:

5 Factors to consider when choosing your Shipping Carrier

Are you really getting a fair deal from your Shipping Carrier

The post 5 factors to consider when choosing a reliable shipping partner appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Strategists now study logistics industry and individual companies, from modelling, optimizing rail, truck and cargo movements across places to greater visibility of freight movements, improved freight connectivity and of course, the pricing strategies. Shipping carriers have floating price schemes based on their optimization parameters. Data analytics helps you decide how to optimise shipping budgets from your end based on fluctuating costs.

Shipping costs fluctuate seasonally according to several factors. Demand is high during December holiday season when e-commerce organizations run pillar to post with their order fulfilment. Demand is very low during summers when people vacation outside their homes. So, if you run an ecommerce platform, you can strategize your operations for the peak season or the lull season well in advance with the help of Data Analytics. Remember that Big Data, true to its name, analyses everything from transit times, fuel costs, insurance and weather conditions to non traditional data like traffic delays, manmade delays, unexpected repairs, GPS relays, sensor relays and traffic management.

While Big Data helps you see problems, you can make use of it from your end to pre-empt problems. For example, if Data points to bottlenecks during the peak season, you can strategize and probably deal with it somehow from your end. You can decide on when to run your discount sales and free shipping offers from your site based on what you study. Do you want to figure out when to offer fixed shipping rates, free shipping or actual shipping rates? Learn to optimise that from studying big data.

You can reduce errors effectively with data analytics. Several packages are lost, redirected or damaged when in transit. Past data and conditions that led to such situations can greatly help you reduce the incidence of such errors. While you, as an end user of a shipping carrier cannot do much to eliminate package losses directly, you can get to know when to insure your packages and when not to. Also, refer this blog on How to get a handle on your lost packages?

So, like with most other industries, shipping and logistics organizations are looking at big data to ease out their pain points and they are traveling in the right direction with this move.

Related:

How can your Online store leverage data analytics for a better customer experience

Leveraging shipping data analytic to cut supply chain cost

The post How data analytics is transforming the shipping industry? appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Automation in any segment, in any industry can bring down the number of errors caused by manual intervention. Shipping carrier management can be automated to make sure there are no errors that occur due to human interaction.

Centralize shipping operations

Today’s carrier management software can scrutinize the best transportation modes based on several factors and give you what would work best in the given situation. If a customer needs an urgent delivery, an automated system will help you choose the fastest, yet cost effective solution to your problem. Every operation related to shipping is looked into and the system works on optimizing the solution according to needs. The user can enter and maintain routes, discounts, contracts, insurance information and compare rates from one portal.

Reduce manpower
It is not a great idea to invest in a dedicated resource to manage your shipping carrier management when literally everything can be automated. There is no dearth of shipping automation tools online and you can get everything from printing shipping labels to claiming shipping refunds done automatically with tools available to be integrated with your existing systems. So, if you are a small organization, you definitely need software that automates shipping carrier management.

Easy analysis

Shipping records can be used to predict a lot of things. Seasonal fluctuations in sales, weather related shipping delays and much more can be gauged from shipping records. These details can be very useful for your business strategies. Very importantly, if you liaise with multiple shipping carriers, you can analyze cost optimization and delivery efficiency of peers through your automated shipping reports. You can choose wisely, based on these reports. All shipping related metrics are available in the same place. If you want your shipping reports from Christmas season 4 years back, it’s available to you then and there.

Save on costs

Any kind of automation is strategized on the idea of cost optimization. Automation of shipping carrier management can bring down your costs significantly. And it’s not just economic costs that come down. Efficiency of the system goes up significantly and can help you scale operations. Your bottom line gets better and better if you manage shipping. In an era where retail is beginning to be dominated by e-commerce and people are trying everything to keep shipping costs down, automating shipping carrier management should be the first strategy people implement.

To automatically claim your refunds sign up with LateShipment.com and slash your shipping cost.

Related:

A 5 point checklist for shipping cost optimization

5 Factors to consider when choosing a shipping carrier

The post 5 reasons why automating shipping carrier management is beneficial appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Packaging plays a very important role in securing customer loyalty, especially in online shopping sites. Aesthetic appeal is just as important as safe and secure packaging.

Packaging basics for budding online entrepreneurs.

So, as an ecommerce seller, it makes sense to focus on packaging and make sure you deliver happiness.

Safety first

Whether you sell glassware or charcoal, the primary objective of packaging is to get the entire product shipped safely and securely to the customer. There should be no breakage, loss during transit, chipping or untoward spoilage. A customer who receives a broken product is not going to be a loyal customer for life. You might offer to replace the product and do so but his customer experience is ruined by bad packaging. That’s waste of some serious marketing cost, customer acquisition cost and much more.  Customers today understand the power of public shaming. After all the effort you invest in building a great product, you can ruin it by sending it in bad packaging. And what’s worse, the customer can take to Twitter or Facebook to defame you.

Also refer Smart packaging = less shipping cost

Aesthetics

If you sell fine silk, you cannot send it to the customer, wrapped in plastic. You need horses for courses. A random tee shirt with a cheesy one liner can be sold a thousand times, wrapped in plastic. Not finer merchandise. So, think through the entire process of sales and after sales before you go ahead with the shipping. A customer who spends a lot on a product will expect decent packaging. Letting him down will cost you your customer acquisition expenses. And shipping fine merchandise in questionable packaging is not going to win credibility even if you argue that your product speaks for itself.

Personalisation

New age online retailers have upped their game with personalised packaging. Wouldn’t it be nice to send a custom note to a loyal customer who loves to buy from you? Little things like this can help you. And it costs next to nothing. Brown packaging from the packaging store shelves is passé. If your budget permits, you can go for packaging material that is designed for your purpose. Remember that great packaging is often reused or kept as mementos by discerning customers. That serves another purpose: brand recall.

Related:

1. An online store is judged by its smart packaging
2. How to package odd shaped/sized objects for shipping

The post How packaging affects product credibility? appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Be informed about legal restrictions

There are several laws and legal restrictions that come into play if you ship things abroad. And each country has its own laws. Even if something looks innocuous to you, the destination country might have restrictions in letting in. For example, New Zealand is extremely restrictive about letting in grains and edible products in their territory. You will lose money and get into legal tussles if you try to ship certain things to certain countries. So, read up on what to send where. Your shipping carrier will know such rules best. Take his help!

Promise delivery with a buffer time

International couriers take time. They need to be flown in and then be subject to stringent checks before being sent to the destination. So, when you promise a delivery deadline to the customer, you need to factor all such roadblocks. Do not make the mistake of promising delivery very soon. The customer will not be happy if you promise delivery within 10 days and he gets it after 20 days.

Package with caution

International couriers go through a lot of duress (unless it is between two small European countries connected by a road). So, ensure that your packaging is tough enough to handle tough handling, weather mishaps and humidity changes. Otherwise, you will be sending the customer a damaged product.

SMART PACKAGING = LESS SHIPPING COST

Mention the right shipping costs upfront

Needless to say, shipping across borders is an expensive affair. There will be extra taxes and duties to be paid for. So, invest in a real time shipping cost calculator that gives the customer a fair idea of shipping charges beforehand. He can decide whether to go ahead with the purchase or not. It is not a good idea to shock him with a shipping bill broken into a hundred parts and all in fine print, a second away from payment.

Promise returns only if you can handle it

International shipping is tough. Returns are tougher. Unless you have a liaison centre in the destination country, it can become a problem. So, mention to the customer in bold and before he places the order that returns are not possible if you can’t handle them.

Related:

What is the real cost of delivering packages late to your customers?

5 last mile delivery challenges to overcome in Ecommerce.

The post Cross-Border Shipping: 5 smart shipping strategies followed by the largest cross-border shippers appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Know More About Real Time Tracking

Keep the customer informed on shipping progress:

You can alert the customer to stay at home and make sure that he is home to collect the parcel. This is the simplest customer support task you can perform with shipping data in hand. The shipper also sends prior information about the parcel that is out for delivery. But it helps if the customer understands that you are in the loop.

Alert customer about delays, if any:

Stay on top of shipping delays and call up the customer, offer due apologies and do tell them that the shipment is being delayed at the carrier’s end. It is not a good idea to let the customer wait without news for his product to arrive when you know that it is going to be late. After all, you have the data and real time alerts to know if there is going to be a delay. Meanwhile, you can also ask the shipper to expedite processes at your end.

Be prepared in case of shipping emergencies:

The customer should never suffer because of the carrier’s mistake. Today, with advanced technology, shipping losses are very rare. But in case there is a loss of package, you can get real time alerts and make sure you send out a replacement to the customer as soon as possible to make up for the lost package. You can then follow up with the carrier and get your money back from him.

Predict patterns:

With shipping data from the past years, you can predict several trends. After all, history repeats. Order history almost always repeats. Shipping data over the years tells you when people buy what. More importantly, you know how seasonal changes in shipping occur. Rains, snow and other conditions affect shipping routines and there is a definite pattern you can learn from.

Isolate customer problems:

Unfortunately, shipping related problems are not in your hands to resolve. You can change your carrier if the problems are exceptionally high. But when you gauge customer dissatisfaction, you can let go of problems related to shipping delays and such and focus on other problems that you can resolve.

Related:

5 Reasons to fight Late Delivery

5 Metrics to measure online customer satisfaction

The post 5 simple ways in which your shipping data can help your business offer exceptional customer support appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Where shipping is concerned, there is a narrow spectrum of parameters. What is the track record of your shipping partner when it comes to:

1. Delivering on time

2. Delivering right package to the right customer

3. Not losing the package midway

4. Delivering the package without damages

Package loss is a real possibility but it is very improbable these days. To counter that, shippers offer insurance to cover the loss. In case you deal with valuable merchandise, it is prudent to sign up for shipping insurance. Most reputed shipping carriers offer such insurance. Read the clauses thoroughly and sign only if you are convinced of the policies.

Now, coming to delayed shipments, it is a very probable risk. FedEx and UPS, the most renowned carriers we know, offer a full refund on all delayed packages even if it is a minute late. Check on how to Deal With Shipping Delays. This is one of the reasons ecommerce sellers choose between FedEx and UPS. But late shipments do happen. Do you chase your shipper and get the refund if your delivery is later than the promised time? If you don’t, you are losing out on a major avenue of saving on your shipping bills.

Despite the full refund guarantee, shipping carriers seldom pay up if they fail on the promise. Because the onus of filing for refunds, claiming them and following up on that sits squarely on the shoulders of the customer. If you ship several shipments per day, you obviously find no time to do it yourself. And remember, it takes time and effort to find shipments that were delivered late, raise a refund request and track the whole process. So, prudent business people automate the process entirely. Signing up with a late shipment tracker like lateshipment.com can put an end to losing out on shipping refunds.

Your shipping partner has GPS and hence real time tracking of the whereabouts of your package is very much possible. So, look at automating alerts when the shipment is stuck somewhere or when it’s rerouted to a place that is not near the destination. Lateshipment can alert you proactively in case such package transfers happen. You can reach out to the shipper immediately and ask for redressal.

If you are vocal about your complaints to the shipper, the shipper is bound to make sure that errors are minimal from his end, thereby ensuring great quality in his service.

Related:

1. How to hold your shipping carrier accountable for all your lost packages?

2. 5 Reasons to Fight Late Delivery

The post Are you holding shipping carriers accountable for their performance? appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Typically, ecommerce sellers work with 3PL companies to get products delivered. Or, sometimes the last mile delivery is done by the ecommerce seller, depending on the size of company, the geographic scope of market, the nature of products, and the capabilities of business. If quality is supreme in your business, take responsibility of last mile delivery and have direct control over that leg.

Having a set of people, who deliver the customer his purchase can have a great advantage especially if your drivers have a brand “code” to follow in their customer interactions. You also get the opportunity to monitor, measure, and manage the way the deliverer’s time is spent at each stop. When you outsource the task, the parameters are all about the time a vehicle spends at a certain place than about driver performance. If your business is restricted to your own city and its suburbs, managing last mile is child’s play. But when you ship your product to customers far away, it becomes tough.

If you want to take ownership of last mile delivery, you might need to rethink your warehouse strategies. Having the warehouse as close as possible to dense customer concentrations is the way to go. So, rent or lease warehouses based on that.

If you have retail stores, you can use them as staging posts for online orders. Clubbing these orders with your regular retail deliveries can cut down the costs involved in delivering smaller orders to residential
addresses. As you would already know, shipping to residential addresses is always more expensive than shipping to
office addresses. Even if you don’t have brick and mortar retail stores, you can use urban distribution facilities run by 3PLs for the same purpose.

If you deal with a product that needs last step installation, basic usage instruction, removal of packaging and in the case of appliances, removal/recycling of the unit that’s being replaced, you have to take responsibility of last mile delivery all by yourself. This kind of job needs training and cannot be outsourced to a random deliverer who will just get the package delivery signature once the delivery is completed. So, much depends on what you sell. If you expect returns or customer
issues, you need to train the same deliverer to handle that as well.

Reverse logistics can be more expensive than shipping one time.

The post Taking responsibility for last mile deliveries: Your customer loyalty depends on it appeared first on Lateshipment.com.

Ask if the shipping carrier you choose does end to end delivery. The idea of having a shipping partner is, a reliable partner should be the one whom we can ask for ally, they act us our representatives while reaching out to people living in places you can’t reach yourself. Make sure your courier companies have tie ups with local partners to manage delivery to the remotest areas. Request details about the first mile, in-transit and last mile delivery of your shipping partner before deciding.

Does the carrier offer Insurance?

Like it or not, there are a few orders lost in transit and if the item is not insured the merchant has to bear the cost of the lost product. Even if the product turns up after a delay, the rerouted delivery might take months. Whatever the error is, if the package is not insured, the shipping carrier cannot be held at fault and be expected to make up for it unless there is an insurance clause. So, ask before you sign: Does your carrier offer insurance? Understand the policy before you sign. There might be caveats that say insurance covers only a certain kind of delays and losses due to specific factors. Do not finalise the deal without understanding insurance policies, how shipments are covered, how to dispute when the case arrives, how to file a claim and how to calculate the value of your parcel and so on.

Also read How to hold your shipping carrier accountable for all your lost packages?

How cost effective is the carrier?

The most important factor in sealing a deal is the cost. Aim for a competitive rate from your shipping partner. Give details on your order value and pitch with several carriers. Opt for one or two carriers. You can always check for rates with either carrier and then decide on real time, based on delivery and cost. Every carrier would also ask for a security deposit upfront. So, choose wisely.

Is the carrier suitable for your needs?  

Shipping is different across industries. Someone who does a great job with cold storage shipping might not be great with regular stuff. A carrier with a good track record of international shipping might not be great with local operations. Let’s say you run a local operation and deal with fresh cut meat and fish. You need someone who can do quick trips in the city. But if you have an apparel store, you will want to reach a wide audience around the country. Look for peer reviews and choose a shipping partner who excels in your area of shipping expertise.

Does the shipper reach places you are aiming to reach?

If you want to reach every nook of the country, look at the local delivery partners your carrier liaises with. Not every courier company provides complete coverage. If you do international shipping quite often, opt for one who specialises in that. If your partner does not comply, you can lose out on customers. If you should, go for more than one shipping partners who cover different areas. But also remember that you have to pay security deposits at all places.

Related:

Choosing the right Shipping carrier for your business

5 factors to consider when choosing a shipping carrier.

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A dedicated person to handle business continuity

Disruptions can prove very costly to your business so,have one person as a business continuity point person. This point person needs to know what to do in case things do not work in your favour. He/She should be able to handle any disruption to your business. This person should be given the authority to carry out the job and take responsible decisions on his/her own. He/She should be trained to factor risks and dispatch emergency shipments in case there is a delay or loss.

Have a defined list of all possible disruptions to your business

A political crisis in a far off country can create a butterfly effect and result in a shipping delay. Natural disasters like tsunamis, cloudbursts, volcanoes and storms can result in loss of shipped goods or delays. Furthermore, there is the risk of fires, water and chemical spills. Airports can be closed for various reasons when your cargo is stuck inside. Think through the list of scenarios and come up with a game plan that can address each issue. Document this and share with the concerned people. If something goes wrong, your team can jump into action immediately. Detail the steps to remedy, each disruption scenario. This includes making sure that everyone involved, is on the same page about what is to be done. Include details about technology, operations, purchasing, transportation etc. There should be specific instructions for each department.

Know whom and where to ask help

There will be situations where you need to expedite shipments in an emergency, appeal to shipping carriers to help you out using their capabilities before a crisis arises. Apart from speeding up shipments, carriers offer different types of services and have different service records you can make use of. Like with every other business, you need to read through their bouquet and choose wisely. And you need to  be prepared with the knowledge before crazy situations arise. Identify mission critical carriers and know whom to contact from their side during a crisis. If you can, meet these people time to time and make sure they understand your requirements.

Understand all your alternatives

You can choose between flights, ships, trains, road trucks as paths for your shipping needs. Obviously, there are several factors like time, cost and urgency to consider before you choose one. In case one fails, you need to have a ready list of alternatives you can re route your shipments through. Expediting shipments involves a detailed study of cost and time again. Take an educated guess as to what works during that particular crisis situation. A client who brings in a lot of moolah to you would probably rank high in times of emergency and you wouldn’t mind investing a particularly high cost to his shipment just once. So, spend time studying tracking ability, around-the-clock availability, special handling requirements, and domestic vs. international capabilities of your shipping partner. In times of urgency, you can ask the carrier to ramp up according to your needs.

Related:

How To Choose The Right Shipping Carrier

5 factors to consider when choosing a shipping carrier.

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