Despatches Autumn Edition
4. Accept the sacrifices - everyone I have heard interviewed has spoken repeatedly about the sacrifices they have had to make – from the gluten and lactose free diet of our Bryony Page, the silver medal winning trampolinist, to the families such as the Peaty’s, who have got up at 4.00 am for years to take kids like Adam to swimming before school. Success = sacrifice.
Lessons to learn from the Olympics
I trust you enjoyed the Olympics as much as we did here at Diamond, and are looking forward to the Paralympics too. It’s such an inspiration watching these athletes – and there are great lessons to be learned – not only for being in the peak of physical fitness but for all types of goal setting. Here are the top 10 tips we have gleaned from the Olympians this year. 1. Commit wholly – every ounce of effort of the Olympians being is focused on these games. One of my favourite books, ‘Will it Make The Boat Go Faster’, is all about the success of the eight man rowing team in Sydney – and that one goal for four years. They asked themselves every day – will what I do today make the boat go faster? If the answer was yes it would, then they did that thing. If it was no, then they didn’t. 100% commitment to that one goal. 2. Recruit a star team – for many events it is a team effort – and the above book talks about the importance of an equally focused, dedicated and matched in skills team. Cycling, rowing and indeed in your business, you need star players that are matched in equal and complementary ways to win gold. 3. Get support – there is a LOT of support for our Olympians – from their families to coaches to the rest of Team GB. Nobody achieves great things alone – so seek great advisers and coaches to maximise your chances of success.
5. Have a strategy – it’s no longer good enough to be good enough – you have to have a plan to win – a defined strategy of what you will do when and what happens if stuff goes wrong. Have a metre by metre strategy and team plan mapped out. Know your goal, create the strategic plan to get there. 6. Work your plan – from cycling to swimming, it’s all about not getting het up about your competition but to run your own race, with your own strategy. Bradley Wiggins said after his team won gold that they just had to ‘work their plan’ – regardless of what the opposition was doing. 7. Get up when you fall down – from Mo Farah’s heroic come back from his trip in his 10000m, to Samir Ait’s horrific leg break, with an automatic vow of ‘I’ll be back’ within hours of being released from hospital - these people are not going to let a fall or accident deter them. Get up, race on, and run harder to catch up! 8. Believe – Usain Bolt KNOWS he’s the best. He believes it from the bottom of his heart and he knows he will win. To be a winner you need beyond anything else to absolutely believe you will win. 9. Look towards the finish line – there’s a great saying by Michael Phelps – ‘Winners focus on winning, losers focus on winners’. Don’t be distracted by those around you – look forward, to the finish, to your victory. 10. Celebrate success – from Tom Daley’s exuberance to the British Cycling team’s gold sunny celebrations – when you have worked hard and achieved that big goal then take time to enjoy that success. Huge congratulations to all Team GB – you have done us proud. And we can’t wait for the inspiration of the Paralympics which starts September 7th to the 18th.
GO
Team GB!
The Shared Success Blog This month our top tips go to those clients in the online community. ©
The online retail world is becoming a dog eat dog world, so staying ahead of the game is fundamental to the success of your online business. The great news is, I know the secrets of some of the most successful players in the market. Many businesses see logistics as being a necessary evil when promoting their businesses online, when in fact, it can have a huge effect on whether people come back for more, or even buy the first time round.
TIP #1. Navigation and Functionality
Convenience is the single biggest force behind people buying online. Your website is your virtual shop window and as with any good shop window, it should be uncluttered and have great visuals to display your products in the best possible way. This includes making sure your shop window is transferable to mobile and tablet viewing.
TIP #2. Delivery Options
Consumers want choice as to when and where their purchases get delivered. Most online retailers keep it simple and offer a flat delivery structure. Did you know… 3% of online shoppers want a same day delivery. 28% of online consumers prefer the ‘leave safe’ option. The express parcel sector has some great innovative delivery solutions available to you now. Why not offer more of these to your clients.
TIP #3. Hybrid Funding Models
Venturing into online retail can be a challenge, especially at start-up phase, but the super successful retailers are using a creative mix of financing models to fund and grow their online business. Drop shipping or outsourced warehousing can vastly reduce operating costs.
Imagine never having to handle your physical product, while maximising your valuable time in promoting those products. Diamond Logistics has fulfilment centres all across the UK, meaning you are never too far away from your product, without having to handle it.
TIP #4. Value Added Marketing
Dependent upon what you sell, why not look at value-add sections to your website such as subscription services, pre-orders or top selling item sections. Subscription services are a great way to keep consumers engaged by way of monthly product samples, or gifts, which will lead to ongoing sales. Engaging marketing can come from the strangest places, places that you may not have been given access to in the past. How about sending information about offers, top selling products or other products that a captive audience may well be interested in? Diamond Logistics offer a fully customisable pre-despatch email notification option to all its clients. An email notification that gives you the power to embed images, coupons or web links while keeping the audience engaged through tracking information.
TIP #5. Easy Returns
Having a bad return experience can create a block to repeat orders. Offering a clear, easy and even generous returns policy can transform a negative into a positive and keep your customers coming back for more. Most consumers expect the retailer to pay for returns unless they have bought multiple items with the intention of returning one.
For further details on how Diamond Logistics can make your online business more successful:
Call 01483 536888
Bristol
Franchise Focus...
The marketing team caught up with our newest network partner, Bristol, following their successful induction to the Diamond Logistics Network in August. The team asked Amanda and Darren their thoughts on why they decided to join the Diamond Logistics Network and what they are looking to offer local businesses in Bristol.
Amanda & Darren
Managing Directors Diamond Logistics Bristol bristol@diamondlogistics.co.uk
01179 119664
Why Logistics?
With over 20 years’ experience in transport and logistics us and our team thrive on the variety of challenges that every day brings. Logistics is all around us and has a massive impact on each and every one of us and how we go about our day to day life. It is a fascinating industry that requires dedicated professionals to keep services and supply chains moving efficiently and effectively. We are proud to be a part of an industry that faces a task and makes it happen.
What made you join the Diamond Network?
Diamond Logistics opens the doors for us to access an innovative platform to build the best courier network in the UK. The Diamond Network has a very professional and proactive team that all have the shared goal of ‘success’. Shared success is a priority for Diamond Logistics, not just success for us as the Bristol franchise but success that filters through the entire network and its partners, it’s most important partner being the customer and ultimately the customer’s customer.
What do you offer businesses in Bristol?
Bristol is a thriving and progressive city; it’s success is underpinned by professional and responsible logistics providers. We offer a refreshingly friendly, professional, considerate and educated approach to your deliveries. We recognise that one size does not fit all and therefore put considerable emphasis on listening to our customers and assessing their requirements before advising upon and providing the appropriate service. Plus Bristol has strong international links and so does Diamond, so we can provide all the overseas services that the businesses in Bristol require too.
Where do you see Diamond Logistics going in the next 5 years in Bristol? I see Diamond going from strength to strength building strong working relationships with clients across the region and cementing a of being the go to logistics provider. With the rapidly increasing numbers of depots across the UK and the innovative approach that Head Office takes I am confident that Diamond Logistics will be considered the best courier network in the UK and that the national coverage of the Diamond Network the businesses of Bristol will also benefit from it.
What would be your Olympic sport and Why? Mmmmm... It’s got to be the relay.
What an exciting race this is. Will they be fast enough? Can they count on their team members not to fall? Will they drop the baton? So many elements that need to be right to make this team effort a great success.
Our Mission Statement Work in mutual benefit, delivering time-critical delivery solutions to our clients. Provide great career opportunities to our team and subcontractors. Contribute positively to society on local, regional and global levels. Be a really good company to trust, work for and to belong to.
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The equivalent of a warehouse, despatch manager and delivery driver all rolled in to one We will grow with you
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Choosing best despatch provider automatically or least cost options. Easy to use online monitoring of consignments.
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We don’t rest until we know your goods are successfully delivered.
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Considering your next step in Logistics? Find out how you can start your own courier franchise just like these guys and girls.
Simply email franchise@diamondlogistics.co.uk to request further information.