Despatches September - November 2015
They make how much..? eBay recently released what they called the first-ever
‘Rich list for their top 30 UK Businesses’ Thirty businesses from different industries including household; electronics and gaming; clothing and fashion retailers. With a combined total of £4 million in average annual turnover, these businesses have spearheaded the growth in online marketplace bidding and online ecommerce.
You need to find the right product – It’s easy if you know what you are selling, right? All of these businesses have researched what sells well. Typically fast moving consumer goods such as day-to-day household goods work well because of their repeat purchase and frequent buying patterns.
The way that we shop, browse and view products has drastically changed over the last decade. Places such as eBay, Amazon and Gumtree mean never before has there been an easier and faster way to advertise, list and upload your latest products and start selling today.
Keep costs low to get the right prices – Online sellers have variable overheads. In comparison to some of their largest rivals, they don’t have massive premises or shop fascias. Therefore they are able to drive hard bargains and pass on these cheaper prices to their customers and in the process attract more business.
eBay’s massive dominance in the online marketplace sector means that it is now even easier to start your next empire. Here are four key points to achieve success in Sales.
Market your product well – No good product is successful without good marketing. Choosing the right product is important but because it’s online your product can be shared and seen by thousands of people all in a second. Products can become instant viral hits but also can become doomed failures depending on the successful or otherwise use of social media for example. Managing the expectations of your customers – An eBay customer is a savvy individual. They are more than just your average consumer walking into your typical hardware or DIY Shop. Demand needs to be matched with their expectations – this includes things like delivery which can affect things like repeat purchases.
And once you start running out of space, we know just the people to store pick and pack your orders – check out Dan’s article inside...
INSIDE: Online Fulfilment Made Easy
l
Franchise Focus
l
actualwarehouse
actualwarehouse...
Online fulfilment made easy The U.S. have been dabbling with same day fulfilment delivery for a while now with retail giants such as Walmart, Amazon and eBay all offering a one hour delivery from point of order. “eBay Now” is based on the company’s acquisition of Milo, a local shopping start-up that lists real-time in-store product inventories for over 50,000 stores across the country, featuring over three million products. Since that 2010 acquisition, eBay has gone on to acquire Shutl over here in the UK, which provides a network of couriers to deliver local goods within a couple of hours of an online purchase. Together, the two companies have partnered with UK retailer Argos to offer Click & Collect and fulfilment solutions. While local delivery in metropolitan locations such as New York, San Francisco and Chicago will probably remain a niche solution, delivery combined with fulfilment options will prove the winner in the same-day race as evidenced by Amazon’s fulfilment facility building frenzy here in the UK as well as the well reported one hour delivery in central London. eBay is following suit with its facility in Manchester as well as its relationship with Argos. Along with traditional fulfilment solutions, it offers “modular, cloud-based SAAS solutions” such as ship-from-store, in-store pickup and ship-to-store. In other words, its omni-channel solution offers quick, nimble and agile solutions for retailers in the fast changing retail industry. Amazon’s Prime customers in central London can now achieve a same day delivery with every order over £20, and all for just £6.99 per order for delivery within one hour. Delivery in a two-hour window is at no additional cost between 8am and midnight, seven days a week.
The only way a retailer can offer this service in line with the likes of Amazon and eBay is if goods can be despatched within close proximity of the delivery location – not achievable for most ecommerce retailers. Is this just another way for the giants to squeeze out their already frail competition? Diamond Logistics actualwarehouse product has been designed to allow smaller retailers to compete with the giants. Our extensive network of same day service centres each act as a fulfilment house or “retail hub”, which in turn allows our clients to store across multiple locations nationwide. Once an order is processed by our integrated warehouse management system (WMS), the pick request filters by the closest service centre to the delivery location and therefore minimises the mileage between hub and delivery destination. So, what are the retail benefits of offering a same day delivery facility to the consumer? How about increased order values? Research in the U.S. suggests that the consumer will spend between 30-100% extra online if a same day delivery is available. A staggering 83% of consumers say they would be more likely to shop with a retailer if a same day delivery solution was on offer. If these statistics weren’t enough, how about the consistently high service levels? With same day delivery generating almost a 100% delivery success rate against the at best 97% overnight B2C statistics, it’s clear to see that same day fulfilment is not just a fad of the future. If you’d like to find out more about how Diamond can make your online business grow then give me a shout at daniel.allin@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Franchise Focus...
Diamond Logistics caught up with existing eBay Powerseller and recently turned Diamond Logistics Franchisees Tom and Michael Bezance and Chris Wilson from True Traders in Norwich to see how they are getting on.
Norwich
T 01603 859401 E norwich@diamondlogistics.co.uk Why logistics?
True Traders, the parent company of Diamond Logistics Norwich, had experienced the good and bad side of the logistics industry from a customer perspective. Diamond Logistics Norwich approached True Traders and we entered into a partnership that revolutionised how we worked. We were able to realise how distributing products in an efficient and cost effective manner can be the deciding factor in beating competitors to new customers.
Why did you choose Diamond?
Given how Diamond Logistics had changed the way we work, we could see the potential within the company to benefit a huge number of businesses in Norfolk. Diamond’s multicarriersolution was a saviour for True Traders last Christmas with the issues and accompanying delays couriers were facing. So, once the franchise opportunity presented itself to us, it was a very easy decision to make.
What can you offer businesses in Norwich?
We can offer a unique perspective on logistics, as we have the experience of being the customer as well as being the provider. We can give advice based on both of these viewpoints, which is of great benefit.
What have you learned since joining the network?
A huge amount! As our background wasn’t originally logistics, we have come to understand just how complicated the industry is. This can be very intimidating for businesses that do not have an in-house expert, so that is something we aim to help with.
What are your goals for 2015?
Diamond Logistics is still relatively unknown in the area, so we will be changing that. Chris will be visiting a lot of businesses over the next few months meeting people and spreading word of how we can be of benefit. Then the Christmas rush kicks off!
Inspirational Books for Online Sales Success...
Here are Diamond’s recommend authors to spearhead your online sales and ambitions for your business. The eBay Business Handbook: How anyone can build a business and make serious money on eBay.co.uk Robert Pugh
eBay Selling: 7 steps to starting a successful ebay business from $0 and make money on eBay: Be an eBay Success Ashton Pereira
The 20 secrets to successfully selling on eBay George Wallace
The Internet Business School Simon Coulson
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.
actualwarehouse...
The equivalent of a warehouse, despatch manager and delivery driver all rolled in to one We will grow with you
Flexible storage solutions to match your business from a single pallet to a fully racked warehouse.
Simple storage software for start-ups, or integrated systems for the serious e-tailer
Stock control, management, pick creation and despatch inclusive option.
Online booking, track and trace
Easy to use online monitoring of consignments.
Proactive customer service
We monitor all your despatches so you don’t have to.
Assured delivery
We don’t rest until we know your goods are successfully delivered.
Integrated with our multicarriersolutions Choosing best despatch provider automatically or least cost options.
Keep in Touch... Basildon
East London
Slough
Birmingham
Guildford
Southampton
1 Noble Square, Courtauld Road, Basildon, Essex, SS13 1LS T 01268 857 854 E basildon@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 31, Evans Easy Space, Middlemore Road, West Bromwich, B21 0AL T 0121 667 8283 E birmingham@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Blackburn
Glenfield Business Park, Philips Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5PF T 01254 403013 E blackburn@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Bolton
Unit 2, Moses Gate Workshops, Manchester Road, Bolton, BL3 2QG T 01204 896 359 E bolton@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Bournemouth
Unit D2 Cirrus Court, Aviation Park West, Bournemouth Airport, Dorset, BH23 6NW T 01202 069460 E bournemouth@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Bristol
Unit B, 7A4 Victoria Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, BS11 9DB T 0117 911 9664 E bristol@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Coventry
Unit 14, Stampings Blue Ribbon Industrial Estate, Foleshill, CV6 5RB T 024 7666 6240 E coventry@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Croydon
7a Beddington Gardens, Wallington ,SM6 0HU T 020 8003 4668 E croydon@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Derby
Unit 5C Sinfin Industrial Estate, Sinfin Lane, Derby, Derbyshire DE24 9GL T 01332 897 674 E derby@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Unit 27 Walthamstow Business Centre, Clifford Road, London,w E17 4SX T 020 3603 9458 E eastlondon@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 9, The Pines Business Park, Broad Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 3BH T 0845 591 7334 E guildford@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Ilford
27 Burney House, 11-17 Fowler Road, Hainault, IG6 3UJ T 01708 871627 E ilford@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Leicester
420D, Thurmston Boulevard, Leicester, LE4 9LE T 0116 298 6953 E leicester@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Lichfield
914 Yeovil Road, Slough Trading Estate, Slough, SL1 4JA T 01753 257 299 E slough@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 30, Claylands Road, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, SO32 1BH T 02380 988919 E southampton@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Sussex
7b Durban Road, South Bersted Industrial Estate, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9QT T 01243 885729 E chichester@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Swansea
Zone 3 Kenfig Industrial Estate, Port Talbot, SA13 2PE T 01792 828040 E swansea@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Unit 33 Britannia Enterprise Park, Britannia Way, Lichfield, West Midlands, WS14 9UY T 01543 889601 E lichfield@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Swindon
Brixworth Coldstore, Old Harborough Road, Northampton, NN6 9BX T 01604 806314 E northampton@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Head Office
Northampton
Norwich
The True Centre, 31 Caister Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 4DA T 01603 859401 E norwich@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Nottingham
131 Town Street, and Sandiacre, Nottinghamshire, NG10 5DS T 0115 871 5235 E nottingham@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Plymouth
Unit 13 Faraday Mill Business Park, Prince Rock, Plymouth, PL4 0ST T 01752 547992 E plymouth@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Unit 8 Wroughton Business Park, Swindon Road, Wroughton, Swindon, SN4 9BH T 01793 238291 E swindon@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 9, The Pines Business Park, Broad Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 3BH T 0845 591 7334 E info@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Find out how you can start your own courier franchise just like these guys. Simply email
franchise@diamondlogistics.co.uk
to request further information.