Courier News | Power Link Expedite

Infographic: Holiday Express Shipping Trends Over the Holidays

November 28, 2013

Black Whatday? Express shipping in Toronto and the GTA is bracing for Cyber Monday—the busiest shipping day of the year. Many tech-savvy and crowd-weary holiday shoppers will avoid the malls and take care of their holiday shopping list on their computer, tablet or even phone. That’s going to make for a lot of packages shipped over the following days. Worldwide Express, a Dallas-based global package and freight-shipping firm recently released an interesting Infographic that shows some trends from the world of express shipping. The infographic explores a number of areas, such as today’s holiday shopper’s expectations when it comes to free shipping, as well as the market’s shift towards shopping from mobile devices. “With more consumers saying they will shop online on Cyber Monday, 2013 promises to be a landmark holiday shipping season for small and midsize businesses,” said Tom Madine, Worldwide Express’ president and chief executive officer. “Mobile shopping is bigger than ever before,” added Madine. “As mobile purchases continue to grow, so will shipping as retailers respond to online demand.” If you have any questions about express shipping in Toronto or the GTA, please don’t hesitate to contact us any time.

Should I Offer My Customers Same Day Shipping?

November 26, 2013

ffer My Customers If you offer an online store, you have probably debated offering same day shipping. Toronto, the GTA Milton and Burlington are close enough that a retailer could consider it. But is it worth it? It’s a serious commitment. The mighty eBay only recently started to offer same day shipping to selected US cities. A recent article explored the recent growth of same day shipping and explored how good of an idea it is for giants like Amazon.com and Google. “On Wall Street, that profit-blind approach to deliveries is a particular problem for traditional retailers. Amazon can lose money on deliveries because investors believe the revenues gained now will turn into profit gains later,” wrote Dee Gill. “Google can also ignore the bottom line implications because delivery is an insignificant part of an otherwise massively profitable operation. eBay can settle for breaking even because like Amazon, its shares are a revenue growth bet, and like Google, it has other bigger, profitable operations.” That’s good for companies that can afford to offer same day delivery, but what about small businesses that can’t? Forbes.com said small businesses can offer their customers a more “real” experience by “re-conceptualizing limited selection as personal curation of products, offering an in-store experience with a human touch or even taking customers on ‘consumer safaris’ to see where products are made.” Is your business ready for same day delivery? Toronto, the GTA Milton and Burlington businesses can contact us to discuss their options.

Over 70% of Online Customers Seek Cheap or Free Shipping

November 12, 2013

More and more companies are offering free shipping, at least over the Christmas season, for areas like Toronto, GTA and Milton. Whether it’s same-day or expedited shipping, absorbing a bit of a loss on your own shipping costs can pay off with boosted sales. In fact, a survey conducted by analytics firm www.comScore.com revealed that over 70% of online shoppers weight free or cheap shipping heavily into their online buying decisions. Their data shows that respondents said free shipping is: • Very important—I won’t make a purchase without it (34 per cent) • Somewhat important—I actively seek out free shipping deals (39 per cent) • Neither important nor unimportant (14 per cent) Also remember that customers who don’t pay for shipping are likely to buy more. comeScore’s data also shows that orders that included free shipping were an average of 15-20 per cent higher than orders without free shipping. Last December, comScore also reported that Free Shipping Day (Monday, Dec. 17), delivered a strong $1.01 billion in spending in the US. This represents a 76-percent growth rate vs. the corresponding Monday last year, but on a par with Free Shipping Day in 2011, which occurred on Dec 15, 2011. If you have any questions about expedited or same day shipping in Toronto, GTA or Milton, please contact us any time.

Should I Offer My Customers Free Shipping?

October 31, 2013

Should I Offer If you run a business that frequently relies on fast shipping across Toronto, Milton, Oakville or Burlington, you’ve probably wondered if you should offer free delivery on your goods. On the one hand, you would obviously lose money on your own shipping costs not being covered. However, the phrase “free shipping” is sure to attract enough new customers to offset that loss. Or is it? Online consumers increasingly want and expect their shipping to be offered for free. According to Shopify’s research, 59% of consumers say that free delivery improves their online shopping experience—while 67% of those in the United States say that it’s “crucial” to their online shopping experience. One strategy is try out free shipping on some orders, that might include: • Orders of a dollar amount or higher (Free shipping on $50.00 or more) • Orders to a first-time customer (Your first shipment is on us) • Orders to a repeat customer (Our new loyalty program) • Orders during a seasonal promotion (Free shipping on Black Sunday) Experiment. See what works for your company. There is no blanket answer that says free shipping is a guaranteed way to entice customers, or it will flush money down the toilet. If you have any questions about fast shipping around the GTA, Toronto, Milton, Oakville or Burlington, please contact us anytime.

Shipping in Toronto for Small Business: How to Get More

October 28, 2013

Shipping in Toronto for Small How small businesses in the GTA can get fast shipping at a lower price Small businesses in the GTA, Milton, Burlington or Oakville can have big-budget-shipping need s for:

Express shipping
Same day shipping
Expedited freight

Unfortunately they may not have big budgets. So how does the small business owners stretch their shipping budget and get more value? Here are a few tips: Build a Relationship Establish an ongoing arrangement with a shipping company. This familiarizes them with you and your needs. If you develop a solid business relationship, they’re more likely to do a bit more for you and apply discounted rates. Let Them Pick it Up Running to the courier is time consuming, especially in the winter months. If the courier offers free pick-up, you MUST take advantage of that. Even if they charge for pickup, it’s probably less than the cost of taking you off-site for an hour. If it keeps you in-house, instead of driving all over the GTA, fast shipping just became faster. Try to Send in Bulk Remember, you may get a discount for shipping in bulk, so if you can combine two shipping dates to get a discount, it may be worth waiting. Designate One Person Make liaising with the courier one person’s responsibility. Ensure they “own it.” Once they grasp all the details of a shipment they can become an expert and prepare orders much more quickly. If you have any questions about fast shipping in the GTA, please don’t hesitate to contact us any time.

Are You Charging Too Much to Ship Goods to Your Customers?

October 25, 2013

Should you charge more or less for fast shipping in the GTA?

Do you use fast shipping to send your goods across the GTA, Milton, Oakville or Burlington? If you’re constantly shipping packages to your customers, you may be wondering if you’re charging too much, or not enough to cover your own shipping costs.

There are two basic models to charge for shipping, as described by David K. Williams of Forbes.com.

Calculated Shipping

“It goes without saying, but to figure out your shipping costs you need to actually calculate them. Before you start selling products, measure their weight, dimensions, and other factors that affect how much it costs to ship them. Round these numbers up to the nearest whole number.”

Flat-rate Shipping

“Flat-rate shipping involves averaging out all of the costs of a company’s shipments. You’ll lose money on half of your shipments and make many on the other half, so it all evens out. You need to pay close attention to the average, as it changes over time… It works best for products that are fairly small and not too heavy.” An argument can certainly be made for both. Take a close a look at your typical shipping schedule and the size of your average order to see if moving from one model to another makes sense. If you’re still not sure, please feel free to contact us to discuss options for fast shipping across the GTA, Milton, Oakville or Burlington.

Can You Get Fast Shipping in the GTA from an Independent Company?

October 24, 2013

Where's the GTA's best value in fast shipping?

If you’re looking for fast shipping in the GTA, you’ve got lots of options. You can choose one of the major chains, or you can opt for one of the independent shipping companies in areas like Milton, Burlington or Oakville.

Flexibility is good. While you’re weighing your options, remember it might be in your best interest to go with an independent shipping company for the following reasons: They Want to Earn Your Business Many independent companies base their business around creating ongoing relationships with companies like yours. So they’re most likely willing to do more to keep you satisfied. They want you will keep coming back. At the same time, referrals are very important. They want to create an experience so good that you’ll recommend them to a friend or colleague. You’re Shopping Locally Spending your money in the community is always good. Your money will stay in the GTA in areas like Milton, Burlington or Oakville. Compared to international chains, local businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into your community’s economy. Local Focus If you’re shipping to Toronto, Milton, Burlington or Oakville, this is most likely their strength. So you may get fast delivery in the GTA at a lower price. If you have any questions about fast shipping in the GTA, please don’t hesitate to contact us any time.

How to Pick a Courier in Toronto or the GTA

September 30, 2013

You’ve got a tonne of options when trying to find a courier in Toronto for services like fast delivery or overnight delivery. So how do you find someone reliable? Here are a few tips: Look at Online Reviews: Big chain couriers are only as good as their local office. So Google them and see how satisfied their current and former customers are. Don’t forget to look at the lesser-known couriers as you might find one close to you, who is willing to do more for your business. Ask Around: If people have nightmare stories, they will be more than happy to tell you. So ask around and you will quickly find out who was a day late, who lost a parcel and who wouldn’t honour an insurance claim. Think about what YOU need: Consider your shipment(s) and your needs. If you’re shipping from Toronto to Milton, Oakville or Burlington, shop around and find a provider that specializes in those routes. Also, consider whether you need a one-off, or if you’re going to try to build an ongoing relationship with your new courier. See who is most interested in your loyalty and repeat business. If you have any questions about shipping in Toronto or the GTA, please contact us any time.

Traditional Courier vs. Bike Couriers

September 27, 2013

What’s the fastest way to ship things across Toronto and the GTA? Using a traditional courier or a bike courier? Many businesses have had great results with bike couriers. They’re nimble, they’re fearless and they can often get a letter or small package from uptown to downtown in a pinch. However, there are several key areas where they can’t compete with a traditional courier service. For example: Range: If you’re shipping out of town, their bikes aren’t much good to you. If you’re shipping from Toronto to Milton, Oakville or Burlington the choice is pretty clear. Tracking: Our real-time GPS tracking allows our dispatch team to locate and deploy the closest driver to your pickup location, ensuring a speedy response time. Also, the GPS tracking technology transmits notifications of estimated time of arrivals (ETA) to our clients, so you’re ready when the driver arrives. Capacity: Bike couriers can carry documents and small parcels. But if your shipment is any larger or more complex than that, you’re going to need to send your order with a traditional courier. Web Tools: The typical bike courier has a pretty straightforward dispatch, pick-up and delivery system for their customers. However, our web tools let you: Place an order online

Print waybills
Track the status of your shipment
Get electronic Proof of Delivery (P.O.D.)
View your invoices
Search for previous shipment records and history
Receive your invoices and statements electronically
Update your address book

If you have any questions about shipping in Toronto or the GTA, please contact us any time.

Is Shipping Your Luggage Cheaper Than Checking it?

September 23, 2013

Should you use a courier or check these when flying from Toronto? If you’re flying out of Toronto, using a courier may be cheaper to ship your luggage ahead of you, versus checking it. An investigation by a consumer watchdog group called “Which?” revealed that you can cut costs by using a courier to send bags in advance, rather than paying to transport them on the plane. They looked at couriers versus airlines in the UK and found that, “It would cost just under £140 to send a 30kg golf bag from London to Malaga and back with one courier, FetchMy, compared with £500 to put the bag in the hold on Ryanair flights - a saving of £360.” That’s in the UK. How about in Canada? Each airline has a different policy for checked bags. For example, if you’re flying economy air Canada from Toronto to Ottawa, you’re allowed: • Your 1st bag is Free • 2nd bag is $20 CAD/USD (per direction) • Each additional bag is $100 CAD/USD (per direction) • No overweight or oversize charges apply when the additional bag fee is paid. • Max. weight per bag: 23kg (50lb) • Max. linear dimensions per bag: 158 cm (62in) • Overweight bag: $75 CAD/USD (per direction) for bags between 23-32kg (50-70lb) • Oversized bag: $75 CAD/USD (per direction) for bags between 160-292cm (63-115in) • If a bag is both overweight and oversized, the $75 fee is charged only once That’s pretty good for the average traveler, but it can get expensive if you’re traveling with things like ski equipment or other heavy gear. Also factor in the convenience of skipping the part where you have to claim this baggage and lug it to your destination. “Using a courier offers the advantage of having your luggage picked up from your home and delivered to your hotel, saving the effort of carrying it around airports and waiting to check it in or leave it at bag drop,” said Which?. “It also saves time at your destination, as there is no need to collect luggage at the baggage reclaim.” So before you hand the airline your money, call us to see if you can save some money and hassle by shipping with a courier from Toronto.