What Thanksgiving Weekend 2015 Means for Your Business

Thanksgiving 2015 falls on November 26th. It’s a time to be with family and friends, treat yourself to delicious treats, and, in recent years, start hunting for deals. From Thanksgiving on through to the 30th of November are four of the year’s biggest shopping days, and although sales numbers as a whole continue to rise, there’s been a dramatic shift to getting shopping done online.

Last year, physical retail sales dipped 11% from 2013’s total.¹ While physical stores may be suffering, IBM’s U.S. Retail Black Friday Report 2014 boasted a 63.47% increase of online sales year-over-year (YoY) on Thanksgiving and a 9.48% increase YoY on Black Friday.² Across 2014’s holiday weekend, shoppers flooded digital channels, spending over $4.5 billion.³

As an online business, what does this mean for you?

1. You need to prepare your website for heavy traffic volumes.
   Building on trends established from last year, sales volumes are set to increase again, but physical retail stores may share an even lesser share of the commerce. Consumers are going to be out in force, but more than ever before, they’ll turn to their computers, smartphones, and tablets to make the sale. Make sure your website is ready for heavy traffic volumes so you don’t have to turn anybody away.
2. Your order fulfillment company must be ready for anything.
   For every digital checkout completed, there needs to be a physical reaction of shipping those goods to your consumers. Late November into early December is the single more important time of the year for 3rd party logistics companies to be highly performant and responsive.
   
   Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment runs their fulfillment warehouses with a mix of proven expertise and advanced technology to ensure that everything you sell gets out the door quickly. If your 3PL isn’t equipped to do the same, then it might be time to consider switching.

With each passing year, Thanksgiving Weekend becomes a bigger shopping spectacle. You want your business to be part of these record-shattering days, and you need a 3PL provider to back you up.

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own. We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business. Call or email us to learn how. We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com
CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

¹ http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/business/thanksgiving-weekend-sales-at-stores-and-online-slide-11-percent.html?_r=2
² http://www-01.ibm.com/software/marketing-solutions/benchmark-reports/black-friday-report-2014.pdf
³ http://www.statista.com/statistics/266104/online-retail-spending-on-thanksgiving-black-friday-and-cyber-monday/

FedEx Fuel Surcharge Déjà Vu

Effective 2 November 2015, FedEx is adjusting its fuel surcharge index.  Experiencing some déjà vu? That may be because just nine months ago, in February 2015, FedEx adjusted its fuel surcharge index.  

This time around, fuel surcharges for FedEx Express/International will increase 1.5% to 1.75%, while FedEx Ground surcharges will increase 0.5% – 1.0%.¹ These are in addition to the fuel surcharges implemented in February.  And the hits just keep coming: FedEx also announced increased shipping rates effective 4 January 2016, with FedEx Express, Ground, Home Delivery and Freight, all increasing by an average of 4.9%.²

You have to get your products into your customers’ hands, so you have no choice but to ship.  So, how will these changes affect your planning? What are your options for managing rising shipping costs?  How can you proactively address your logistics management?  

Before you panic and start taking the hit to your bottom line, talk to your 3PL fulfillment partner.  A great fulfillment partner can help; transportation is the backbone of their business, and they’re on top of the trends and working on ways to optimize their options to their partners’ benefit.  Talk to Vision, we can help you understand and plan for your transportation future.

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Exciting news: Vision will be at the SEMA Show November 3^rd through 6^th in Las Vegas www.semashow.com.  The SEMA show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world!  If you’re thinking about going, let’s connect!  661-702-5050.

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

                                                             

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

¹ http://www.mytotalretail.com/post/oops-fedex-increases-fuel-surcharges-products-effective-nov-2-2015/

² http://www.mytotalretail.com/post/fedex-announces-2016-general-rate-increase-changes-shipware-analysis/

How to Reduce Your Abandoned Shopping Carts

According to the Baymard Institute (baymard.com), 68% of all ecommerce visitors abandon their shopping carts – leaving behind merchandize valued at approximately $4 trillion!¹  How can you reduce this trend, and close the sale with your customers?  Fortunately, the same research tells us that 63% of those abandoned carts are recoverable.  Following are three significant reasons causing those abandons:

• Not ready to buy yet 16%
• Having to create a new user account 23%
• Unexpected shipping costs 28%

Addressing just one of these factors can have a positive impact on your sales, so let’s look at the biggest factor – unexpected shipping costs.

A well-designed ecommerce site focused on the user experience can support your efforts to close sales.  Your billing and shipping page should provide multiple shipping time options, with the delivery time and cost clearly displayed.  Set the least expensive as the default.  Include descriptions and input examples for input fields – you want to make completing the forms as simple as possible, and not leave room for questions or errors that result in the customer walking away from the cart.  And always provide an option to select the shipping address as the same as the billing address – never make your customer input the same information twice!

Your 3PL fulfillment partner can help you fine-tune your shipping options and ensure that you meet your shipping deadlines, to help maximize your cart close rates.  They can be a key partner in crafting your inventory and shipping strategies.  Talk to your partner today, and start recovering those abandoned carts today!

Exciting news: Vision will be at the SEMA Show November 3rd through 6th in Las Vegas www.semashow.com.  The SEMA show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world!  If you’re thinking about going, let’s connect!  661-702-5050.

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

¹ https://econsultancy.com/blog/66680-top-10-digital-marketing-stats-from-this-week/?utm_source=Econsultancy&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5922660_1836-daily-pulse-us-2015-07-10&dm_i=LQI,3IXYC,9O32IC,CN17Z,1

Managing Rising Consumer Expectations for Shipping

Ecommerce is on the rise. Consumers are visiting vendor sites, carting goods, and checking out more often now than ever! However, as online sales surge, so do consumer expectations for shipping their purchased goods. Let’s take a look at the kinds of expectations customers have these days and what you can do to keep up.

                                                       

How Many Days to Wait?

As consumers come to expect more and more from online retailers, the amount of time shoppers are willing to wait for their products to arrive decreases. The exact number of days a customer is willing to wait depends on the cost of shipping. When shipping is free, 85% of consumers are willing to wait five days or more, while only 66% of customers paying for shipping are willing to wait that long.

Shipping Fees and Shipping Free

Anyone who’s ever mailed a letter knows that shipping isn’t free. Although many companies opt to absorb these costs as a way to attract customers, the fact remains that shipping a product is going to cost somebody some cash.

Despite this fact, studies have shown that 76% of consumers expect some sort of free shipping option when shopping online. This disconnect between shopper expectations and reality creates increased costs for vendors.

Customers Expect the Unexpected

Shoppers maintain lives as complex as the ecommerce stores on which they shop. As a consequence, many consumers find the need to change shipping details days after the transaction is complete. Some shoppers want to change a package’s destination, while others want to push a delivery date back to ensure they’re home to receive it.

According to a recent study, less than half of consumers are currently satisfied with their options to change delivery dates or destination after their order has been placed.

How to Meet Expectations

If there’s one thing to be said about shipping expectations from online shoppers, it’s that they’re constantly in flux. The best way to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers is to work with a fulfillment warehouse that is constantly dedicated to matching those needs. You need professionals who are always updating, refining, and perfecting order fulfillment services.

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own. We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business. Call or email us to learn how. We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

What to Look for in a 3PL Provider

If you’ve been following our blog, then you’ve seen us define third-party logistics (3PL) and discuss reasons why you should consider using 3PL for your company. Today, we’re going to take a slightly different approach and tell you how to pick the right 3PL. The ideal 3PL provider has all of the following:

International Reach

Today’s connected environment gives even the smallest companies the ability to extend reach worldwide. While earning global visibility is achievable by the individual, actually shipping your goods across the globe requires specific expertise. Your 3PL should be able to take your goods across the world. Even if you aren’t shipping internationally right now, choose a 3PL team that will allow you expand when you’re ready.

Domestic Expertise

While shipping across borders and overseas gives you a competitive edge, mastery over domestic shipping is absolutely essential to any business. Select a 3PL that's quick, accurate, and affordable when it comes to order fulfillment.

Local Cartage

While most order fulfillment companies work with other carriers when necessary to get the job done, the best teams make use of their own fleets to satisfy local orders. Order fulfillment companies using an in-house fleet are able to fully own responsibility for local orders, ensuring that the product gets to the consumer without ever switching hands.

Small Parcel Shipping

Some business models involve shipping small packages to individuals across the country—these orders aren’t always best handled by entire fleets of delivery vehicles. To accommodate smaller orders, a good 3PL will work with other carriers at competitive rates to ensure that packages arrive on time. Every delivery should be treated as important, no matter the size!

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

Planning for 2015 Holiday Shipping

During the dog days of summer, it seems as if the holidays reside far in the distant future.  The reality is that your preparations for the holiday season should be well under way by now!  Just a few of the steps you should be working through are:

1. Forecasting 2015 holiday sales.
2. Assessing your current inventory against the forecast, translating that into inventory requirements, and beginning to coordinate with your suppliers.
3. Planning your logistics management to keep a close eye on your inbound product.
4. Determining how you’ll store and manage that inventory when it arrives.
5. Defining your sales strategy
6. Monitoring key holiday shipping dates and costs – and their impact on your strategy and bottom line:
• UPS: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/about/news/service_updates/20150806_transit_time.html?WT.mc_id=VAN701482
• FedEx: http://www.fedex.com/us/service-guide/holiday-schedule.html

A commonly understated component in your sales strategy is shipping to your consumers – how fast will the order get to the customer, and will shipping be discounted or free?  Will delivery speed and cost vary based on the customer and or order size?  Will you offer discounted or free shipping when you follow up on abandoned online shopping carts as an incentive to close the sale?  In addition, what are your options to make the delivery, and ensure the customer’s experience is positive and their expectations are met?  No one wants a replay of the 2013 holiday season, with gifts arriving after the big day!

Your fulfillment partner can help you ensure that you meet your shipping deadlines, all the while still balancing the highest degree of customer support and flexibility.  They can be a key partner in crafting your inventory and shipping strategies.  Have that discussion now, and sleep better tonight!

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

Why Your 3PL Should Be Your Strategic Partner

The need to manage and reduce costs is nothing new.  And the centralization of logistics services and automation offered by 3PLs have enabled companies to bundle and outsource complex logistics functions, leading to more efficient operations and in many cases, allowing the companies to capitalize on the 3PLs infrastructure, resources and relationships.   All good so far, right?

The problem arises when those companies begin to view the 3PL as a commodity provider rather than a strategic partner.  “The recent white paper, “Unpacking Risk Shifting: A White Paper Challenging Unreasonable Risk-Shifting in the Transportation Industry,” written by what could be viewed as a collection of logistics “all-stars,” including academics, 3PLs and shippers, and consultants, makes the argument that the relationships have swung too far toward commoditization and away from strategic partnerships.  Companies “…want innovation and investment by 3PLs, with 3PLs reluctant to deliver, citing how ‘razor thin margins and short-term commodity-based contracts create a disincentive for 3PLs to make investments.’”¹   That’s bad for both sides of the transaction:  3PLs may turn away business, or even go out of business.  Companies may not be able to find a 3PL willing to work with them.  Both sides lose.

Contrast that with a more balanced relationship that builds on the success of both the company and the 3PL.  As a strategic partner, your 3PL is in a position to invest in the future, supporting the success of both organizations.  They can be the innovative solution provider that your company relies on, rather than just the folks who get the package from point A to point B.  When the next crisis or amazing opportunity arises, will you have a strategic 3PL partner to help you solve the problem or capitalize on that great new opportunity?  

Talk to Vision today, to learn how we can be your strategic 3PL partner, building a future together.  Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

¹http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/shifting_risk_and_meeting_in_the_middle_could_serve_as_key_to_shipper_3pl_r