If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and have decided to start up a business from home, it’s an exciting time. From creating your initial business plan to organizing your workspace, and starting to promote your business, there’ll be a lot to do.
In the early stages, getting your products to your customers may seem relatively straightforward. But as your customer base expands, and potentially you start to sell a wider range of goods, it’s wise to take action and get yourself organized before you find you can’t cope. The last thing you need is dissatisfied customers trying to find out why their purchases haven’t arrived. Not only will it be time-consuming for you, but it also won’t build trust in your brand and you could lose out on further orders.
So, what are the factors you need to consider in getting your deliveries organized?
Your supplies
These days, when customers order online, they expect same- or next-day deliveries. To fulfill your orders efficiently, it’s essential to ensure that you have enough materials and equipment to enable you to pack and send without delay. This includes packaging materials as well as anything you use in the manufacturing process. Take the lead time your suppliers require from the order date into account so you can receive just in time.’
Storage space
If you’re doing everything right and the orders are flooding in, storage space may become an issue. Whether it’s a spare bedroom or a basement space, plan to add storage shelves and racking before they’re needed. To work efficiently, you’ll need to be able to access everything you need without wasting valuable time hunting for it.
Delivery charges
Free deliveries are attractive for customers, but you’ll have to bear the costs. Consider how you’re going to cover them. Shave the charges from your profit margin? Factor them into the basic price? Or charge the customer according to what they’ve ordered risking them going elsewhere? Define your approach to charging from the start, so it never becomes an issue.
Local deliveries
If your customer base is mainly local or regional, partnering with a courier company based in the area will allow you to offer fast delivery, as parcels don’t need to be taken to a central distribution center before the customer receives them. Companies with a specific focus on an area, such as Couriers Boston, or those based in other cities, have regular delivery schedules in addition to same-day, which may mean you can save costs. Also, they’ll be eager to have you as a regular customer, so you may be able to negotiate preferential rates.
Long-distance deliveries
With luck, you’ll find that your website is attracting customers from further afield. Although you may be tempted to work with huge global shipping companies, in most cases you’ll find that your local company can fulfill your national and international delivery needs via a network of providers in each location. There are various sites, which allow you to compare shipping rates, helping you to select the best option for you and keeping costs low for your customers.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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