With the unexpected events that last year brought us, many people decided to pick up hobbies or turn existing interests into small businesses. Small businesses are booming right now, with consumers being more mindful about where they shop and looking to support local or independent businesses.
Many people are taking the big step of setting up online businesses for themselves, many never having had any experience in this field. There are so many ways to set up and sell for your own business. With many websites dedicated to selling such as Etsy and eBay, and social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook adding features to make selling so easy, your possibilities are endless. Setting up your own small store can be relatively easy, but there is much more to it.
With so much to consider when beginning a business, from your products, social media and much more it can be a little overwhelming. We thought we would take this opportunity to give you some tips and tricks for shipping your amazing creations as far and wide as you can dream. With a small business, shipping can be a minefield with different methods and pricing options to consider, but here are some things to think about;
1. Personalisation
Many people chose to shop small to avoid huge corporations and support independent businesses. One thing that sets your business apart for these large chains is the personalisation that you can offer. Customers feel much more appreciated when they know their custom is valued on an individual level. Having personalised thank you messages in your parcels can be a lovely way to show how much you care.
You can also have branded packaging which looks great and also reminds customers of your brand name, and any social media accounts that you want them to follow.
2. Shipping cost
When posting your items for sale online it is important to know how much shipping will cost so you can factor this into your listings. Having a good idea of postage costs will make sure that you aren’t cutting into your profit margin when shipping your items.
It is also important to note that more people are actually more likely to go for items with free shipping rather than an item which charges for shipping, even if they are a similar price. You may want to take this into account and factor your shipping cost into the overall price and offer free shipping.
3. Returns
Returns are an inevitable part of small business shipping, no matter how amazing your products are, they just might not be what everyone is expecting. It is important to plan ahead before you start shipping, to factor in what your returns policy should be. You may also want to feature this on your website or shop page to inform customers.
Having a dedicated shipping method for your returns will also ensure that you have a tried and tested procedure that won’t let you down. Our courier service offers an at home pickup service. All you need to do is book a pickup and we will come to you and collect the parcel. For returns, you can simply request for us to collect from your customer. For more information visit: https://foxcouriersglasgow.com/contact-us/
4. Secure packaging
The safe transportation of your items is so important. You don’t want one of your customers receiving a broken or damaged item and leaving a bad review online. To avoid this, it is extremely important that you package your items securely, in bubble wrap where applicable to make sure that your items reach their destination in prime condition.
It is also important to select a courier that will respect the care of your items and make sure they arrive at their location in the same condition that they left your business. At Fox’s Couriers, we take extreme care in the transportation of our parcels, so you can be sure that they are handled with care.
We hope that your business is able to boom and that our tricks for small business shipping were able to give you some more ideas to better your business. If you have any questions don’t be afraid to message us here: https://foxcouriersglasgow.com/contact-us/