{"id":1040,"date":"2018-09-17T13:43:09","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T13:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/refinepackaging.com\/?p=1040"},"modified":"2025-01-02T07:09:19","modified_gmt":"2025-01-02T12:09:19","slug":"shipping-and-fulfillment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/refinepackaging.com\/blog\/shipping-and-fulfillment\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Shipping and Fulfillment"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s official. You are rolling. <\/span>You\u2019re no longer shipping a couple of stray items a month. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Nope \u2013 you\u2019ve hit the big time. <\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve reached the stage where you have to stress about packing orders and getting them out on time. What a great problem to have!<\/b><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve no doubt agonized over the details of getting your products just right. Now\u2019s the time to make sure that when these products arrive at their final destination, <\/span>your customers are satisfied \u2013 and properly impressed<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

We, humans, are a judgy group. Studies show that you only have <\/span>seven seconds to make a first impression<\/span><\/a> when you meet someone new in person, before making an initial judgement call.<\/span><\/p>\n

Needless to say, first impressions matter.<\/b><\/p>\n

Now, if someone orders goods from you online, you don\u2019t have the opportunity to impress them in person. But you do have the chance to wow them with the delivery of your goods.<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine if a customer comes home to find a tatty-looking box from your company on their front doorstep. <\/span><\/p>\n

Think they\u2019ll be impressed? Think again.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no denying that eCommerce is booming. According to eMarketer <\/span>global retail eCommerce sales reached $2.304 trillion last year<\/span><\/a> \u2013 a 24.8% increase over the previous year.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a lot of packages being delivered. But competition is fierce. \u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

You need to stand out from your competitors and deliver a personal, memorable experience to your customers, so they\u2019ll come back for more. After all, it\u2019s far cheaper to retain customers, than to continually have to find new ones. And happy customers can help you spread the word about your awesome products.<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter what you\u2019re selling, you want to make sure your items are delivered on-time, at a good rate, in good order, and are memorable (in a good way, of course). <\/span><\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s get down to the nitty-gritty. Let\u2019s take a closer look at your options in the wonderful world of shipping and fulfillment, from start to finish.<\/b><\/p>\n

Pick Your Strategy<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"pick<\/p>\n

Alright. For starters, all companies have different needs and priorities. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps you\u2019re a company just starting out and trying to make a name for yourself. You might be short on money, but have more time. Or maybe you\u2019ve been around for eons and you want to protect and build upon your stellar reputation. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019re shipping large, heavy equipment. Or perhaps small <\/span>cosmetics<\/span><\/a> are your thing. <\/span>Whoever you are and whatever you\u2019re shipping, you want to make a positive impression. \u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

So, put some thought into exactly what\u2019s necessary to ensure your products are delivered to contented customers. Here\u2019s how to get started:<\/span><\/p>\n

Figure out who your ideal customer is:<\/b><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re running a business, you know it\u2019s all about the customer. <\/span>It\u2019s important to understand who they are<\/span><\/i>. Ask yourself questions like:<\/span><\/p>\n