Get Ready for Shipping Rate Hikes US Sellers!

Etail sellers in the US get ready. USPS has recently announced that effective on January 17, 2016, shipping service rates will see increases in several areas. Make sure to review rate increases to ensure your business will remain profitable as these increases may very well affect a seller’s ability to offer free shipping.

2015 UK and US Holiday Shipping Deadlines

It’s that time of year! The holiday season makes or breaks the entire year for many etail sellers. Quick, on time deliveries are no longer optional, but absolutely necessary in order to thrive. The big three U.S. shippers recently released their shipping deadlines for delivery by December 25th. Be sure to mark these dates for domestic services on your dashboard calendars, sellers!

Should You Outsource Your eBay Fulfilment?

One big decision that growing eBay companies will have to make is whether to outsource order fulfilment. On the one hand, it can save you a huge amount of time, and can be cost effective if you choose the right company, but on the other it’s not a perfect fit for all businesses. Here is a list of the pros and cons of outsourced order fulfilment along with some tips for choosing the right fulfilment company.

Planning Your 2015 Holiday Shipping Strategy

Strategic preparations for the 2015 Holiday selling season are well under way for most small to large etail businesses. Along with marketing efforts and inventory decisions, shipping must also be planned for, especially considering the projected rising costs across most major carriers.

Minimizing the Impact of Returns and Chargebacks

You did your homework and designed a strategy that led to record sales for your company. But what about looming returns and chargebacks? What impact will they have on your bottom line? What percentage will be due to “friendly fraud”?

How to Profit by Offering Free Shipping

Studies show that nearly 80% of consumers believe free shipping is essential to their purchase decisions, leading them to spend on average 30% more per order. For many retailers, the word free means less profit, but by carefully incorporating free shipping into your business strategy, you can ensure three things: customer satisfaction, higher conversion rates and a competitive edge over the competition.

Tips to Improve Your eCommerce Packaging

Consumers expect a certain quality when purchasing items online and if a company doesn't deliver those expectations, the chances of repurchase is low. Why is repurchase so important? Research shows that it is 6 to 7 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than it is to keep an existing one.

Shocking Holiday Predictions for eCommerce

Every retailer wishes it could accurately predict its success during the holidays, especially since quarter four represents nearly 20% to 40% of a retailer's annual sales. eCommerce analysts are working to predict this year's success judging by some of the most popular trends - from mobile commerce to video content.

USPS Shipping Deadlines Announced

In a recent article, we learned about UPS and FedEx's plans to avoid a repeat of last year's holiday shipping fiasco. The United States Postal Service has also released it's plans for the holiday season, announcing its suggested mail-by deadlines for retailers and consumers alike.

UPS, FedEx Urging Retailers to Rethink Holiday Shipping Deadlines

Last year's holiday shipping fiasco left nearly 2 million packages stranded across the United States just before Christmas. This was caused (in part) by severe weather, a condensed holiday shopping season, and an overwhelming volume of last-minute packages dropped off for shipment at UPS and FedEx locations.