Nordstrom's Accelerated Building of Outlet Stores May Help Same-Day Deliveries

So many brick-and-mortar retailers right now are very intent on implementing a strategy to reach their respective online markets. Nordstrom's is just one of those companies currently testing in California area markets with EBay to provide same-day delivery of its' products. Same-day delivery is actually nothing new for Nordstrom's, however, having outlet stores is and the company is moving strategically forward in this direction.

Last week Nordstrom's released news that the company will begin the accelerate its' plans to build Rack outlet stores. Their second quarter net income decreased by 11% during the second quarter due to the postponing of their biggest sales event. Their sales did rise by 7.4%. It appears Nordstrom's is saving the big guns for later this year and could very well have to do with their outlet store building strategy.

Does the outlet store strategy have anything to do with competing with online retail via same-day delivery? Well, the more physical locations Nordstrom's has, the better equipped operationally to handled online order fulfillment. Amazon knows this very well with their initiative to add 8 more warehouses to their list of this year alone to accommodate their massive volume of online orders. The world's largest online retail appears to be very serious about the ability to quickly meet online demand. It would not be surprising this is one reason Nordstrom's has outlet stores in mind.

Nordstrom's is in the online e-commerce race with Macy's, Target and other retailers. The company began same-day delivery last year, showing their online products could be delivered within hours. For just $15, online customers can have their product delivered the same day. Any orders placed after 1pm, however, are delivered the following day.

Whether Nordstrom's outlet store plans have to do with being more logistically efficient for online retail or not, the company certainly knows same-day delivery is highly desired by shoppers today. Courier services like A1Express can assist businesses with delivery of their online products and obtain the competitive advantage they need. Nordstrom's has even utilized the large Atlanta courier to help with various same-day deliveries to meet the needs of their customers. Couriers can easily assist Nordstrom's with deliveries from their future outlet stores to come.

References: Washington Post, Associated Press, 8.9.12-Nordstrom raises full-year profit guidance; boosts expansion pace for Rack chain

EBay Launches Tests Of Same-Day Delivery And Utilizes Couriers

Online retail giant Amazon has been in the news lately regarding its' serious pursuit of offering same-day delivery of its' online products. As it turns out, they are not the only online corporation analyzing same-day delivery and making it a core component of their services. Look out Amazon. Here comes EBay.

EBay, the world's largest retail marketplace, has begun testing an impressive same-day delivery service with large retailers says a report from Reuters. Their delivery service will be offered via their newly released mobile application EBay Now. The application will be the platform that enables customers the option of same-day delivery within an hour! The upcoming eBay Now is being tested in San Francisco. Among EBay's host of test retailers include Toy R Us, Target, Walgreen Co, Macy's, Nordstrom Inc, and Best Buy.

The strategy is being driven by large retailers seeking ways to compete with Amazon. The company is outpacing physical location retailers in sales with lower prices and in addition, is after providing same-day delivery to its online customers as well. Amazon is building strategically centralized warehouses to accomodate their same-day delivery model. EBay's approach, on the contrary, is utilizing brick and mortar retailers to test eBay Now in hopes to offer a better delivery service and overall product.

EBay's second quarter growth of 23% thus far in 2012 has had alot to do with mobile shopping. They are expecting to have $10 billion in volume this year, which is double their results in 2011. Mobile shopping technology has surged this year and appears to be here to stay. It simply makes sense for Ebay to go in this direction.

"EBay is offering $15 off the first order through eBay Now. Delivery is free the first three times. After that, delivery is $5 for the test period, and the minimum order is $25", said ebay spokeswoman Lina Shustarovich. The application can be downloaded by shoppers via devices such as iPad. They then select the "Bring It" option once they find whatever they are shopping for. eBay Now will send the order request to the closest courier to the destination, and the courier will then pick up and deliver the product.

With online sales, especially using mobile devices, is increasing, same-day delivery via courier may become the future of e-commerce deliveries. Companies like EBay and Amazon appear to realize couriers can assist companies with gaining the competitive advantage they need in the online world. Courier services such as A-1 Express have a national footprint to assist any company nationwide for same-day deliveries. EBay and Amazon could utilize A-1 Express, as many corporations begin to see the value of couriers.

References: Reuters, 8.6.12, Alistair Barr, EBay tests same-day delivery with big retailers

Will the US Postal Service Survive?

The US Postal Service has been in existence for centuries and it would be a travesty to even imagine what the country will do without it. However, the loss of the USPS mailing service could be a reality.

Yahoo news has reported the USPS has now defaulted on its two benefit payments, which were mandated by Congress to pay. The due date, which was August 1, has now passed and there is great concern on whether the Postal Service will survive. $5.5 billion was due in retiree health benefit payments and another $5.6 billion is due in September. The company also had to pay $1.5 billion is due to the Labor Department. Congress had discussed a new five-year plan assist the struggling company to increase profits, which including ending this billion dollar reoccurring payment. the plan also meant cutting Saturday deliveries and shutting down postal facilities.

"The impact of the postal default may not be seen by the public, but it will be felt by the business community," said Art Sackler, co-coordinator of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service. "Mailers will be increasingly wary about the stability of the Postal Service. The logical and likely move would be to divert more mail out of the system." The USPS has struggled over the past years. First-class mail volume has decreased 25% since 2006, and will continue to decline. Currently, the Postal Service is incurring a lose of $25 million a day.

Many are questioning over the long-term, will the Postal Service survive? There are ideas to keep the USPS going, mainly changing it into a privatization structured company. This means the Postal Service will no longer be a government institution, which is how it has always been. Whatever is decided, the key is adjusting its' makeup to modern-day business, which will cause it to grow.

If the USPS is going to go bankrupt, it is not expected to happen anytime soon. Fedex and UPS have high stakes in the USPS for its' various deliveries like online shopping. However, consumers are desiring to get their purchases delivered much faster than Fedex and UPS can provide. Courier services like A1Express can be the alternative many businesses and online customers turn to for their e-commerce and other same day delivery services needs. If USPS doesn't survive, courier services may become highly sought after in the future.

References: Yahoonews, 8.6.12, Scott Bomboy-Can America survive without the United States Postal Service; WWLTV, 8.1.12, Post office nears historic default on $5 billion payment

How Common are Bike Messengers Today?

With names like “Aero,” and “City Sprint” bike messengers have been delivering small parcels, business and legal documents since the bicycle was invented. Western Union even had a livery of “telegraph boys” who delivered messages in San Francisco. Bike messengers are local couriers for population dense areas, where travel by car is difficult or traffic makes quick deliveries impossible. Parking costs in large metro areas, can also cause problems for quick delivers here and there about town.

While it is increasingly easy to email clients important documents, which are crisp and clear, it is not always possible to file completed legal papers with the various courts via email. Many businesses and law practices depend on the quick delivery time and expertise of bike messengers.

With a traditional truck or car based courier service parking and parking fees cut into delivery time and profits, a bike messenger bikes right up to the client's building or courthouse, zipping in and out of traffic and around traffic tie ups with ease. Bike messengers, for a long time, have had the lock on the same day courier market. With more and more business spreading out over metro areas and taking up residence in suburban locations, there has been a decline in the need for bike messengers. Increasing acceptance of electronic communication by the courts and other public entities, the number of bike messengers has shrunk, but in the communities they serve, they are still known for their quick if not quirky same day delivery services.

Small shops, like groceries, pharmacies, and other small businesses are turning to bike messengers to get their products to their customers quickly. In large cities it is not uncommon to see a three wheeled bike with a small cart being pulled behind it. Same day delivery service via bike messenger or bike courier services are a green alternative and bike messenger or bike delivery services are not bound by the delays caused by downtown construction projects and traffic jams.

While many people remember seeing bike messengers depicted in cinema as dare devils and stunt riders, with flashy traffic moves, most bike messengers are safe riders, equipped with up to the date bikes, a lock and their now famous and urban fashion statement, messenger bag. In some cities advanced bike safety training is required to be a bike messenger, as is a helmet. In other areas, the bike messengers work as independent contractors, providing their own bikes and safety gear.

Bike messengers are an important part of how businesses move information from place to place. While electronic communication has drastically changed how businesses communicate with each other and their customers, what hasn't change is if a business needs documents moved across town and quick, a bike messenger is one of the many cross town courier services available to get the job done.