Waterfield Designs Launches Same-Day Delivery In San Francisco

E-Retailers all across the US are implementing more business strategies focusing on same-day delivery. It use to be far from attainable, however, now it is being tested and proven to work within certain demographics. Online business is increasing at a fast pace and opening wide the door to increase sales for the companies that can offer it. WaterField Designs is one of those companies that has decided to jump on board and provide same-day delivery.

The PR Web reported the WaterField Designs has launched its’ same-day delivery service in San Francisco. The manufacturer will be offering the service locally via Metro Post delivery. Metro Post is a US Postal Service company. The cost for local same-day delivery will be $8. The low price is sure to attract customers. Orders will be taken via the company’s retail site sfbags.com. With this option, Waterfield will deliver all in-stock items ordered before 1:00 pm between 4:00 and 8:00pm the same day.

Customer will be alerted within 24 hours if a product is out-of -stock. With Metro Post being a USPS service, all size and weight restrictions will be the same. Another great feature Waterfield will provide is a delivery notification via the USPS track and confirm tool. Customers will have the convenience of receiving this type of update, especially because it is same-day delivery. This type of delivery may be time-sensitive for the customer, therefore, it is a plus for the new service. Customers will be able to call Metro Post for any delivery issues or changes.

Waterfield appears to be excited about their new same-day delivery. Waterfield owner Gary Waterfield stated in the report, "Sometimes you see something online and you want to wear it tomorrow. Now you can do that here in San Francisco with WaterField Designs. And, buying online saves both time and money—no high retail markups when you purchase directly from our online store. San Franciscans are going to love this service." The company was awarded 7x7 Magazine's Favorite Small Business Award this year for its' ability to provide service innovation. This level of service shows Waterfield definitely is a trailblazer in the bag industry.

Waterfield will have their laptop sleeves, bags and other digital gear at the doorstep of its’ customers in no time. Other retailers, such as Wal-Mart, eBay, Amazon, and more, are also testing some form of same-day delivery in San Francisco. Even Macy’s, BestBuy and Target are testing the service as well. It is definitely a service that e-retailers are viewing as the delivery system of the future. This level of service will be pivotal in working out any delivery issues before the holiday season arrives as well.

Waterfield is just one example of how same-day delivery can impact an online company’s ability to market and promote itself to customers. It creates a competitive advantage for any e-retailer. Same-day couriers like A-1 Express can partner with Waterfield or any e-retailer, to create a courier logistics solution to meet its’ same-day delivery needs. A-1 Express also has a national footprint, which makes it easier to implement a delivery solutions.

Reference: 7.9.13, PR Web, Waterfield designs same-day delivery service within San Francisco via US Postal Service’s Metro Post

Ahold USA Created Pick-Up Service, Could use Same-Day Delivery

Many grocery stores are at work pursuing to create just the right shopping experience for the future. It appears the next innovation in grocery shopping is here. You can ask Ahold USA about their new idea, which is showing even the biggest of grocery retailers how to be successful.

Internet Retailer recently reported Ahold USA has created a grocery pick-up service called Peapod. With Ahold, customers do not have to come and wait in long lines to finally get to the register. Customers can actually go right online, buy the groceries they want and then, pick their grocery order up at their local supermarket. In their case, it is Stop & Shop or Giant Foods. There are no fees involved with the service as well.

The Peapod also offers home delivery service, which has been in operation for over a decade. This means the operation has been proven and Ahold optimizes on productivity. With this innovative service, productivity and efficiency is key. It is a two-hour window delivery service. If a customer has the time to wait, this is a great option for receiving your groceries.

A customer goes to Peapod.com to shop for the groceries and the supermarket fulfills the order. You can set the time they would like to pick up their order. Upon arrival between the pick-up time, a supermarket employees confirms who the recipient is. The plus about Peapod is, if you order something online that is not in stock, you have to option of allowing them to substitute for it or credit the account for a full refund.

With the growth of online retail consistently growing annually, it is inevitable that grocery online services were bound to follow. Online retail is also creating a higher demand for the speed in which products are delivered. This opens the door for competitors with an edge in this area, to capture more market share. Retail giants such as Wal-Mart, are currently testing same-day delivery of online products. Wal-Mart is exploring a Peapod type service as well.

Grocery pick-up and delivery services both have a place for same-day delivery by courier services like A-1 Express. This nationwide courier can be a viable option for grocery store chains to turn to for grocery deliveries to their customers. A-1 Express is able to develop superior courier logistic solutions to meet any online grocery service needs. Ahold USA could potentially partner with A-1 Express to pick-up a customer's grocery order and deliver to them.

Reference: Internet Retailer, Danny Silverman, 6.26.03, Skipping the checkout line: a first look at Ahold USA's pick-up service

Postmates Using iPhone App For One-Hour Same-Day Deliveries

Many retailers are currently testing and implementing same-day delivery, not only in the US, but globally. One plus about same-day delivery is it has enabled customers to receive their online products within one day. However, depending on the company, its' same-day delivery could take hours and cost a pretty good penny to use it. Upcoming online retailer, Postmates, is looking to change that and offer customers a same-day delivery service that competitors will have to take notice of.

Internet Retailer reported Postmates is setting out to take mobile commerce to another level, offering product deliveries within one hour. Postmates plans on using an iPhone app to do it. The app will allow customers in San Francisco and Seattle to order goods from local retailers and restaurants to start with. The cost for the one-hour delivery will range from $5 to $12. This one-hour service, if done effectively, will definitely get the attention of shoppers and online retailers.

The service via the iPhone is a premium service and customers will have this option if they so choose. Kristin Schaefer, Postmates Director of Growth stated in the article, “It is an on-demand service. You request a delivery via our iPhone app and a courier—on bike, scooter or in a car—is then dispatched to buy and deliver your item. You can track your courier, get real-time estimated times of arrival and pay seamlessly using your phone.” It appears Postmates will utilize same-day couriers like A-1 Express to perform the one-hour deliveries on their behalf. This is effective, considering Postmates will need a partner that has an expertise in fast deliveries, which couriers do have.

The way the service works is a Postmates courier arrives at the restaurant or store the customer has used the iPhone app and buys the goods just as the shopper would. They then deliver the customers' app purchases to the destination. This eliminates the need to sign up merchants to participate in the delivery service program. Schaefer also stated, “You can get anything you want delivered in under an hour. Food from any restaurant, groceries, beer, wine, Nikes, make-up and electronics.” Shoppers will be able to rate their courier as well, which will help manage an optimal delivery personnel.

Since Postmates use of the app, they have experienced great results. The company has processed more than $1 million worth of deliveries from merchants in San Francisco and Seattle within the last three months. It's delivery volume is growing at 20% per month. Another statistic that is helping the growth is Postmates user growth is at 40% per month as well. This appears will ultimately end in nothing but positive results in the months ahead for Postmates, especially with the holiday season on the horizon.

iPhones, iPads, smartphones, and other mobile devices are going right in line with growth of online shopping. It is easier now than it has ever been to for customers to make purchases online, right from their homes and have an online product delivered their doorsteps. Online sales have increases by 16% consistently over recent years and mobile-commerce increases at the same time. With this type of iPhone app and the popularity of Apple, fast deliveries is sure to continue to grow.

An iPhone with the ability to create deliveries of online products is essentially what same-day delivery is being provided by same-day couriers like A-1 Express. This Dallas Courier is a viable option for online retailers to partner with gain the ground they need to be competitive in mobile commerce. With the continued growth online, A-1 Express can quickly implement a courier logistics solution that will help any online business keep up and soar in the years ahead.

References: 5.30.13, Internet Retailer, An iPhone app enables delivery within an hour

Instacart Taking On Amazon For Same-Day Online Groceries

Amazon is expected to begin one of its' most anticipated business ventures--online grocery deliveries. CNN Money recently reported Instacart founder Apoorva Mehta is taking online giant Amazon, as they both go full steam ahead towards revolutionizing the online grocery business.

How can this one man and his new company take on the world's largest online retailer? Mehta is an ex-Amazon engineer, therefore, he knows something about the online market and how to make it work. Being a former employee of Amazon more than likely has armed him to be able to make this big move. He is familiar with the cons of AmazonFresh and has the experience backing his company Instacart. If anyone has an edge and the knowledge to do it, it just might be Mehta.

Instacart's report more than likely comes in response to Amazon's announcing its' plan to expand AmazonFresh, which will incorporate the selling online food with high-margin item deliveries. Amazon says AmazonFresh has been tested for at least five years in hometown Seattle and is now ready to launch in other cities. The first two cities will be Los Angeles and San Francisco later this year. In Seattle, Amazon has utilized its' own fleet of trucks to perform deliveries of fresh food products.

Instead of building new warehouses in nearby areas like Amazon, Instacart is using an existing infrastructure, one that includes well-known supermarkets and 200 contracted personal shoppers across the San Francisco Bay, in which Instacart is available for its' customers.

Amazon appears to be taking an approach to the online grocery market that is, in Apoorva Mehta's opinion, is unwise. The online leader strategy is to gain their online food profits by selling other products, at the same time, that consumers already order online. Mehta's responded to this strategy in the article stating, "We were delivering Xboxes with your groceries. That may seem like an interesting idea, but how many times do you need to buy an Xbox?"

For the most effective method of delivery, online both Amazon and Instacart will have to have the online groceries arrive at a shopper's doorstep fast. Instacart may very well utilize contracted shoppers, however, Amazon stated they may utilize same-day couriers to handle their food deliveries. Competitors such as Wal-Mart and even Target, are already testing same-day delivery within several city markets in pursuit of online grocery deliveries.

Mehta's Instacart appears to have a good plan, however, the delivery aspect will be vital for its' online grocery execution. Same-day courier services like A-1 Express has a national footprint for same-day delivery and will be just the right fit to meet online demand. This San Diego Courier can partner with Instacart and develop an optimal courier logistics solution. A-1 Express has a high level of courier expertise and can provide quick implementation of food deliveries and keep up with company expansion, as the online food industry grows.

References: 6.18.13, CNNMoney, JP Mangalindan, This ex-Amazon engineer wants to outsmart Jeff Bezos

EBay Launches "Shoppable Window" In New York, Will Use Same-Day Courier For Deliveries

EBay has been one the largest online retailers for quite some time, competing against Amazon for superiority. The company has been implementing various e-retail business strategies to get ahead, including one-hour same-day delivery within cities on the west coast. Now, eBay has created another service program, however, it will begin in the big apple of New York.

EBay has announced it will be launching a "shoppable window" in New York this month. These windows are actual virtual stores in which are being set up to generate more sales from their physical store networks. The first four of the screens opened on June 8th and will continue until July 7th. The EBay window will be selling various items from current and new fashion brands. The window has been set up since late last year, however, shoppers were not allowed to make any purchases with the screen. This service window will be set up on the doors outside of closed stores.

Shoppers will have the ability to go to the shoppable window, place an order and have their products delivered via a same-day courier to their doorstep. Payments for their orders will be accepted by the courier via Ebay-owned PayPal. This will be a very convenient service for customers and will increase the reachability of brick-and-mortar retailers to online shoppers. EBay has continued to partner will store retailers to develop a business model to increase their online sales. Companies such as Target and Macy's are just a few of the companies eBay is implementing the shoppable window business strategy.

Ebay's shoppable windows are being stated by experts as a platform to shift to mobile shopping. "This extends the boundary of the store. Suddenly the physical store, by virtue of online technology, extends to any space that's interesting to use," said EBay's Head of Innovation and New Ventures Group Steve Yankovich. Their pursuit of mobile shopping could definitely be the case. Recently, eBay announced roll-out of a one-hour same-day delivery service. The service is available via their mobile app--eBay Now. Through eBay Now, shoppers can place on order and have it in their hands within one-hour.

"We would never be able to fit all those products in a store in the traditional way," Chief Executive William McComb said regarding the shoppable window being used to launch a new fashion brand. He went on stating, "These things would typically require an extra 10,000 square feet of store space. But through partnerships like this eBay one we could do this through stores that are 2,000 square feet".

EBay utilizing a courier service for the new shoppable window confirms that same-day delivery works. Same-day couriers like A-1 Express can assist any e-retailer to provide various courier innovative solutions to fit excel within the online business industry. A-1 Express has the expertise to develop same-day delivery solution, including fast service and cost savings for its' customers nationwide.

References: 6.5.13, Reuters, Alistair Barr, EBay to open 'shoppable windows' in New York