Starting your own small business is a big challenge and involves a lot of different elements. From procuring the right supplies to selling items – there are a lot of things you need to work on during the process of your business.
One of the more complex and stressful elements of a business is logistics. If you are not already familiar with logistics and how it works – this is the part of your business where you move your items from one place to the next. This can be from the seller to your warehouse, warehouse to distributor or retailer, or directly to your customer’s home.
When thinking about the logistics of your business you need to consider shipping and how to get the best deal for your small venture.
Today we want to take some time to help you improve your shipping process this year and thus be more successful in your business.
#1 Understand the process
The first step in improving your shipping for business is to understand the supply chain and how it works. You need to know the journey your stock takes from the factory to you, to your sellers, and to your customers.
It is important to write this down and have a clear path for where your products start and end up because this will allow you to plan for your shipping needs.
#2 Consider warehouse structure
Your warehouse needs to be structured in a practical way to ensure the easy flow of products in and out of your doors. It is crucial when building and managing a warehouse to take steps to improve the flow and quality of the space.
You can map out your packaging area, pick up and drop off areas, and be sure to invest in Delta Mark shipping container tarps to protect products from the rain as well as to utilize your branding when on the roads.
Consider the path trucks will take to get to your warehouse and think about how you can make this flow in terms of products.
For example, you’ll want to keep a set of steels free close to a drop-off so you can place new products once counted into storage without carrying it across the warehouse. The logistics of your warehouse can be a huge deal.
#3 Contact multiple providers
It is important, like with any partnership, that when choosing a shipping provider you take the time to research more than one option.
Look for a few different freight companies who will help you transport your products and take the time to compare their pros and cons. This includes price, availability, and services.
Having a clear idea of the different things on offer is a crucial thing to do.
#4
Meet in person
When choosing a freight company that will be on call for your business it is important for you to meet them in person to get a feel for the business.
You can never truly tell what values a business has until you sit down and speak to them face to face. A business could be the best of the bunch on paper but when you speak to them you might find them to be impersonal or volatile.
To truly understand a person and trust them you need to be able to see how they are in person.
