Author: Archive

TNT launches Canadian customs clearance

Posted by | Aug 15, 2007 | |

TNT Express has launched a new customs brokerage division in Canada. The new department will offer a complete range of customs brokerage services for all inbound shipments into Canada.

“Our new division will take the guesswork out of international trade and guide our Canadian clients through the challenges of customs procedures,” said Matt McDonough, president, TNT Express, North America. “With more than 60 years of combined experience in customs maintenance, TNT’s new brokerage team will be able to help international customers with any questions on global and local regulations.”

In addition, the department will have direct electronic connection to local customs authorities and other government agencies, to speed up clearance.

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Home shoppers mixing offline and online channels

Posted by | Aug 15, 2007 | |

Shoppers are increasingly using catalogues to pick a product before going online to place their order, signaling a new trend dubbed ‘flick to click’ shopping, according to research from Experian.

Experian polled more than 1,500 British consumers and found that seven out of 10 have shopped from home in the last year, of which 80 pct found the product in a catalogue and went online to place the order. Consumers cited “convenience” as a major factor behind this lifestyle choice, with “access to high quality goods” also declared as a crucial aspect.

However, consumers warned that follow-up telephone calls are not acceptable, with 73pct calling this communication a major turn-off. A monthly or quarterly email or posted newsletter would be more welcome, and 60 pct would be happy to receive it.

Mark Peacock, home shopping consultant at Experian Integrated Marketing, believes the trend has been triggered by brands integrating their offline catalogue marketing campaigns with their online sales capabilities.

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Schenker Nixes China Cargo Flap

Posted by | Aug 15, 2007 | |

German cargo giant Schenker, a unit of the German national rail service Deutsche Bahn, responded Monday to the Chinese government’s claims that Schenker has been operating without the necessary licenses or that the licenses were forged, as baseless.

On Friday August 10 (updated Sunday August 12) FlyingTypers carried an exclusive story ‘Schenker China Cargo Uproar,’ revealing a document released in China by the Ministry of Commerce that stated that an official investigation was underway of BAX Global International Limited, Schenker China Limited, of operating with a falsified Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) license.

Such claims or the shutdown of Shenker operations in the region could have had huge effects on the cargo industry worldwide.

Schenker released the following statement on the matter Monday morning, August 13:
“Schenker AG is a registered NVOCC in China under a confirmed listing and is shown at the official website accordingly. In the past further branches have been registered under Schenker China Ltd. Unfortunately during the registration a discrepancy occurred and we are in contact with all respective parties to clarify the matter.

Schenker saw revenues in Asia almost triple in 2006, compared to 2005, to over EUR2.1 billion, according to a Schenker Web page. The company also more than doubled the number of employees in Asia in 2006 to nearly 11,000.

But the transportation specialist also emphasized earlier (agreeing with Mr. Kroger) that the Schenker situation may just be one more example of “business as usual” in China.
“There are other companies that do not comply with Article 27 of the China Ministry Of Commerce (MOC) regulations.”

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PostNet Goes to Panama

Posted by | Aug 15, 2007 | |

Since opening its first location in 1993, PostNet has been a one-stop shop for the small business owner. Fourteen years later, the Denver-based company is bringing their signature services to Panama – the first step in the brand’s expansion into Central America.

Pranas Lukauskis, CEO of Panaoutsource & Mail S.A., has acquired the master franchise for PostNet in Panama and will have a soft opening for PostNet Panama on September 20th with a grand opening tentatively scheduled for October 11th. Panaoutsource has done everything to customize their business for the Panamanian market: in addition to global shipping companies such as FedEx, DHL and UPS, Panaoutsource will also utilize the services of regional companies Copa Airlines Courier and Grupo Zoom. Once the Panama City business is running smoothly, Panaoutsource plans to open four additional locations across the country by 2010.

“Our presence in Central America begins in Panama but certainly won’t end there,” said Brian Spindel, PostNet’s co-founder and COO. “Over the next few years, we plan to expand into several other Central American countries including Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras.”

PostNet offers a worldwide network of full-service, diversified business centers to serve the increasing business services needs of small, home-based and start-up entrepreneurial business ventures. Franchised PostNet locations offer digital copy and document services, printing and finishing services, computer/Internet services and more designed to provide one-stop service to the SOHO (small office/home office) market. PostNet’s goal is to have 1,500 global franchises within three to five years. Estimates call for 50 locations to be added in 2007.

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Argos to roll out self-service kiosks

Posted by | Aug 15, 2007 | |

Argos will be rolling out self-service kiosks to more of its stores through a new deal with Retec Digital and IBM. The kiosks allow customers to order and pay for items in one go.

According to the Daily Mirror, the order is for more than 300 kiosks, although Retec chief executive John Cole hopes Argos will eventually install kiosks in all 700 stores.

Argos customers currently have to choose their item from a catalogue, fill in an order form, queue to pay and then queue to collect the item. The additional kiosks aim to cut waiting time for customers.

Retec said it had deployed a significant number of kiosks across the Argos estate in the financial year ended June 30, 2007 and that the latest order was a further endorsement of the success of the kiosks in Argos stores.

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Integrated digital and direct mail campaigns win consumer vote

Posted by | Aug 15, 2007 | |

Royal Mail’s consumer study to understand the best uses of different advertising methods also revealed nearly seven in ten people believe that direct mail supports online advertising.

And those who prefer to engage with both direct mail and online advertising spend on average GBP 105 a month on goods and services after receiving a combination of the two – GBP 19 more than those who like online ads only and GBP 34 more than those who would choose only direct mail.

The research, carried out by Quadrangle, identified specific circumstances in which it makes sense for companies to use DM and online when communicating with customers:

• More than half of confident web users (55 per cent) prefer to be contacted by a combination of DM and online

• Nearly three times as many web users think direct mail is more personal than online communications and 50 per cent more said it was more professional

• Only 14 per cent of consumers mostly or always click on online advertising

• Whilst 50 per cent of people were found to rarely, if ever, look or interact with online advertising.

The research also revealed compelling arguments for a combination of email and direct mail:

• 84 per cent of people agree that there is a place for both post and email from companies

• 69 per cent feel that email is best used for supporting or clarifying the mail they receive

• Six in ten agreed that they would prefer a company to approach them first by post, than by email

• Over half of respondents (52 per cent) believe that DM gives a better impression of a company than email

• Eight in ten believe that email is best for communicating brief messages

• 66 per cent prefer to receive detailed information by direct mail

• 69 per cent prefer to receive important or sensitive messages by direct mail

• 71 per cent would rather receive vouchers, brochures or catalogues by mail

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OutBound shipping completes United States Postal Service manifest analysis and certificication

Posted by | Aug 15, 2007 | |

OutBound Shipping System, a provider of automated carrier certified shipping software and solutions has today announced that it has completed Manifest Analysis and Certification (MAC) through the United States Postal Service (USPS).

MAC certification was first launched in 2001 by USPS in partnership with the mailing industry to provide a rigorous examination of vendor-supplied manifest mailing software. Although voluntary, receiving MAC certification ensures that vendor-developed shipping systems offer the ability to be fully integrated with USPS and provide accurate postage calculations.

Currently, OutBound Shipping System’s multi-carrier certified shipping solution integrates United States Postal Service (USPS), Federal Express (FedEx) and United Parcel Service (UPS) products and services and also has a less than truckload (LTL) module. The latest edition will feature increased application functionality as well as full integration with USPS.

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