Tag: Courier/Express/Parcels

Online retailers need to innovate more: eBay’s Briggs

Posted by | Jun 6, 2007 | |

The online retail space is growing with bandwidth expansion, and retailers need to match the growth with innovative ideas, according to a panel here at yesterday’s Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition.

In his presentation titled “How eBay will Continue Reshaping the E-Retialing Industry,” Gary Briggs, chief marketing officer at eBay, challenged his counterparts in attendance at the show to think more outside the box.

“Online retail is rapidly maturing but we are not doing enough to innovate,” Mr. Briggs said. “I am offering a call to action to the industry to innovate more.”

One problem with the retail industry today is that online is not given the credit for what it is, according to Mr. Briggs. Online spending is often much less than traditional retail spend.

Also, retailers are not coming up with their own ideas but merely copying others.

“There is a lot more to offer than just free shipping,” Mr. Briggs said. “Free shipping is important but when I go to Web sites and look at how the marketing is done, there has to be more than free shipping to compete.”

Mr. Briggs said the way to innovate is for the brand to give up control and listen more to the consumer.

One example is the introduction of eBay Motors. EBay noticed a trend of users selling cars on its site, but it did not have a category for it on www.ebay,com. Users were listing cars in categories like toys and this was not increasing the sales. Since eBay added eBay Motors, the online retail giant has sold 2.5 million cars a year.

“Our system of innovation is more than what is inside the four walls of our company,” Mr. Briggs said. “We are trying to let the users help us shape how we create our Web site and offer products to customers.”

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Preliminary results announcement for the year to 31 march 2007

Posted by | Jun 5, 2007 | |

Financial Highlights

– Revenue up 10 pct to GBP 899m (2006: GBP 819m)
– Underlying operating profit before exceptional decreased to GBP 18.1m (2006: GBP 20.7m)
– Underlying profit before tax and exceptional down to GBP 12.5m (2006: GBP 15.4m)
– Earnings per share of 17.90p (2006: 4.46p)
– Strong free cash flow of GBP 61m, reflecting the GBP 46m from the property sale & leaseback
– Significant reduction in net debt to GBP 39m (2006: GBP 94m)
– Final dividend unchanged at 2.45p

Operational Highlights

– Sales growth momentum continues
– New business wins ahead of last year at GBP 130m
– Food and Consumer sector performed strongly
– UK businesses had an excellent year
– Transport sector had a difficult year
– Review of UK Transport complete and turnaround actions underway
– France continued strong revenue growth with new wins
– Strengthened management team

Stewart Oades, Chief Executive, said:

“Whilst the continued improvement in growing the business through new wins and increased retention rates is pleasing, there remains much to be done. The markets we operate in are still highly competitive and the performance of UK Transport is not acceptable. We have completed a thorough review of this business unit and have put in place a plan to move this business back into profit. Although this will take time, UK Transport is an essential part of our strategy to create a pan-European shared-user business.

“In the current year we expect revenue growth to continue and anticipate some benefit from the restructuring, although it will take longer before we see the full impact.”

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New TNT service taps demand for speedier express service

Posted by | Jun 5, 2007 | |

Called the Emergency Express service, the premier delivery service literally ensures that a customer’s urgent overseas shipments get out on the first available flight and is timed around a customer’s schedule with 24X7 immediate response and pick up.

TNT’s latest innovation taps on the growing demand for even speedier express services as there is a strong need to maintain shorter business cycles and low downtimes to avoid holding inventory costs and obsolete products.

This is particularly the case among high tech and aviation industries where managing business continuity for enterprise customers is vital. The perishable nature of some specimens within the life science industry also requires time critical services.

TNT has put in place a dedicated Emergency Express team in Asia who are on standby 24 hours, seven days a week, to meet the critical on-time pick-up and delivery of urgent shipments.

Instead of using fixed express networks, TNT provides a customised routing system to select the first available flight out for immediate deliveries of urgent shipments. As a result, consignments on the Emergency Express service can reach any major city in South East Asia as fast as between six and 16 hours.

Currently available in all major cities across seven countries in Asia – namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan – TNT has plans to expand the service to include Korea, Taiwan and China before the end of this year.

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UPS opens 100th MBE retail store in Germany

Posted by | Jun 4, 2007 | |

UPS affiliate Mail Boxes has opened its 100th store in Germany with a new outlet in the southern city of Ingolstadt.

The opening ceremony for the franchise store was attended by senior UPS and MBE officials, including MBE Europe chief Paolo Fiorelli, Stuart Mathis, President MBE
Inc., and Rob Burrows, head of UPS International Retail Services (Europe). UPS Germany holds a 20% stake in MBE Germany.

Among parcel operators in Germany, B2C specialist Hermes claims the largest network with 13,000 drop-off and collection points, DHL uses the 12,000 post offices of parent Deutsche Post, most of GLS’ 5,100 European locations are in Germany, while DPD has about 500 parcel shops.

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'Big Orange' rolls out extra splash of colour

Posted by | Jun 4, 2007 | |

TNT Express Services UK & Ireland is introducing the new livery as part of TNT’s global rebranding of all new vehicles in 2007.

The subtle changes will see a bigger ‘sweep’ of the company’s corporate orange colour on all vehicles, a larger ‘TNT’ logo on the side of cabs, and a completely orange shutter doors on 7.5-tonne and trailer units.

By the end of 2007, more than new 400 vehicles and trailers in the UK will carry the new look.

The global corporate rebranding was set in motion by TNT in April this year.

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