Have You Thanked Your Shipping and Receiving Department Today?
In today’s globalized environment, shipping and receiving has never been more crucial – or more complex. With Americans buying goods from, and selling goods to, the rest of the world, high-quality shipping and receiving professionals are among the most important links in the supply chain. The numbers tell the story: the US Post office handles over a billion packages a year, representing more than three billion pounds’ worth of goods. FedEx delivers over six million every day, while, in the same twenty-four hours, UPS delivers a whopping 15.6 million.
It’s up to shipping and receiving professionals to make sure this enormous volume of mail goes to the right places – and that’s no easy task. Consider the steps a single package goes through – say a video game or DVD you order from an online catalogue, or from an online store like Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.
Long before you click that “Buy” icon on your Web browser, a distribution center must order its stock from the manufacturer’s warehouse, where a shipping clerk must correctly log the request. Packers must find the ordered materials and package them safely for the series of long journeys ahead. Then the stock must reach the distribution center, where, when it arrives, a receiving clerk must make a note of its arrival, unpack it, and safely store it. Then, finally, when you place your order, someone has to find the materials in the distribution center’s warehouse, at which time they’re packed up once again, and yet another shipping clerk makes sure that they’re sent to the right place, with the right bill, to the right person.
Now multiply all that effort by thousands, and you’ll have some idea of the difficulty involved in shipping and receiving. And let’s not even talk about returns! The shipping and receiving department of today is so central – and so representative of the complexity of modern, globalized business’ that one suspects if Adam Smith were writing The Wealth of Nations today, he might well replace his famous pin-factory example with the shipping and receiving department of a modern corporation.
In such an environment, old-fashioned care and intelligence make all the difference. The mail room must keep meticulous records, noting whether payment has been received from the customer, whether and when orders have been sent, and logging customer complaints when mistakes do occur. Every step in an item’s journey from the manufacturer’s assembly line to your door must be recorded. It’s shipping and receiving workers who keep the records that enable retailers to know which items move quickly vs. which items collect dust in a warehouse. And it’s shipping and receiving workers who tell you when your item has shipped and how long it’ll take to reach you.
But hard work is not enough. Along with smarts and initiative, good tools are a necessity. For example, computers have made the work of shipping and receiving easier and more efficient in some ways, allowing shipping clerks to use barcode scanners, for example, to record all necessary information about an item (or an entire pallet of items) at the touch of a button. These technological breakthroughs make it much easier to track packages in their progress from one place to another. With the help of robotic equipment, too, warehouses can sort items faster. But with these gains in efficiency come increases in customers’ expectations.
Not only flashy new technologies, but the simplest, humblest tools are needed in the mail room. The best packing supplies are needed, along with a good record-keeping system and lots of writing equipment on hand. Good scales (for keeping track of package weights), a plethora of calculators, strong packing tape, and shipping boxes. And, because nothing is more important than the safety of employees, a good, sturdy box cutter is critical – a strong utility knife that won’t dull with frequent use. A priority should be to find and utilize a safety knife that protects hardworking shippers and receivers from work-related injuries.
Safecutters, Inc. distributes the Klever Kutter and Klever Koncept, two of the safest utility knives available. Klever Kutter virtually eliminates the risk of workplace injuries, while protecting packaged products. For more information about Klever Kutter visit http://www.safecutters.com
Tips For Starting An Import And Export Business
Some of the most fashionable trends and popular technologies today involve products that have been imported from other countries. From exotic spices from Africa to electronics from Japan, the import industry is huge. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that the industry is worth over 1.2 trillion USD. There’s a big pie – the only challenge is getting a piece.
Exporting is a huge business as well, with American manufacturers sending out merchandise to over 150 different countries. The total worth of that industry is estimated at around 775 billion USD. Trade between countries will always exist, and if you want to start importing and/or exporting, you have many things to consider.
The types of products most often imported and exported are extremely varied. You can look at almost any product, and find one country with an excess and another country with a lack. This is the only requirement for importing or exporting an item.
There are several other factors that will determine the popularity of the exported item. The first is that it is much cheaper and easier to produce in the country of its origin. This could be due to an abundance of natural resources, or relaxed labor laws. Another factor is the item’s availability in the other country. For example, you would have a hard time growing bananas in Scandinavia. So, they are imported. The final factor is if the item is more distinguished if it is imported. Fabrics from Egypt seem special and exotic, so they are more likely to be sold on this factor than, say, a wristwatch from Taiwan.
If you feel like you have an item that could meet one or more of these factors, then you should by all means export or import it. You can bring a taste of a foreign culture back to your country, while making a good profit off of the business. However, there are all sorts of legal and business factors that you need to take into account, so that you don’t end up failing miserably.
There are several different types of import/export businesses. Some will help companies to transfer sell their products overseas. Some will buy products, and then search for buyers overseas. Some will find buyers who are lacking products, and track down a seller and work out a deal between the two. If you want to be a sort of import/export “freelancer”, you will establish all sorts of contacts, and perform whatever jobs need done out of the things I have mentioned. When you gain expertise in the technical aspects of moving shipments of items, you will be a sought-after asset for all international companies.
To start with, you should narrow your idea down to a simple venture to get started with, and test the waters. First you need to find out about any legal factors that may be involved with your importing. Particularly if you are importing a food product, you will have to deal with all sorts of licenses and other hoops to jump through. Talk to your local business bureau, and tell them your business idea. From there you will be able to get the ball rolling on whatever processes you will have to go through. This could include local business practices, or customs for the country you are shipping to. Investigate all aspects so that you don’t get hit with a nasty surprise when it’s too late in the game.
Running an import/export business takes a lot of courage, and a lot of effort. But if you have the personality and the ideas to make it work, then it could be a great possibility for a lifelong career. Just consider what all you could sell, and how you are going to do it. Make sure that you are fairly knowledgeable about trading in general before you try to do it internationally. And most of all, you should be willing to go out on a limb and take risks for the sake of starting up a better business.
Find trade leads for your import / export business at http://www.tradeworld.com
Gem Scan The International Canadian Diamond Traders
Canadian Diamond Traders is an extremely successful international diamond company located in Toronto, Canada. For the past two years, they effectively specialized in marketing diamonds to brokers and jewelers in Canada.
A new direct marketing division was launched by C D T in December of 2004, which is designed to allow the company to effectively sell a very high volume of their first class diamonds at extremely low wholesale prices. This would enable anyone, which includes you if you are interested, to become a registered distributor and earn 100, 000 USD. or more income very quickly.
It is a member of American Chamber of Commerce in Canada and went through the audit process and received an endorsement from this prestigious body. Their diamonds are harvested from private mines in India and around the world in which the company is well connected. Additionally, their gems are graded and appraised by Gem Scan International. Gem Scan International is the largest and renowned accredited appraiser in Canada and they appraise for Birks, Mappins, Tiffanys, and other famous jewelers and brokers. Gem Scans appraisers are also GIA accredited. Gemological institute of America, GIA, is the worlds largest and most respected institute of gemological research and learning.
Gem Scan is an ISO 9001 registered, which is an international standard recognized throughout the world for establishing business management systems for both manufacturing and service companies. If a company receives an ISO certification, this means that their financial and ethical commitment to providing customers with products that are of high quality and nothing less. If a company becomes 9001 registered and certified, it will incessantly be reviewed every 6 to 12 months to ensure continuous commitment to maintaining high business standards.
If you are into related business that is, this may be your chance to immediately earning the kind of income you wish in your life. There are two great programs that CDT offers 500 USD entry level or 100 USD entry level. Every cycle from the 500 USD program, you will get 3000 USD plus one diamond worth 2700 USD. However, when you cycle from the 100 USD program, you will get 500 USD, which is automatically entered into the 500 USD program plus one diamond worth 400 USD.
There is no limit as to how many positions you can have, the number of times you can cycle, definitely no limit as to how many times you want to receive 3000 USD plus valuable diamonds. It is not easy money. So, if you are seeing yourself the way C D T hoping you will be, go to tribe and find out more of the details of this exciting program. If you want an easy way of getting rich, might as well try what CDT is offering to people like you.
For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website http://www.diamond-selections.com
Make Money Importing And Exporting As You Travel
running an import agency is a great money maker and you can even do it from the comfort of your own home on a part time basis.
Obviously there are a few things you need to know before you can begin making money.
You must fully understand the role of an import agent so you can truly decide if it’s what you would like to do.
An import agent acts as a go between, introducing foreign sellers and home based buyers to each other. They never get involved in the buying and selling of gods themselves, so there is no financial outlay or risk involved.
An import agent makes his money in the form of a commission from the seller based on the value of the order and can range from 2.5% to 15% but normally around the 10% mark and as this is based on the gross value of the order before handling and shipping costs are deducted the opportunity to make a sizable commission is there.
Identify the best markets to export from, this will enable you to discover the overseas exporters who are worth dealing with. Look to countries with a weak currency, this makes their exports cheaper and so more attractive to the importer. Look to places such as the Far East, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
Seek out small to medium sized manufacturers who wish to export, but cannot afford to employ an overseas sales force.
Establish links in those countries where you may have friends or family, people who have a working knowledge of the language and the culture and also possibly business minded.
This will afford you your ‘Unique Selling Point’ needed to become a successful go between with exporters and importers who are not familiar with each others ways and customs.
Take time and choose the right products, don’t assume because it is cheap in china that it will automatically sell like hot cakes in the USA.
Go for tried and tested products to begin with, such as, gifts, crafts, furniture and jewelry. Don’t get involved with electrical items or toys because the standards in the country of origin may not be up to the same as the country you wish to sell in, and in certain instances you could possibly fall foul of the laws covering such standards.
Start building your contacts, attend International Fairs where you will find exporters who are eager to make contact with agents and importers.
Remember agents receive their commissions from the seller not the buyer so concentrate on manufacturers.
The bottom line with this business is, that once you have established a few solid contacts and manged to introduce sellers to buyers you should if you are running this as a serious business start to make sizable commissions.
This is only the start, repeat sales will follow and if you have done your homework properly then importers may even employ your services to source particular products from countries they haven’t previously dealt with.
As with any business, treat it seriously and you can make a very good and interesting living from it, treat it as a toy and you wont.
Mike Collins, Owner and CEO Rotata
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Visit my site http://www.rotata.com
Contact email mdc1258@yahoo.com