« Older Entries

Why a Courier Career Could Mean a Bright Future

Choosing a career, whether you’re leaving school or simply fancy a change of direction, can be a minefield, but you could do a lot worse than entering a courier career, especially in today’s economic climate. Perhaps you already work in the business and are familiar with the irregular hours and constant ‘on the road’ lifestyle. If this is the case then you will be pleased to know that the industry you’ve chosen is flourishing and the future is particularly bright.
Demand is continuing to increase year on year, with the number of parcels travelling across our country predicted to grow by around 40% by the end of 2019. Thanks to the positive long-term growth estimations and the potential for strong return, now is definitely a good time to consider a courier career – whether as a driver, a manager or as an investor in an existing company.

One of the main reasons that this business has grown so successfully is that fact that it benefits hugely from the impact of e-commerce. But how are the two linked?

The E-commerce Effect

There is no doubt that over the past couple of decades the amount of post, in terms of letters, has decreased dramatically and the transport of parcels and packages has done the opposite. This is due primarily to two factors: an increase in online purchasing and the growth in the global market (particularly in India, China and Europe). Consequently, the courier industry is thriving and this is excellent news for drivers already in the business and anyone considering getting a courier career off the ground.

Online Spending

In today’s fast paced world we place a huge emphasis on convenience – people don’t want to wait and instead are using quick fix online shopping to satisfy their needs. From weekly grocery shopping to gifts, and from home appliances to clothes, nowadays everything can be ordered on the Internet. As the need for more and more deliveries rises, so does the need for more and more delivery drivers and compliant companies in the industry.

Consumer spending is at the crux of the rise in the growth of this industry and if consumer spending continues to increase as predicted, the industry is set to prosper. There really is no better time to be working in this industry, and that is a fact!

Opportunities in the Future

Embarking on a courier career is challenging but rewarding. Hours are long and sometimes unsociable, but methods of delivery and ways of working are constantly changing as the companies strive to keep up with the changing demand. New systems are tackling the increased need for next day deliveries, and businesses are experimenting with cutting overheads and turnaround times. Companies are developing fast and both the environment and the work itself are exciting and gratifying.

Insider’s tip: The express sector in the courier industry is going to see the most growth in the near future, so consider setting your sights there when it comes to getting your courier career off the ground.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the in the express freight exchange industry. Connecting professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Courier Exchange provides a valuable service, updating members with the latest information from the transport industry, including courier career options, road safety, fuel costs and other news. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.

Tags:

How Your Business Can Survive The Coronavirus

As the world has hit the metaphorical panic button during the rise of Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases worldwide, the daily reality for people and businesses is rapidly changing. Practically overnight, businesses have been forced out of the comfort zone of face-to-face contact, now having to heavily rely on digital platforms.
Businesses, especially, are struggling with figuring out how to survive by using digital communication techniques. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and government officials emphasizing “social distancing and mandatory nonessential business closures,” technology such as live video conferencing, chat boxes, and email will be the basis for millions of Americans for their jobs, schooling, and everyday communication. So, with so many players in the game, how can businesses continue to function successfully? Higher Images, a 20-year-old full-service digital marketing agency located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is helping organizations, businesses, and the community re-imagine what their lives and work-life will look like through web-based technology and mobile devices. President and CEO of Higher Images, Bryan Thornberg, says, “Rather than going into crisis mode, businesses should take this as an opportunity to expand their knowledge and reach.

With many more people relying on digital communication, this is an ideal opportunity for businesses to break boundaries and try new techniques when connecting with clients.”Thornberg and his team want to help people not just survive this crisis but to thrive during it and come out with an organization and business model stronger than ever. Thornberg has already been able to impact his clients by thinking outside the box and recommending the usage of technology such as live feeds and Facetime. For example, a hot tub distributor – a business that relies on their retail location for sales – took the recommendation of Thornberg and is now offering live video conferencing for customers to do live demonstrations of products and make purchases.

Higher Images also urges businesses to utilize their existing websites to drive business: for example, adding a chat-box function to their website for customer communication, allowing organizations to respond to clients in real-time from the convenience of a cell phone or office computer from any location in the world. With higher internet traffic, this is also a key time for organizations to utilize search engine marketing, Google ads, and mobile in-app advertising technology such as Web tracker, which geo-fences homes to enhance brand visibility. Strategizing with a digital marketing company like Higher Images will provide businesses with the tools they need to succeed.

Tags:

The Meeting Planner’s Guide To Choosing A Meeting Space Rental

Deciding on renting a meeting space is easier now than it’s ever been. From more flexible locations to apps and “rent my space” opportunities, it’s no longer an arcane magic only professional event planners can do.
First and foremost: the budget. That will determine everything else. If the budget’s insufficient for anything requested, it’s better to get that out in the open before beginning a snipe hunt for the impossible space. You might need to reset either location or amenity expectations to make the meeting happen.

Where do you need the meeting space rental to be relative to the organization? In a three-block radius in a city? In town? Somewhere in the Texas Hill Country? The Northeast US?

How big? Finding a meeting space rental for a half-day presentation in a conference room is a snap. There are coffee shops with meeting spaces. Some will allow their use for free if you run up a high enough tab. Same with some pizza shops, which may trade a fairly bare bones meeting space with excellent and fresh-made food. Finding a space where five ten-person breakout sessions and a meeting room big enough for all of them plus visitors is a whole other animal. Know your crowd size, and always plan for close to the maximum, not minimum, attendance. Ten percent extra attendance in a thirty-person at a meeting is three. Three unexpected participants in a room with a ten-person capacity means just-in-time juggling of people, throwing off a busy planned day. Too small a crowd in a large space isn’t comfortable, however. Hotels can talk about screens to hem in a large space but, unless they’re thick, floor-to-ceiling walls, it won’t work—we humans are good at perceiving space and the echoing void beyond the fabric curtains.

Does the rental require special spaces or furniture? An HR expo for employee benefits might require a lot of tables–and room. An all-day sales kickoff meeting with presentations and the need for lunch and a bar at day’s end is very suited by a cinema brewery. Something more relaxed and intimate in a country setting? A winery might be a good choice. Knowing all the quirks of a meeting make it easier to find meeting space for it. Team-building meeting events might do well in a skating rink or ceramic painting studio. Or only a normal meeting room but with more space for floor activities.

For any meeting space you look at, ask if the facilities are appropriate for folks using wheelchairs or crutches. It goes without saying that they need to be able to participate in the event just like everyone else—including adapted bathrooms. If there might be nursing moms at the event, think about where she can nurse in a quiet setting.

Lastly, if this is a high budget meeting, try to visit the top contenders in person before locking in the space rental. Pictures don’t do justice to the space. (It’s a nice place, but isn’t that a karaoke bar next door? Should be great for the evening management get-together, no?) Maybe in ten years you can rent a robot to scout a space for you.

Tags: