Shipping Insights
By Rob Martinez
About Rob
Rob Martinez is the CEO of Shipware LLC, a professional services firm that transforms businesses through intelligent distribution solutions and strategies. Rob has helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands reduce parcel shipping costs an average of 25 percent through contract negotiations, rate benchmarking, modal optimization, invoice audit and other savings vehicles. A cum laude graduate of UCLA, Rob has 20 years of transportation industry experience, including executive positions at DHL and Stamps.com, in addition to his work as an outside consultant since 2001.The Art of Delivering Style
3 Simple Ideas to Improve Inventory Management
May 14, 2013Despite the important role inventory management plays in the marketplace, some brands are still relying on last generation inventory management...
Designed to Convert
How Persuasive Are Your Product Pages?
May 2, 2013Your homepage — as much as you love it — is basically a glorified street sign. Consumers don't read it...
Return on Inventory
5 Tips to Help Your Business Manage System Process Changes
Apr 24, 2013In today's dynamic retail environment, however, the ability to embrace rapid process change is more important than ever. Merchandise and...
B-to-B Insights
The Illogical Song: What Makes Sense vs. What Works
Apr 8, 2013It's official: J.C. Penney scrapped its every-day-low-price strategy for the rollercoaster world of markups and markdowns. Merchants, marketers and graphic artists...
Retail Rants & Raves
Reflections on NRF 2013
Jan 23, 2013Now that a full week has gone by since the National Retail Federation's Big Show in New York City, I've finally caught...
Email Applied
Preparing Your Email Marketing Strategy for the Holidays, Part 3
Oct 31, 2012In the final installment of this three-part series (make sure to check out parts one and two), I examine why it...
Retail Rambles
SkyMall Helps You Prepare for the End of the World
Apr 2, 2012Perhaps I've been watching too much of "The Walking Dead" or maybe too many episodes of "Doomsday Preppers," but my paranoia about the...
ThinkAbout: Inspirational Verve for Your Product Line!
Can You Up the Ante on Your Products’ Amusement Factor?
Oct 17, 2011Can you up the ante on any of your products’ amusement factors? Is there some ho-hum aspect of your product...
Return on Intelligence
The New CompUSA Rights a Wrong
Mar 16, 2011Two weeks ago in my blog, I totally skewered CompUSA and its warranty company (found out it's Assurant Solutions) for...
8 Ways to Use Parcel Carriers’ ‘Cost to Serve’ Pricing to Your Advantage
Just about every day, a shipper asks me what FedEx or UPS incentive they should be achieving for their specific spend level. But it doesn't work that way. While overall volume and revenue certainly play a role in pricing, the discounts you get from UPS and FedEx are largely based on their understanding of your distribution footprint and package characteristics, which are directly tied to the carriers’ "cost to serve" pricing models.
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Will UPS Go On Strike?
As the calendar inches closer to a July 31 expiration of the collective bargaining agreement between the United Parcel Service (UPS) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the parcel industry is beginning to ask the question, will UPS go on strike?
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Parcel Rate Increases for 2013 That Retailers Need to Know
UPS announced 6.5 percent air increases partially offset by a 2 percent fuel surcharge reduction, and 5.9 percent average ground increase offset by a 1 percent fuel surcharge reduction. Rate increases will take effect Dec. 31, 2012. Similarly, FedEx announced average rate increases of 5.9 percent for express and international services, offset by a 2 percent reduction in fuel surcharges. FedEx hasn't yet announced 2013 increases for FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery or FedEx SmartPost,
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Parcel Rate Increases for 2012
UPS has announced 6.9 percent air increases, partially offset by a 2 percent fuel surcharge reduction. It's also announced a 5.9 percent average ground increase, offset somewhat by a 1 percent fuel surcharge reduction. Net increases for both UPS Air and UPS Ground are 4.9 percent effective Jan. 2, 2012.
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Mistakes to Avoid When Negotiating Your Next Shipping Carrier Contract
There are many pitfalls to avoid when negotiating your carrier agreements. Take the time to develop a valuable relationship with your current carrier, but be sure to invite nonincumbent carriers to participate in annual bids — and give them a real shot! To maximize savings, do your homework, including meaningful benchmarking, and direct carrier negotiations through a formal bid. Take the time to understand and negotiate terms in addition to discounts.
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