Online businesses, particular ecommerce, have experienced a rise in popularity year on year, with the office for national statistics retail sales bulletin reporting that just over £1 in every £10 spent in a UK retail transaction was spent online, in February 2012 (see original article at internet retailing).
This combined with an increase in savvy internet entrepreneurs has led to double digit growth in ‘home shopping’ and those starting online ventures. These entrepreneurs have started many different types of online business, either to supplement their income in tough economic times or as full time mail order business venture.
But what is a mail order business?
A mail order business operates using orders for products which are placed by telephone, through a catalogue or indeed online. These businesses increasingly exist exclusively online although brick and mortar locations are very common. It is this lack of physical location that really drives the profit margin for mail order businesses.
With this rise in mail order businesses, companies focused solely on mail order processing or mail order services are becoming very popular with these internet based businesses.
Outsourcing to an experienced fulfilment company is an attractive proposition as all logistical operations, storage; response handling etc. is handled from one convenient location, giving an almost fixed overhead. This means that starting a mail order business is more cost efficient than ever before and in this economic environment - some online businesses are thriving. Mail Order services include:
- Mail order processing
- Response handling
- Warehouse fulfilment
- Customer contact centres
- Pick and pack, and despatching.
Companies offering mail order processing such as Mail Order Outsourcing were built specifically to cater for the needs of those wanting to outsource their fulfilment services. For more information about mail order services and how overheads can be significantly reduced, see mail order services from www.mailorderoutsourcing.co.uk.