Same-day delivery is not just an idea any longer, companies globally are striving to create a competitive advantage within the e-commerce industry. From China to the US, this delivery method is being sought after and being driven by online customer demand. It is true shoppers do desire their products to their front door faster, however, experts wonder is this the way retailers should go.

The question is being asked do customers really desire same-day delivery? Internet Retailer highlighted a report with sporting goods retailer Moosejaw Mountaineering. The company pursued to aggressively increase sales during the 2012 holiday season by offering same-day delivery to last-minute shoppers. The initiative did not generate a single order via same-day delivery online. There were several reasons for the failure, including they announced the service offer a few days before Christmas and a lack of heavy promotion. It also appears many shoppers aren't aware of same-day delivery because many online companies and retailers just do not offer it. As a result, consumers didn't even consider using it. There may or may not be good reason why many retailers do not offer it.

Some experts believe the success of same-day delivery is completely driven by the consumer and whether they have a free alternative. ShopRunner's Chief Strategy Officer Fiona Dias stated, “It’s a market need issue. If I desperately want something today, I can go to a store and not have to pay for shipping. A classic case is diapers—a product that you need there and then. As long as same-day shipping costs something, it’s going to limit the number of people willing to pay for that much speed, especially if there’s a free alternative called driving to the store."

The company many are watching is Amazon and their method of same-day delivery. “By holiday 2013, Amazon, in particular, will have dozens of new distribution centers a stone's throw away from major populations on the East and West Coasts,” Dias says. “More Amazon packages will arrive within one-to-two days, and unless store retailers start shipping from stores to nearby consumers, they will be disadvantaged in shipping speed versus Amazon and lose market share," said Dais. As a result, retail stores are beginning to strive for same-day delivery also. Another example highlighted in the report is eBay's same-day service called eBay Now. Introduced in 2012, eBay is began testing same-day delivery in San Francisco with retail giants like Wal-Mart, eBay, Nordstrom's, Target, and Macy's. They now have same-day delivery in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York. Delivery is $5 per order, with a minimum order of $25. Same-day delivery is as close as shoppers can get to actually going to a physical store and making the purchase themselves. If done effectively, it can result in the shopping advantages consumers want.

Same-day couriers like AQuickDelivery can assist any business create a successful delivery solution. This Atlanta courier is able to pick up anything from small packages to palletized freight fast! AQuickDelivery is an experienced, professional courier servicing over 1,500 clients, including Fortune 500 companies with courier logistic solutions. AQuickDelivery is a viable option for e-retailers to attract customers within their markets with same-day delivery and experience the growth they are looking for.

Reference: 1.25.13. Internet Retailer, Katie Deatsch, Do consumers want same-day shipping?

The global courier and delivery services industry has been relatively stagnant in recent years, particularly due to the global recession. IBISWorld had reported last year the industry will experience very slow growth for the coming years. However, the research giant is now seeing some great signs for the courier industry.

IBISWorld has issued an updated report of more future growth for the global courier and delivery services industry. IBISWorld is held as the nation's leading independent source of industry and market research. Over the next five years, the courier delivery services industry will strengthen and have steady growth. Growth was only 0.1% for the last five years. Sales are expected to rise 1.4% this year.

The research giant has found the core driver of the rising of the global courier and delivery services industry is the emergence of technology and e-commerce. There is increase in consumers are using the internet to conduct business, which is requiring a higher volume of goods to be transported via same-day couriers like AQuickDelivery. There is an increase in the demand for time-sensitive goods also.

The industry still deals with outside factors affecting growth. “Although Global business conditions have stabilized since, debt concerns in Europe and North America continue to dampen consumer and business sentiment," said IBISWorld Analyst Lauren Sear. The rise in fuel prices during the economic downturn, beginning in 2008, also still affects the courier industry, including profit margins. In spite of the challenges, e-commerce appears to be a new trend of business that will benefit the courier industry.

AQuickDelivery are helping businesses and individuals every day within e-commerce . The Atlanta courier is able to provide same-day delivery from small packages to palletized freight, on-time and fast! AQuickDelivery is a viable option to help companies expand their online business and implement a courier logistic solution to meet your online demand nationwide.

Reference: 1.14.13, Yahoo News, PR Web, Global Courier & Delivery Services Industry Market Research Report from IBISWorld has Been Updated

Christmas has passed and retailers were looking to have a bright holiday sales season this year. With the success of Black Friday and Thanksgiving having a record of four $1 billion days of sales, it certainly appeared as if we were heading for a sales record. The sales numbers are in, and it was far from the results retailers expected.

Yahoo News via Associated Press reported that holiday sales grew at the weakest pace since 2008, which was one of the deepest years of the US recession. Holiday sales grew only 0.7 percent for the two months before Christmas. Sales were expected to grow 3 to 4 percent this year. In 2011, sales went up by 4 to 5 percent. Even in the mist of the 2008 recession, sales still grew 2 to 3 percent. The shopping season started with a blaze this year, from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday. Marshal Cohen, chief research analyst at NPD Incorporated stated, "A lot of the Christmas spirit was left behind way back in Black Friday weekend. We had one reason after another for consumers to say, 'I'm going to stick to my list and not go beyond it.'" After this period, shoppers closed their wallets.

Experts state a number of events have caused consumers to not spend as much this year as in years' past. One of the events is the uncertainty of the economy and the fiscal cliff, which appears is coming. With the tax increases, people are preparing for the worst and probably opted to not spend as much as they normally would. Also, Storm Sandy put the northeast region of the country in the position to tighten their spending in order to handle their recovery expenditures. Lastly, the devastation of the Newtown shooting really took its' toll, and instead of thinking about shopping, many Americans were and still are grieving from the horrific event.

Time will tell whether consumer spending will rise in 2013. The report stated 70 percent of our economic activity depends on it. Many companies are seeking different avenues by which to attract customers to increase spending. One direction companies are turning to is to increase growth in the online retail sector of their business. If it's challenging to get consumers out of the house, retailers can make shopping more attractive while at home via online. Retail giants like Wal-Mart, eBay, Nordstrom's, and Macy's are pursuing to offer customers same-day delivery of the products they order online. Same-day delivery is as close as shoppers can get to actually physically going to brick-and-mortar stores, which saves time and money.

Same-day couriers like AQuickDelivery can assist any online business that is striving for higher sales. The Atlanta courier is able to pick up anything from small packages to palletized freight. AQuickDelivery is an experienced, professional courier with the ability to deliver on-time and fast! From daily big box pick-ups to store returns, AQuickDelivery is a viable option to help companies expand their own driving fleet and implement a courier logistic solution to meet online demand nationwide.

Reference: 12.25.12. Yahoo News/Associated Press, Daniel Wagner, US holiday retail sales growth weakest since 2008

An issue with a package delivery at any other time of the year, may not get too much attention.  However, when it comes the Christmas time deliveries, those packages aren't just packages.  They are gifts and are worth more than just the price tag that was attached to them.  They have value.  That delivery is not just an issue any longer--it has become a crisis.

Thousands of last-minute packages have been and are being sent all around the world this week.  Online shopping has been at an all-time high, up 15% this year.  The various shipping options connected with online sales has been the difference maker.  This has been overwhelming for shipping companies, such as UPS.  In a recent ABC News report, one worker stated they have delivered 300 packages a second.  However, even with technology use and the shipment day guarantee, will the gifts get delivered by Christmas?

"Our prediction is very good," said Jim Cramer, a UPS Meteorologist, in the same report. "Rain for most of the East. There will be snow in the Northeast, but north of where we land our jets, so I think our packages can get to where they are going."  Fed Ex, on the other hand, may have delays to the west coast due to winter storms in Colorado.  Both of the shipping giants are counted on to ship nearly 175 million packages during the holiday season.

This is especially informative for last-minute shoppers that are mailing packages off this week, hoping to have their packages delivered by Christmas.  A primary and/or secondary shipping option during the holiday season is a courier to help any delivery crisis. Couriers Services like A-1 Express have a nationwide footprint for same-day delivery of various-sized packages.  This will be the best choice to help your gift can make it.

12/22/11, abcnews, Lauren Effron, Crisis of Christmas Deliveries: Will Your Last-Minute Gift Make It In Time?

This past weekend on Christmas Eve and the day before, shoppers were still shopping.  Shippers were still shipping.  Bad deliveries were still being addressed.  UPS was handling one of their own similar driver mess-ups and reported on Christmas Day they have fired the employee caught tossing a package. On December 15th, One of their drivers was caught throwing a Zappos package and added some additional unprofessional behavior, flicking his middle finger to the security camera.  UPS spokeswoman Natalie Godwin stated to NBC News, "We don’t tolerate such conduct."  The delivery driver was a seasonal employee.

This follows the Fedex incident where a driver was caught flinging a samsung monitor over a 6ft fence, which sparked the wrong type of courier publicity during this holiday season.  This was the beginning of national close-up of delivery companies and their driver's day-to-day conduct.  Tremendous media attention caused customers to consider how couriers are handling customer's packages.  Sure, customers want them to be fast, but not that fast.  A fast delivery is no use if it is a damaged one.

It would be saddening for a delivery recipient if their packaged was damaged by the company delivering it, not to mention during Christmas time.  With a little of the holiday season left, there are other couriers customers can depend on for package delivery.  Couriers Services like AQuickDelivery promote safety and no tossing of packages.