Archive for September, 2008

UPS’s slogan “What Can Brown Do For You” has landed on Madison Avenue’s Advertising Walk of Fame between 42nd and 50th streets in New York.  The slogan beat out others such as “Priceless” (MasterCard) and “Give a Hoot. Don’t Pollute.” (USDA Forest Service).

By Justin G. Cramer

Shippers using the U.S. Postal Service are being challenged by an escalating number of changes ranging from shape-based rates to intelligent bar codes..

Despite the hassle, even shippers who use USPS for only a portion of their packages must admit that the effort is worth it. The service has many advantages, including 100 percent national coverage (versus 90 per cent for most carriers) and the ability to delivery to Post Office Boxes.

While you’re busily updating and adjusting your shipping system, just keep reminding yourself that “with change comes opportunity.”

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Federal Express announced 6.9% rate increase and a 2% reduction in the fuel surcharge, resulting in a net increase of 4.9%, according to Parcel Magazine. Last year FedEx announced its increase in late-October and the year before the announcement was made in early-November.

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United Parcel Service said it has signed a three-year deal to sponsor David Ragan in the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, starting in 2009.

Ragan is in his second full season at NASCAR’s highest level. UPS had sponsored driver Dale Jarrett before he retired .

United Parcel Service said its UPS Capital subsidiary has launched a loan program that will allow small importers to use their in-transit UPS shipments as collateral.

The UPS Capital Cargo Finance program is tailored toward U.S. businesses with annual revenue of as much as $50 million that import as many as 10 ocean- or air-freight containers of goods per month, UPS said in a news release.  UPS said the program eliminates the need for importers to obtain letters of credit or exhaust cash flow with upfront payments to finance transactions.

Under the program, the importer pays 50 percent of the bill of lading to UPS Capital. UPS Capital then will pay 100 percent of the bill. The importer then repays UPS Capital according to the terms of the loan, typically within 60 days, according to the release.

By Justin G. Cramer

Before Henry Ford created the mass market for automobiles, there were scores of buggy-whip factories. A few remain today and one of them is thriving. Hoover, that one-time buggy-whip company, now makes vacuum cleaners. Most other turn-of-the-century whip makers stubbornly stuck with dated technology and suffered the consequences, as did the coach manufacturers that bought from them.

There are many Value Added Resellers (VARs) today with a buggy-whip mentality. They are comfortable, or should we say complacent, with yesteryear’s software.

This is not to suggest that VARs are not a valuable resource. There are compelling reasons to use VARs. Good VARs not only know their software, but they know you. Working closely with a high-quality VAR can result in a smooth-running shipping operation.

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FedEx will launch next-day service in Mexico On Oct. 6th.

The service, called FedEx Express Nacional, will include delivery to any address in Mexico, online tracking and tracing, and a money-back guarantee.

It will initially create more than 180 jobs in Mexico in addition to the 1,000 it currently employs in the country. Operational hubs will be located in Toluca and San Luis Potosi.
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