subject: How Integrated Labels Drive The Success Of Online Retailing [print this page] Bob Pitman, Managing Director of Priory Direct, explains why integrated labels are central to the growth and success of online retailing
According to IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group), the UK is Europes leading e-retail economy, with sales estimated to reach 81bn this year and its currently growing at 18 per cent each year. In the UK, a whopping 37 million of us are Internet shoppers and, currently, the top sectors for online sales are clothing; beer, wine and spirits; and health and beauty.
Not so long ago, buying something mail-order meant waiting that magical 28 days for delivery. Now we expect our goods within a few days if not, the next day. To make this happen, online traders need a fail-safe system for packaging, delivery and despatch and integrated labels are at the very centre of this process.
Priory Direct is the UK and Europes leading supplier of integrated labels and weve been involved in this sector ever since people started to buy online.
As often happens in our business, we responded to our customers needs. Weve been supplying business forms for more than 30 years and our customers started asking us for a way of making the despatch process easier for them.
Basically, integrated labels are labels which are integrated into a sheet of paper which, when it comes to Internet shopping, is usually the sales receipt. Today, they are used worldwide by all types of businesses from the largest online retailers to personal sellers. Our customers include the smallest e-retailers, right up to companies selling many thousands of items everyday through eBay, the Amazon Marketplace, their own webstore or, quite possibly, all three.
Integrated labels make the whole sale and despatch process as straightforward as possible, with less chance for goods to go astray - as there is no need to spend time matching receipts to labels and labels to products. Today, most of us have received something from an online retailer - so weve seen integrated labels in action.
Priory Direct offers a wide variety of integrated label sheets. When it comes to what size of integrated labels to select, it comes down to what information a customer needs to fit on it and the system/software being used to print it.
Ideally the label itself should accommodate the delivery address, a Postage Paid Impression (PPI), and an if undelivered return address. The sheet can include a range of details from an invoice and companys logo to sender information or terms and conditions. We also offer bespoke versions giving businesses the opportunity to include their corporate colours for instance.
We recommend that e-retailers should also include a clear and simple returns policy. Many companies shy away from mentioning a returns policy, as they feel it suggests that their customers might find fault with their purchase. However, evidence shows that including this information makes life easier for everyone concerned and serves to reassure a prospective purchaser.
If you do include a returns policy then its simple to include a second integrated address label, with a clear return address.
When buying integrated labels, an e-retailer needs to be sure that they will flow through their printer properly without jamming. Our integrated labels and forms have an extremely smooth profile to ensure that they wont get caught during the printing process.
While integrated labels have revolutionised the Internet shopping process they also have a number of other uses such as, for example, invoices, returns notes, delivery notes and despatch notes.
So, next time you order something from the Internet take the time to look at and appreciate the accompanying integrated labels sheet.
Notes to editors:
Priory Direct services the fast-growing e-commerce sector, supplying e-tailers with packaging and associated stationery.
Priory Direct is part of Priory Business Group PLC, which was launched in 1989 (initially as Priory Business Forms) by Bob Pitman, who had more than 10 years experience in the business forms sector.
Based in Paddock Wood, Priory has four divisions: Priory Print Management, Priory Office Supplies, Priory Storage and Priory Direct.
Bob Pitman says that print is a service and not a product and Priory Print Management works hard to make sure that it is three steps ahead of its customers needs.
Priory Office Supplies offers everything you need to guarantee an office runs smoothly, backed up with excellent customer service and an honest approach.
Benefitting from the 15,000 sq ft of space at its headquarters, which also boasts 9.5 metre eaves, Priory Storage offers efficient and effective storage, with a 100% unblemished record, having never once lost a file or box.
Priory Business Group PLC is a member of The West Kent Chamber of Commerce and Industry and has been shortlisted for the Kent & Medway MegaGrowth 50 awards for the past two years.
www.priorydirect.co.uk
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