Page 124 - 597 Business Ideas You can Start from Home - doing what you LOVE! (Beginner Internet Marketing Series)

1 1 6 Your I dea, Inc.

This option is great for small packages that weigh less than a few
pounds , where the rates are very competitive with UPS and FedEx.
Also, the USPS is a great option if you have heavier items that can
fit into a USPS "flat rate" box, where you are charged a flat rate for as
much as you can stuff into that box. Your mail carrier can also pick
up your packages if you schedule it ahead of time.

The current USPS package tracking system is not as sophisti­
cated as that of UPS or FedEx because it will not tell you "in transit
information," such as where it is at that particular moment; it will
only confirm that the package is delivered. USPS has no weekly
service fee for picking up packages.

Se tting Up Your "Shipping Depar tme nt"

You probably won't have a warehouse fully staffed with a "shipping
department," so as with most other tasks early on, this one lands
on your plate. Set up an area either within your "office" or near
where your inventory is stored and designate it as your shipping
department.

Once you begin your marketing efforts and product shipping,
you'll be using this area frequently. You need your packages to look
profeSSional and arrive intact. Purchase supplies so shipping pack­
ages can be easy, fast, and accurate. Once you have your resale
license, you will be able to purchase boxes and shipping supplies
wholesale and in bulk. (You do not want to be paying retail prices

for boxes and supplies. A good supplier to try is www.uline. com.) The

best thing about Uline is that they deliver the next business day.
Here is a list of shipping supplies:

• Boxes and envelopes in the sizes that are appropriate for your
shipments

• Clear shipping tape or customized reinforced tape with your
company name

• Scissors