The retail industry has dramatically shifted since COVID-19 dominated our news channels. More customers than ever turned to home delivery, and eCommerce sales spiked. In some countries, online sales almost doubled!

This change means you’ll have to pay more attention to your logistics as a retail business. Can you improve your shipments and reduce costs at the same time?

This article is here to help. Here are our three top tips for shipping retail goods more effectively in the current economic climate.

1. Minimum Value Free Shipping

Offering free shipping to your customers is a great way to advertise your business and attract more sales.

But that can sometimes turn into a headache because you are left trying to figure out margins for your products to cover the costs of shipping goods as part of the deal.

One way to get around this issue and still use the advertising pitch for free shipping is to set it to kick in when a customer’s basket hits a specific value.

You can calculate different shipping costs with your preferred carrier, including any international shipping, and use that to figure out your threshold.

When you have that, it’s simply a case of adding it to your eCommerce platform (most selling tools will have this setting as standard). And the best part of this strategy? You’ll entice people to spend a little more with your store.

Many customers will prefer to add a small item to their basket to qualify for the temptation of free shipping, which will help your revenue numbers!

2. Less Than Truckload Shipping

Shipping to customers isn’t the only area where you can cut costs with your shipping expenses. There is also the shipment of your goods when you buy them from wholesalers and other suppliers or ship products between warehouses.

You will need to calculate the cost of paying for a truck for large shipments, and it’s the vast square footage that many companies find difficult to fill.

But there is an alternative arrangement that goes by the term less than truckload shipping. In this situation, you only pay for a percentage of the space on the truck, and other companies share the rest of that capacity.

3. Redesign Your Packaging for Your Retail Goods

Have you considered the potential cost savings of shipping your products by redesigning your packaging?

Using lighter packaging material and fewer layers could dramatically reduce shipping fees as these often go by dimensions and weight.

And with advanced packaging designs now on the market, you can invest in something that still gives you the security protection your goods need, but without the added bulk.

There’s another good reason to do this: it will help you to become more sustainable as a business. It’s a chance to make your packaging more environmentally friendly and reduce waste.

A Future-Proofed Shipment Strategy

Improving how you ship retail goods is an excellent way for your business to get ahead in this competitive climate. It will make your business more efficient. You’ll also help push down logistical expenses.

For more strategy advice, check out the recent posts in our business section.

The French countryside is a popular tourist destination and offers many great opportunities for adventures. The most exclusive of these experiences is staying in a castle or owning one, and when it comes to castles, there’s really nothing that beats the size and splendor of an authentic chateau. If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience right out of a fairy tale and a smart investment at the same time, buying one might just be your best option! You can do a quick online search in Frenchchateauforsale.co.uk and find the one that’s perfect for you and your family. In this blog post we’ll go over 5 reasons why investing in a French castle would be so much fun. If you want to learn more interior techniques on how to design a French Chateau, you can look at the online courses offered by Home Design Institute, Paris.

French chateaus are full of history

If you are looking for a historic home, then purchasing an old French castle is the perfect choice. One of the main advantages of buying a French Castle is that they come with plenty of history and character. Whether it is due to wars or rebellions, these castles have seen many interesting events throughout their lifetime. If your goal in life is to become one with nature while simultaneously living history, then owning a castle would make this dream possible.

The castles were built between 800 A.D and 1799 on top of Gallo-Roman ruins or medieval remains such as Merovingian vestiges. Some even come with dungeons that we could turn into wine cellars if need be. These historical monuments have been lovingly restored by their owners over generations, so they remain today important landmarks from different periods throughout history. In most cases, these ancient stones have witnessed many stories of kings and queens passing through them since the Middle Ages until recently. What a lucky opportunity for those who have the chance to live in one!

You’d get more privacy than ever

In a world where we are all too often surrounded by people, it’s nice to retreat into seclusion. At least that is what you would think if you were going back 800 years or so. Many castles still have their own moat and drawbridge which will give you a small taste of being somewhat cut off from civilization as well as an extra sense of security! And once inside your castle, no more neighbors above or below or on either side – everything around belongs to you – this includes the beautiful gardens surrounding them. If privacy was important enough for aristocracy over hundreds of years ago, it should be good enough for us today, right? So, if you are looking for privacy, buying a French castle is the way to go. Some castles have over 50 acres of land leading up to them that do not allow anyone near their property lines without an invitation to come inside. This makes it perfect if you want your own little world away from other people and noise.

Chateaus are surrounded by nature

When you buy a French castle, the chateau will most likely be in beautiful natural surroundings with rivers and forests nearby. There is nothing quite like strolling through the grounds of your own private estate that has been around for centuries! They offer a lot of space for the visitors to roam around and enjoy some quiet time while taking in all the beauty that is on display. With lots of greenery, chateaus make you feel closer to nature while also giving you an opportunity to get up close with it. Nothing can be more relaxing than walking through beautiful gardens or enjoying your morning coffee outdoors under trees where birds sing their songs over your head. Not only that but their gardens and grounds offer an abundance of flora and fauna to explore – from trees and flowers at your doorstep to wildlife roaming free throughout their many acres of land. You might even spot deer running across if you’re lucky enough!

Chateaus have tax benefits

There is no other real estate asset that has its own tax regime. Chateaus typically fall under the status of “tresor imperial,” or “imperial treasure” and therefore enjoy a lower rate of property taxation than other properties. In France, a chateau can benefit from an exemption on wealth taxes for the first 15 years of ownership if it’s classified as a “Monument Historique”. You also get to deduct 70% of your restoration expenses before being taxed on the remaining 30%. Chateaus are not taxed at their full value, but at a much lower rate. This is usually around 0.34% of the property’s market value in Paris and less than that outside of it. Therefore, if you buy a historic chateau for $100 million dollars you only pay taxes on about $340k per year – which means your yearly tax bill might be as low as $4500.

Their value will increase over time 

Have you ever wondered why the Mona Lisa, a simple painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, is worth more than $700 million? It’s because there are people willing to pay for it. In other words, their value will increase over time as long as someone wants them and as long as they can afford them. The same goes for French castles which have been around since medieval times. They always come with an interesting story behind them or some kind of historical significance that makes them even more valuable in today’s world and that’s why their value will only increase over time.

Buying a French Castle can be quite challenging but also extremely rewarding when you finally make that purchase. It gives you access to owning something truly special with centuries worth of history behind it, which alone makes this kind of investment worthwhile. Furthermore, it provides the opportunity to enjoy your own piece of history as well as living in one of France’s most beautiful regions surrounded by vineyards and gorgeous lavender fields, so if you decide to invest in a castle, you can be sure you’ve made the right choice!

Hey you young, hip, and happening marketing grads! Are you ready to dig into some totally radical, l33t marketing hacks? Ready to get that advertising game on fleek and your Insta campaign lit?

If reading through the start of this had you absolutely cringing, you’re not alone. Pro tip: Don’t abuse slang like this. It will make your target audience move elsewhere, and could even be a form of cultural appropriation.

What exactly are target audiences? Read on, and we’ll give you a simple explanation and some target audience examples, as well as how you can reach them.

What Is a Target Audience?

A target audience, sometimes referred to as a target market when you sell a product, is the group that your product or service is supposed to reach. They’re the audience or market, the group of people, that you target or focus on with your advertising campaigns.

These are the people you want to use your company’s products or services the most. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t include other markets, but that this audience is your primary focus.

What Are Some Target Audience Examples?

One simple way to look at target audiences is the four-quadrant model used by Hollywood. It divides the potential viewers and consumers into four groups: young people, older people, men, and women.

Obviously, for product marketing purposes, this is a bit simplistic. Some other target audience examples that are less broad might include:

• Mothers, especially mothers of young children
• LGBTQ+ people
• College graduates
• Children and preteens

Each of these groups will require different marketing strategies to address their needs. Even if you sell products (or a type of product) that can apply to all of them, you should try to tailor your ad campaign to a specific target demographic.

How Can You Reach Your Target Audience?

Once you’ve figured out your target market, it’s time to consider how you can reach them. The most effective way these days is to trust algorithmically targeted marketing aided by Google or by these solutions from Finecast.

However, if your target audience has ad blockers installed, you might be able to reach them through a concerted social media campaign if they’re younger. You could also go the cold-calling route for older clientele, or send out pamphlets in the mail.

Reaching your target audience is about understanding the way they think and the places they’re going to look for information, products, and services.

Let’s Review What We’ve Learned

So, what is a target audience? Simply put, it’s the audience you’re targeting with your marketing campaign. Common target audience examples run across ages and socioeconomic brackets. So, it’s up to you to determine which market you can reach the best with your business by conducting thorough market research.

Did you find this article about target audiences and basic targeted marketing helpful? Would you like to read more about how to advertise to people in the modern era? If so, then check out the Business section of our blog for more!

Over the years, the best prepaid cards have continued to grow in popularity and have not shown any signs of slowing down. In fact, a staggering 23 million adults use them frequently at the grocery checkout, gas pump, or the ATMs. The best prepaid cards are used like debit cards, making them one of the best financial tools available.

Prepaid Cards 101

Since prepaid cards are very easy to obtain, they are considered the best alternative to credit cards, checks, and cash. Also known as general-purpose reloadable, prepaid credit cards, or prepaid debit cards, they can only be used once money has been loaded successfully onto the card.

Those who don’t have access to savings or checking accounts used to be the primary users of prepaid cards. However, thanks to exciting and peerless benefits they offer, prepaid cards have become massively popular, growing an impressive 50 percent between 2012 and 2014.

Different Types of Prepaid Cards

• Payroll Cards

Just as the name indicates, rather than receiving the usual pay checks, many employees nowadays prefer to have their salaries, bonuses, and other incentives loaded directly to their prepaid cards. Once the money has been loaded, they can use their cards to pay the bills, purchase goods, and withdraw from ATMs.

• Gift Cards

Gift cards come in monetary denominations that are specific. Gift cards are designed to be used for purchases at specific stores. Often, they are not reloadable but they are considered ideal for gifting.

• General Purpose Reloadable (GPR) Cards

With a general purpose reloadable card, you need to load money onto the card first and use it like you would a debit card. GPRs work similar to most credit and debit cards and are often honored and accepted at merchants and online stores.

The Benefits of Getting a Prepaid Card

• They are easy to get. Prepaid cards are very easy to obtain.
• They are easy to use. As mentioned earlier, prepaid cards are honored and accepted almost anywhere where major credit and debit cards are accepted.
• They are considered safe. While you can also lose cash when using your prepaid card, it is often very minimal. If you lose your credit card on the other hand, there is a possibility that you can rack up substantial charges. This is especially true if you have a very high credit limit. Also, if you lose your prepaid card, the loss is often limited to the balance available on the card. Thankfully, some prepaid cards also provide protection against theft or loss.
• They won’t require credit checks. This is considered a massive advantage by those who are unbanked and those who have less than stellar credit histories.
• They are great budgeting tools. You can load money onto your prepaid card that’s intended for groceries and other things. So if you have depleted all the balance intended for the groceries, you would have to live off with what’s remaining in your pantry until the end of the month.
• There are no monthly bills to take care of. If you hate the inconvenience of sifting through electronic statements and paperwork, you would surely love prepaid cards. With prepaid cards, there’s no need to sift through electronic statements or paperwork monthly.
• You won’t incur any debts. When using a prepaid card, your transactions will be limited by the balance that’s available on the card. As soon as the balance has been depleted, your spending will also stop automatically. Unlike credit cards, you won’t incur mounting debts when you use a prepaid card.
• You will have overdraft protection. As mentioned earlier, you won’t be able to use your prepaid cards for the time being as soon as all the balance has been depleted. Fortunately, you can use your prepaid card right away once money has been successfully loaded onto the card.