{"id":639,"date":"2018-08-17T14:39:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-17T14:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/shipping-strategy-can-improve-customer-loyalty\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T21:22:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T21:22:00","slug":"shipping-strategy-can-improve-customer-loyalty","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/shipping-strategy-can-improve-customer-loyalty\/","title":{"rendered":"How Your Shipping Strategy Can Improve Customer Loyalty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Table of Contents<\/p>

** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

3 fulfilment tips to improve customer loyalty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that the typical ecommerce store generates 43% of its revenue<\/a> from repeat purchases? And according to Marketing Insider Group<\/a>, repeat customers are twice as likely to place an item in their cart, have lower bounce rates, and convert nearly twice as much as new customers. It\u2019s clear that customer loyalty is key<\/a> to ecommerce success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A top-notch customer experience is critical to building trust and loyalty, and loyal customers will become an invaluable source of not only sales but word-of-mouth marketing, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping and last-mile delivery<\/a> play a huge role in the customer experience: 60% of online shoppers<\/a> have chosen between competitors based on convenience of delivery options. Are you living up to your customers\u2019 expectations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 fulfilment tips to improve customer loyalty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are three tips for meeting customers\u2019 growing expectations for ecommerce shipping and keep them coming back to shop time and time again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Be transparent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Transparency is vital in ecommerce, so make sure that you provide clear delivery date estimates and tracking information to your customers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose to outsource fulfilment to a tech-enabled third-party logistics (3PL) provider<\/a>, you can access a complete view of each order \u2014 from the moment it\u2019s placed online to the moment it is delivered to your customer\u2019s doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can automatically send them tracking info, and if customers ask you questions, you can confidently answer them from anywhere using the most up-to-date information. This helps ensure greater precision, transparency, and consistency in service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also maintain transparency around your returns policy, as 66% of shoppers<\/a> review a retailer\u2019s returns policy before buying. Make sure that there are no hidden fees associated with returns, and make it clear whether or not customers will be responsible for return shipping costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Related article: How to Create a Great Online Returns Experience<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Meet expectations around shipping costs and speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A Forrester study<\/a> shows that 44% of online shoppers who abandon their carts do so because of shipping and handling costs<\/a>. And with big-box ecommerce companies offering two-day shipping and free shipping options<\/a>, customers expect fast and affordable delivery at the click of a button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offering affordable same-day delivery<\/a> and two-day shipping<\/a> options can help you cater to different customer preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to make sure the shipping options you offer meet your customers\u2019 expectations is to work with a fulfilment provider that allows you to split your inventory<\/a> across locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of having to ship all orders from one central location, you save time and money by shipping from the fulfilment centre closest to your customer. If your customers are located throughout the country, you can reduce the shipping zones<\/a> your packages are sent to by distributing your inventory across fulfilment centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you have affordable and two-day shipping options in place, make sure you let your customers know by marketing your shipping offerings<\/a>. This can include running ads to promote free shipping, adding a banner with shipping promotions to your ecommerce website, and sending free shipping offers to your customer email list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Showcase your brand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Oftentimes, receiving a package is the first in-person experience a customer has with your brand, so your packaging should make an impression. According to Dotcom Distribution<\/a>, 52% of consumers are likely to make repeat purchases from an online merchant that delivers premium packaging<\/a>, and 40% of consumers would share an image of a delivery via social media if it came in a unique package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By including your branded colours, logo, imagery, and\/or positioning in all elements of your business, you can create a consistent, cohesive brand experience. Custom-printed boxes that appeal to your customer base can enhance brand awareness and leave a lasting impression on your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you outsource shipping, make sure to choose an ecommerce fulfilment<\/a> provider that allows you to use custom boxes and inserts to make your packages really stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For small ecommerce businesses, custom packaging can be cost-prohibitive \u2014 and that\u2019s okay! In that case, make sure that the boxes and tape used by your retail fulfilment<\/a> provider are unbranded, rather than broadcasting a carrier or marketplace\u2019s logo or brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Acquiring new customers costs more than retaining the ones you currently have, so it\u2019s important to create a great experience for shoppers. A strong shipping strategy can keep your company top-of-mind for customers long after an order is placed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking to take your fulfilment to the next level, consider ShipBob. ShipBob empowers fast-growing ecommerce businesses with a network of fulfilment centres across the US and the tools and insights you need to maintain control over inventory tracking and stock levels<\/a>, orders, and shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShipBob even integrates directly with the leading ecommerce customer service and helpdesk platform, Gorgias<\/a>, allowing brands to have seamless customer support and shipping data in one place to streamline any post-purchase order inquiries and actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n