"Since this service is being aimed at individuals rather than
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companies, it is key we get the name more widely known"
Woodhead. "We are protective of their self-employed status, and are careful about to what degree we instruct rather than leave the courier to do what they think is right. I would like to find a way — perhaps by providing waterproof Hermes jackets -to give us branding."
This will be essential with the C2C service myHermes launched last year. since building awareness of the new service among the general public is a time-consuming and costly exercise.
Myl lermes is an alternative to Royal Mail, according to Woodhcad. It claims to be the "cheapest three-to-five-day door-to-door UK delivery service".
Sending a parcel is simple.The service is web-based, and once an account is created, it only takes a few minutes to enter the shipment details, work out the cost and print a label. Parcels are collected from the customer and are delivered within three to five days.
Aiming beyond the UK
"A majority of deliveries are made in 3.6 days, and we are generally cheaper than Royal Mail," says Woodhead.
To get the myHermes message out to eBay enthusiasts, it has been heavily promoted on the auction site's home page, especially during last year's postal strikes, as a Royal Mail alternative.
"Since this service is being aimed at individuals rather than firms, it is key we get the name more widely known," Woodhead says "That will also give people confidence they aren't handing over that important birthday present to a complete stranger."
As well as cracking the C2C market, Woodhead plans to expand Hermes' B2C customer base, targeting big webbased retail players such as Amazon as well as pursuing the tens of thousands of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
She says:"Hermes has been set up to trade with very big businesses, and we need to refine our systems to make us more accessible to smaller firms."
Traders sending up to 50 parcels a day tell I.lermes that while they like the service being offered, a hulk upload service somewhere between myHemes and the hulk uploads used by larger retailers would make life easier.
Woodhead has her eye on the international market, delivering imported items such as CDs as well as shipping parcels from UK customers abroad.
"We'll be looking for more European and international business coming into the UK:' she says. "We are also keen to offer a worldwide shipping service for UK customers, starting in Europe." •