Better than all the rest

If industrial action goes ahead, we run the risk of losing customers for good. Today, we speak to one business about why their relationship with us is so vital to their success.

The co-founders of online retailer Velocity Commerce credit Royal Mail with kick-starting their company’s growth over the past seven years, as they’ve grown from a two-man start-up to a multimillion-pound business.

Based in Cambridge, Velocity Commerce – which sells gadgets and electronics– was recently named one of the fastest growing companies in Europe in the latest FT 1000 report.

Co-founders Eddie Latham and PJ Scott now distribute directly from their own warehouse and receive more than 3,000 orders per day. PJ says that if industrial action goes ahead, the company would have no choice but to move to another courier.

‘We’d have to move everything to DPD, which would double our costs and lead to us losing locations we currently ship to,’ said PJ. ‘We have a lot of customers in areas like the Scottish Highlands and the Channel Islands, which Royal Mail make accessible to us, whereas with another courier that would mean an extra fee on top of our postage and could make the sale unprofitable for us.’

Thanks to their rapid success, PJ and Eddie are making plans to expand into the USA and Germany.

‘Royal Mail was absolutely integral to getting our business off the ground,’ added PJ. ‘I always tell people that the crucial moment was when we found someone willing to pick up goods from a garage.

‘We have gone from there to predicted sales of £30m this year. The service Royal Mail has given us has been second to none. We’re bringing in a 9pm collection later this year in time for Christmas, so we’ll be able to offer next-day delivery to our customers ordering up to 8pm.

‘A large majority of our orders come in during the evening, but at the moment we can only offer next-day delivery up to 3pm, so this will make a big difference. Royal Mail is really flexible and has always been so supportive.’

What sets us apart?

Postwoman, Ruth Harper, from Weston-super-Mare Delivery Office, said: ‘The competitors I mostly see around are DPD and Amazon. Even though people sometimes want their parcel delivered through other companies, they know we’ll get it out by a certain time.

‘And if it cannot be delivered to them or a neighbour we’re not going to leave it outside in the rain. It’s a recognisable name and I feel proud to put on the uniform every day.’