The service, says APC, is suitable for all types of less time-sensitive printed materials such as catalogues, magazines, directories and reports that do not require a customer signature and are deliverable within one to three days.
Steve Calvert, Director, APC Express Logistics in Nottingham reports that one of his depot’s customers has put the new service to the test. The client already utilises other APC Overnight services and agreed to trial the magazine service against its current catalogue delivery provider, Royal Mail.
“Both Royal Mail and APC Express Logistics were given 850 consignments each, with the client’s expectation for all deliveries to be made in around three days. Ninety per cent of APC Overnight consignments were delivered next day. Royal Mail took an average of three days to deliver, with up to seven days for some consignments. The customer was delighted with APC Overnight, not only with the time scale and but also that all the consignments via our service were delivered. We have now been invited to quote for the customer’s main annual run of 10,000 catalogues,” said Steve Calvert.
With over 125 APC Overnight depots strategically located throughout the UK, the magazine service provides a nationwide money-saving alternative to more costly hardcopy publication distribution services available via Royal Mail and Business Post.
Magazine service customers can use plain or own-branded packaging and package weight can be up to 2kg, with a minimum run of 50 items. This allows customers to simply switch over from their usual supplier without changing their publishing and packaging operation.
“The magazine service will reduce distribution costs for printers, publishers and mail-order marketers. We have trimmed down the costs to provide precisely what customers are looking for in a magazine service. We believe that this is an exceptional offering that will benefit many UK organisations that are looking to control their publication distribution costs without cutting corners in service quality. The service can be booked via the customer’s local APC Overnight depot to arrange collection from their own premises or directly from the printer,” said Jon Barber, Marketing Director, APC Overnight.
About APC Overnight
APC says: “APC Overnight is the UK’s largest next day delivery network with more than 125 local depots covering all areas of the country. The network specialises in timed deliveries, offering a choice of convenient morning or afternoon options as well as a Saturday service. APC Overnight collects, routes and delivers more than 1 million parcels each month with an impressive better-than-99.8% on-time delivery record.”
