Getting started with shipping
Whether you’re a small start-up business searching for easy ways to manage mail, or an established company looking to streamline your shipping processes, get started right now with Royal Mail.
Accessible tools like Click & Drop make shipping easier and quicker, without a minimum spend. You don’t even have to open an account if you don’t want to.
We put a lot of effort into making shipping painless for both sellers and buyers. Impress your customers with Royal Mail’s trusted and reliable services, and keep them coming back again and again.
What do customers want from shipping?
A pleasant shopping experience makes for a loyal customer who will recommend your business to their friends, rather than someone who will look elsewhere next time.
- 85% of shoppers prefer a choice of delivery speeds*. Offer a mix of free or cheap services and faster or more secure services, so customers can choose depending on how urgently they need their parcel.
- With Tracked services (customers can follow the progress of their item from their desktop or mobile phone. This can result in huge savings for your business, as time spent servicing customer delivery queries is dramatically reduced.
- 60% of online shoppers would be unlikely to buy again from a retailer after a difficult returns experience*. Royal Mail Tracked Returns® not only gives you increased control and security, it also increases buyer confidence – resulting in repeat business.
International shipping for beginners
Many retailers don’t offer international shipping, and are missing out on a potentially huge global market for their products. It can be intimidating to expand into shipping abroad, so start small. For example, you can begin by offering international delivery on the UK version of your chosen marketplace first. If that goes well, you can set up translated listings on localised sites in the future.
We’ve made it easy to compare international shipping options. Royal Mail also has a comprehensive guide to customs and sending goods abroad.
By linking your Click & Drop account to your marketplaces you are providing a smooth checkout for both domestic and international customers, with the added benefit that marketplaces take care of currency conversions for you.
Order mail supplies online
You can buy stamps, labels, envelopes, boxes, tubes and all your other mail supplies online at the Royal Mail shop.
Mail supplies are free to eligible business customers. We deliver in 3-5 working days, and repeat ordering is easy. If you have a Click & Drop, Franking & Metering, or Business Account, and are registered with Royal Mail online portal.
*Delivery Matters UK 2018, independently conducted by Trinity McQueen