mailordermasterclass

3 M ail order has historically been a straightforward yet underutilised arm of the fine food sector. While specialists made the most of catalogues and postal orders, the advent of the internet changed everything. The e-commerce revolution has transformed the sector into a vibrant and increasingly vital area that every business owner can exploit. From the direct-to-consumer boom to the popularity of meal kit boxes and letterbox hampers, everything from flattened bottles of wine to pouched and ready-to-pour pre-mixed cocktails is getting an e-commerce-friendly refresh. While this change was already barrelling down the road towards the fine food sector, Covid-19 caused decades worth of development to happen practically overnight. That’s why Speciality Food , in partnership with Icertech, has created Mail Order Masterclass , a go-to resource for fine food businesses looking to build up their digital resilience for the new age of retail. After Covid-19 highlighted the critical importance of having multiple routes to reach your customer, there’s never been a better time to invest. From your first steps of setting up an e-commerce website to choosing a local or national delivery service through to how and why you should be capturing data from your online business, this report features expert advice to get you started on your mail order journey. The industry is becoming more and more inclusive of a diverse array of products, too. Parcels are no longer reserved only for ambient goods or long-life items. Over the pandemic, food businesses took the leap into shipping out chilled and frozen products, as well as fresh items like meat and cheese. Advances in temperature controlled packaging allow businesses to rest easy that their products will reach customers looking and tasting their very best. Whether your business is shipping out meal kits or boxes of cheeses, new developments in packaging have turned e-commerce’s possibilities into reality for more fine food businesses. Plus, not only does mail order bring opportunities in reaching new customers to the table, but it also opens the door to exciting and imaginative ways to attract customer loyalty. For instance, direct-to- consumer brands boast high customer loyalty thanks to their subscription models, and retailers are learning that they can replicate these with veg boxes and cheese subscription boxes too. Bricks and mortar retail shops will always have a place in the fine food industry, but the opportunities of operating an e-commerce and delivery arm in 2021 are too good to pass up. Read on to find out why and how you can kick- start your mail order business today. INTRODUCING MAILORDER MASTERCLASS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH While the Covid-19 pandemic caused a great many challenges for the food and retail sectors, it undeniably allowed for innovation too; with the growth in online sales came a boost for mail order models. Here, experts share their insight and experiences to help you make the most of this valuable opportunity