Building your own fleet of delivery vehicles, whether you are working with the food industry or simply offer D2C delivery for your products, is an excellent way of ensuring that your business is able to oversee every aspect of a sale. Rather than relying on mainstream courier services, you maintain much greater control over your goods, and your relationship with customers.
That said, as with any startup trying to make that initial wave within the industry, it is crucial that you have prepared yourself against the most common pitfalls that can effect – or derail – a business like yours. Here are a few ways to avoid the most common mistakes of D2C startup management.
Ensure that Your Fleet is Fully Insured Against Potentially Devastating Costs
It might come as a surprise just how easy it can be for any business – particularly a new one – to be brought to its knees by a single unanticipated accident and, unfortunately, when much of your business takes place on the roads, this remains a distinct possibility.
It is crucial that you cover all of your bases, which means looking into any type of insurance your D2C startup might need. Any company that makes use of vehicles to conduct day-to-day operations would want to prepare for any potential accidents – before it is too late to do so. Taking out business auto coverage ensures you can conduct your operations without having to worry about legal troubles, or the costs of accidents that occur when you are making a delivery (whether these are medical expenses, or necessary repair work for your vehicle).
Make Certain that You are Keeping an Eye on your Physical and Mental Well-Being
One of the most common issues that starry-eyed entrepreneurs run into is not necessarily a matter of business management, but a lack of understanding when it comes to the limits of the body. Keep in mind that the more sleepless nights you spend trying to ‘steer’ your business in the right direction and meet all those deliveries yourself, the easier it will be to compromise your health.
Do not wait for something to go wrong before you take a much-needed step back from the road. Ensure that you get at least eight hours of sleep and that you get enough food during the day to replenish both energy and spirits. The more you compromise your health, the more challenging it will be to make the right decisions for your business.
Prioritize Following Up with Your Existing Customers
Your D2C is driven by a more personalized approach to your customers and, in an age where authentic relationships between consumer and retailer are growing increasingly pertinent, this represents a significant edge over your larger-scale competitors.
It might seem like the most obvious choice to make use of social media as a part of your marketing campaign, but it can be surprising how many startup owners fail to take full advantage of social media. Not only does it help bridge the gap between company and consumer, but it also allows you to keep track of invaluable feedback.
In addition to social media, work on augmenting your email marketing campaign to offer well-timed follow-ups with customers. Continuing to bridge that gap, ask for feedback, and remind them of the excellent service you offered in the past will help you to retain – and grow – a loyal customer base.
Growing a brand-new business takes time, and plenty of preparation to achieve. Fortunately, the tips above are more than enough to give your D2C startup a chance it needs to flourish in a competitive business landscape.
