Creating a shipping strategy that fits your business is critical. Competition with other eCommerce stores means that customers have very high expectations for small and medium-sized businesses and demand low costs and fast shipping methods. It can be expensive to meet these expectations. As your business evolves, your shipping strategy will change depending on shipping costs, order volume and marketing.

eCom stores connected to retail locations

For owners using Lightspeed Retail, newly created Lightspeed eCom stores will be equipped with a shipping method called In-Store Collection. In-store pickup allows customers to purchase online and then collect their orders from your physical store when it suits them. However, to increase the reach of your eCom store, it is recommended that you offer shipping methods so that customers can have their orders delivered to their home.

This article will help you build your first shipping strategy so you can meet your customers' expectations and control your costs. In broad terms, consider the following steps to begin shipping and use the links to find out more.

There are many different parcel senders in the world and their availability depends on your region. Contact the different parcel senders to find out what their rates are. Below you will find a number of popular parcel senders per continent.

Many integrations and apps available through Lightspeed connect to more than one package sender. This is usually done through a third party. This third party can sometimes offer better rates than when you negotiate directly with a parcel sender. Please take this into account when requesting the shipping costs. Find out the price difference by contacting a third-party integration or app such as EasyPost, ShipStation or MyParcel, depending on your location. To learn more about the integrations and apps available in your region, click here.

When you receive an order and you are ready to ship it to your customers, it needs to be packed. It is important not to overlook the details of this step as it is an important step. This is your customer's first physical contact with your products, so it's a perfect time to showcase your store's brand. Also, finding the right package size can reduce shipping costs. Bubble envelopes can be a better option than boxes, as the weight of the packaging is reduced.

Your parcel sender can also provide more information about obtaining the necessary packaging material and may also offer packaging. The following list provides some resources for standard size and custom size package boxes. Do your own research to find the best option in your area.

Standard Package Boxes

Custom/Unique Parcel Boxes

Your customers should be given several shipping options at checkout so they can pay for their order.

The following table lists four shipping strategies you can choose to implement. Use the table to decide which strategy suits you. Then click on the title of each shipping strategy to find complete instructions on how to set it up.

For a comparison between Manual and Integrated shipping methods click here.

In Lightspeed eCom, there are two ways to display shipping rates: using manual shipping methods or using an integration/app. Both methods display the rates at checkout and they vary by method: