13 replies to this topic

[fishface]

Hi All,

This is my first post and I've looked around to see if it should be tagged on somewhere else rather than starting a new topic... so if I've missed something obvious be gentle with me!

I'm wondering if any of you can recommend road transport firms which will deliver smallish quantities of fireworks (ie. to end consumers, so we're not talking hundreds of pounds or anything). Clearly they must exist, but I'm drawing blanks on finding them.

I wondered if this should go on the Transportation topic but that seemed to be more about individuals transporting their own fireworks than carriers who will deliver them on behalf of a retailer.

Thanks in anticipation,
Jodi.

[sizzle]

I believe DHL are lisenced, there are only two or three (if that) lisenced in this country though.

[Karl]

I too have heard that DHL are licensed to carry fireworks.

But TBH it's not really worth the price unless your shipping a vast quantity.

[fishface]

Thanks Sizzle/Karl, I'll look at DHL. What I'm doing at the moment (and one of the reasons for my applying to join this board) is looking at the viability of setting up a retail outlet in my home town in Derbyshire. It's not a huge place so clearly any way of increasing sales would be welcome, and mail order is an obvious way of doing that.

I see most mail order firms add figures in the region of ?20 or so for delivery, usually free if the order is over a certain amount, so I guess that's my next logical question -- what do members feel is a reasonable amount to pay for delivery?

I realise that's a pretty vague question because of the variables involved (ie. ?20 on a ?1,000 order isn't bad, but ?20 on a ?50 order is another matter). So does anyone have suggestions on what other delivery options might be more viable? Think "blue sky" here, the business isn't even up and running yet so all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks again in anticipation of your input. If anyone knows of any more delivery firms I can check out please do let me know!

[sizzle]

Well, Derbyshire is pretty central so if you had a van you could off a within-50-miles cheaper delivery sevice. I think DHL charge a standard rate for all amounts of fireworks don't they? So you could use them to ship to anyone out of the 50 mile radius.

Your best sales are probably going to be from your store. Few people will be willing to pay ?20 delivery for anything under ?150 worth of fireworks, and apart from Nov 5th and New Years, few people would spend such an amount, when I pick up my mid-year stock (around August) I only spend about ?60. Fireworks Emporium have now imposed a ?100 minimum order limit. Probably because they have to absorb some of the delivery charge and anything under ?100 loses them money.

[fishface]

Thanks Sizzle for a very helpful reply again. I did try DHL but they said they don't carry fireworks, when I asked them if they knew of any UK carriers who did, they said "Try the Yellow Pages"!! I kid you not...

I reckon what you've suggested here is the best bet - concentrate on the shop and if there is demand for local delivery I could employ the services of a "man plus van" (with suitable training for the man and signage for the van). Manchester is only an hour's drive away and if we could offer weekend deliveries at little or no extra charge I think that may be a good way forward, especially since mid-week deliveries are a pain in the behind for most people who work.

[sizzle]

You may have a very good USP there, very few delivery companies deliver on the weekend anyway, if you deliver fireworks on Saturdays I garauntee you will have a very unique service and so may gain quite a few customers, how far away from Stafford will your store be? I'd be interesting to have a look around and have a chat with you when you're set up.

Also, some members of the forum may be able to pass on stock for you for a small fee. (In other words, if you can get stock to people like me or people in other parts of the country, pay them a small fee which you can get back from the customer, they can redistribute it within a certain radius, which widens you're delivery areas.)

[Spyrotechnics]

whereabouts in Derbyshire are you???

[fishface]

I'm in Glossop, Derbyshire (I think I've just met you Starsky on the UKFR forum too!)

Regarding the Saturday deliveries, I'm glad it sounds attractive, and that kind of re-distribution idea also sounds good. I do think one of the keys is to get delivery charges down as fireworks can be expensive enough without adding on ?20 or so.

[Spyrotechnics]

its a small world

you'll be hard pressed to find a reliable, cosr effective delibery company I'm afraid - I know - I tried

[sizzle]

Does anybody know just why they charge so much? does it actually cost them soooo much for a lisence or are they just charging so much because they know there is only a few firms that will deliver and they are taking advantage?

[pyrotrev]

Nightfreight are the only major carrier that ships fireworks, but to send stuff you need to have an account with them, and to have an account you need to give them a lot of business, which make it more or less impossible for a small outfit. There are one or two importers/firework wholesalers that have appropriate transport, but on the whole they're largely shipping stuff to their own clients particularly around Nov 5th. I did hear a while ago (but lost the stuff) about a specialist pyro shipping outfit, but they weren't cheap, and to make things viable for a small load they really need to combine several drops to the same area. If I come across their details again I'll post them.
Reasons for the high cost are 1) insurance 2) the legal need for ADR training for drivers 3) the need to keep strict controls on the amount of pyro at any one depot and 4) (I suspect) not many people doing it, hence little competition.

[ProfHawking]

i followed a van round the motorway the other day, from this company:
http://www.dgiglobal.com

i havent looked into them, but they might be of some use

[Andrew]

There are a few ADR couriers around, but they are very hard to find. None of the major "home brand" couriers even entertain ADR consignments, TNT do but they charge extortinate prices.