Diamond Announces 40% Reduction in Freight Costs

Rhythm lined a lot of ComicsPro’s bulletins a number of weeks in the past, however missed one of many greatest information to this point: that Diamond Comics, the main direct market distributor, introduced a serious discount in transport prices .

Diamond Reduces UPS Freight Costs on Printed Supplies by 20% in April, and can set up 20% additional on the value in impact in July, for a complete discount of the UPS transport prices of 40%.

Diamond’s transport prices have been an enormous criticism from retailers for years (with a 3% restocking payment”) and one thing that Penguin Random Home – the distributor of Marvel, IDW and Darkish Horse in DM – covers It has lengthy been identified that till Diamond can compete with this, ordering all types of merchandise from PRH makes extra sense.

I’m informed that this advert to ComicsPRO obtained a combined reception from retailers – however our retail correspondent Brandon Schatz shall be lengthy in a bit to elucidate this. Within the meantime, here’s a letter from the founding father of Diamond Steve Geppi it offers a part of the context for the transfer…and one other positioning for Diamond in right now’s extra aggressive distribution panorama.

As you have little doubt heard, after implementing a number of cost-cutting measures at our company headquarters and distribution facilities, Diamond will scale back UPS freight expenses on supplies printed in 20% this month of April, and 20% additional on the value in impact in July, for a complete discount of the UPS transport prices of 40%.

I am very excited to have the ability to make this adjustment, which we initially introduced on the ComicsPRO Annual Assembly in Pittsburgh. As a observe up, I wished to share a bit extra about Diamond, what we’re doing that nobody else is doing, and the way we are able to implement this variation over the subsequent few months.

First, as you understand, Diamond would not simply distribute merchandise. Diamond has regularly invested within the direct market and developed over its 40+ yr historical past to make sure we offer important providers who’ve been specifically designed to assist and develop your corporation.

And we’re the solely distributor in our business who does this.

Providers like:

• • • PREVIEWSPULLBOX worldwhich makes it simple in your prospects to pre-order their books and weekly subscriptions instantly from you
    • ComicSuite POS and ComicSuite Litesoftware program choices that tightly combine with our ordering and different techniques to scale back labor for retailers and permit them to focus their efforts extra on prospects
    • The month-to-month PREVIEWS printed catalog that basically serves as a reference guide for brand spanking new merchandise and restocks for all the business
    • Our community of consumer-oriented web sitesas PREVIEWSworld that instantly promotes the gadgets you promote to enthusiastic followers
    • Free comedian day group, promotion and facilitation to assist launch new tales, deliver international consideration to our business and appeal to new prospects to your shops
    • Comedian Guide Retailer Locator Servicethat shortly and simply connects shoppers to your retailer
    • THE the best selection of comics, graphic novels, and collectibles, plus provides, attire, video games, playing cards, collectibles, and extra from Diamond and the set Geppi Household Companiesenterprise and model community to diversify your retailer and assist you stand out from different shops competing for client cash
    • Coordination of assist throughout nationwide disasters and different difficultiesfor involved retailers between Diamond, publishers and organizations like Binc and the CBLDF
    • A integration crewto assist new retailers with a devoted crew of retailer service representativesto reply product questions, troubleshoot and troubleshoot issues, and supply different assist providers
    • Monetary assist for retailerstogether with prolonged durations or particular preparations that will help you throughout enterprise interruptions
    • And lots of others…

Once more, I am proud that we’re the one distributor to reinvest massively within the direct marketas now we have been doing for over 40 years.

Nonetheless, I’ve heard your issues and listened to your feedback. Consequently, I’ve labored intently with my administration crew to discover choices to turn out to be extra aggressive on freight, with out sacrificing what makes Diamond distinctive, and I’m delighted that we had been capable of make the announcement that now we have executed.

With the addition of CGA’s consumer-centric enterprise to the GFE enterprise, which will increase our transport quantity, now we have been capable of negotiate extra favorable transportation agreements. This enables us to go on vital financial savings to you on UPS shipments of printed merchandise. We’re additionally in dialogue with different carriers together with FedEx and USPS for sure shipments. Moreover, we’re consolidating many places of work whereas lowering the dimensions of our house workplace by 60% this summer time and transitioning to a internet hosting system that higher aligns with right now’s extra distant workforce. right now.

And we proceed to analysis different methods to implement financial savings that may be handed on to you. Examples embody in depth USPS testing for shipments below 10 lbs. We discover that shipments arrive as shortly as UPS deliveries with no improve in harm and at a decrease price. We’re implementing software program and {hardware} upgrades in our Olive Department distribution facility to allow us to make use of this transport methodology, which can scale back prices for retailers.

We’re additionally persevering with to analyze drop level choices. Drop-off factors are essentially the most cost-effective manner so that you can obtain merchandise involving decrease prices and fewer carrier-related harm. Tons of of outlets responded to the survey we despatched out late final yr, and operations have been working to establish potential routes for extra drop-off factors. Retailers utilizing drop factors had been ready to enroll and obtain their weekly restock orders together with their weekly cargo of recent merchandise in the event that they did not thoughts the marginally longer supply time.

Whereas at all times working to answer your suggestions, we stay dedicated to the service and assist now we have supplied to the direct marketplace for over 40 years. Clearly the enterprise is altering and the world is totally different than it was 3 years in the past. What hasn’t modified is Diamond’s dedication to you and the significance we place on your corporation. We are going to proceed to evolve and implement adjustments based mostly on the wants of the business and your corporation.

As at all times, thanks in your assist and enterprise.

Steve Geppi

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