The US Postal Service has launched a new B2C shipping service for eBay users targeted at thefast-growing online market for shoe sales. USPS has also expanded its range of international
shipping products for eBay entrepreneurs.USPS said that the new co-branded Priority Mail Shoebox is designed to meet the special needs ofshippers in one of the fastest growing segments of the retail apparel industry- shoes. The NPDGroup, a retail industry tracker, predicts that sales in the $42 billion footwear segment will grow5% this year. Athletic shoes alone account for about 40% of footwear sales.
Designed to meet the needs of footwear and clothing retailers, along with direct-to-customerbusinesses, the new Priority Mail box allows shippers to simply slide in a boxed pair of shoes foreasy shipping. The USPS and eBay logos are printed on the box.
“As eBay entrepreneurs know, in the highly competitive direct-to-consumer market, the low costand upfront pricing of Priority Mail gives shippers who use this product a way to provide morevalue to their customers,” said Anita Bizzotto, USPS Chief Marketing Officer and Executive VicePresident. The new service was promoted at the recent eBay Live! conference that was sponsored byUSPS.
Customers can use Click-N-Ship- offered online through USPS.com and the eBay Integrated ShippingSolution- to print a shipping label with postage and use free Carrier Pickup online notification tolet their local Post Office know their package is ready for pickup when their letter carrierdelivers their mail the following day.
USPS has meanwhile simplified international parcel shipping for eBay entrepreneurs. Through asingle transaction, customers can pay with their PayPal accounts (through either eBay or PayPal’swebsites), and print labels containing customs forms for the Postal Service’s Global Express Mail,Global Priority Mail or Global Airmail Parcel Post products.
Customers can also arrange online to have these shipments picked up by the letter carriers whocome to their homes and offices each day. “Carrier Pickup” allows customers to schedule a pickup assoon as the next day and as far in advance as three months.
The online suite of international products also allows customers to calculate internationalshipping rates for Global Express Guaranteed, Global Express Mail, Global Priority Mail, GlobalAirmail Services and Global Economy Services; track and confirm delivery of Global Express Mail;and order free shipping supplies and customs envelopes.
