Starting up a Cycle courier service

[benjihubbs]

Hi all,

I am looking to start up a cycle courier service and I was just wondering if anyone would have any advice on how to get customers for this sort of thing. I know I would obviously have to do some form of marketing, but I'm not entirely sure how to go about it. I mean, do I print up leaflets and send them out to my target market as a mass mail merge and hope they get in touch, or do I ring the companies directly and explain the service I am offering? If this is the case, who within the company would I need to speak to?

Any more general advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, what would you be willing to pay to have a packaged delivered across town?

Many Thanks
Benjihubbs

 

[greenshaw]

Hi all,

I am looking to start up a cycle courier service and I was just wondering if anyone would have any advice on how to get customers for this sort of thing. I know I would obviously have to do some form of marketing, but I'm not entirely sure how to go about it. I mean, do I print up leaflets and send them out to my target market as a mass mail merge and hope they get in touch, or do I ring the companies directly and explain the service I am offering? If this is the case, who within the company would I need to speak to?

Any more general advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, what would you be willing to pay to have a packaged delivered across town?

Many Thanks
Benjihubbs

Why would you just limit yourself to bicycles? It's always tricky to get them sent, maybe you could focus on how you can target cycle sellers on eBay and Amazon?

 

[James Greg]

Cycle courier would just limit you to one town. How would you plan to get the package delivered in shortest time? I think I would not like to send just one item on a bicycle courier. As this courier service would be limited you would have to make it really cheap. I think I would be willing to pay $2 for a 1kg package delivered around town within working hours.

 

[ps_leccy]

People choose cycle couriers in London, I presume, because they do offer a real cost/time benefit. In some cases they can be quicker (especially with current motorbike parking issues) or almost as quick as a motorbike, but presumably cost less overall.

I'm not sure the economics work out so well, even in other big cities?

I'd be tempted to try and get a deal with an existing company that doesn't have bikes - if you can deliver in-town cheaper than their existing system, they may well be interested.
Less money for you per job, but more options I expect.

 

[andypandy]

There are some in Brighton. 2 and 3 wheels plus a big box on the front of them, some with trailers. Maybe you could search for them on google, http://www.thebikesthebusiness.co.uk/tours_1.html . They might have pictures/prices and what exactly they deliver. Plus why not have a bicycle trailer with an advertising bill board on it-two ways of earning money in one go- deliverys and advertisements possibly through an agency.

 

[andypandy]

copy cut and past these into google.




http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=bi...0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&biw=1280&bih=700


http://www.google.co.uk/search?um=1...26812l28l28l1l12l12l0l503l5189l2-4.8.2.1l15l0

 

[Hedgie]

I ran a cycle courier service for a while and believe me it's not worth the trouble unless you are prepared to deliver parcels for a pittance and the area you serve is demographically beneficial to bikes.

Feel free to pm me if you want any specific info.