Delivery in the Service Industry

     Distribution: the process of getting your product or service to the consumer. It's usually a pretty straight forward process when it comes to products and tangible goods, but what about when your business is a brick and mortar service? If you manufacture and sell a tangible good, your distribution process can be direct, indirect, or a mixture of both. You can sell directly to your customers over the internet or in your own store front, you can place your products in retail stores, or you can use a combined approach. If you offer a good or service like a restaurant, coffee shop, or salon, however, the distribution process is a little different. Usually your customers have to come to you, so marketing your product in a manner that will make your consumers feel that making an effort to come to your business will be worth it. However; many of these types of businesses like restaurants and florists have taken up deliveries. Is this an effective form of distribution? If approached correctly, definitely. This broadens your pool of customers and allows people the opportunity to purchase your product that may not otherwise have access to it or just want the convenience of delivery. There are a couple of catches though. Offering a delivery option to consumers opens you, the business owner, up to more liability because of the potential need for an employee to deliver the products. It can also result in higher expenses because of insurance, gas, and possible permits. When considering offering delivery as an option, it is important to consider if it will be offered all day, if there be an order minimum, and how far out you will be willing to deliver. Even if many consumers don't make use of your delivery service, it can still be a valuable offering because customers will know that is an option. If approached in a responsible manner, offering deliveries at your brick and mortar service business can expand your market and help improve your placement among competitors.