FedEx : ‘Your gift is in the mail’; Aussie SMEs unprepared for Christmas online sales boom

December 16, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

'Your gift is in the mail'; Aussie SMEs unprepared for Christmas online sales boom

• Close to two thirds (62%) of Australian SMEs admit they haven't proactively prepared for the peak online shopping season
• Over half (58%) of Australians wouldn't use a business again if it let them down over the holiday period and 81 per cent said a bad shipping experience can be infuriating
• Three quarters (76%) of Australian SMEs say ineffective delivery leads to missed revenue opportunities

Australia, November, 2015 - Lost revenue and frustrated customers are all too common for Australian SMEs who don't successfully manage post and shipping services at Christmas, research commissioned by FedEx Express has found.

The poll of 1000 consumers and 400 SMEs revealed 94 per cent of businesses believe Christmas will bring an increased demand for online shopping, but 63 per cent of businesses admit they have not proactively prepared for the peak season.

Three out of four (76%) SMEs say local businesses are missing out on revenue because they don't have effective shipping systems and over half (51%) of consumers believe Australian companies are falling behind their overseas competitors when it comes to preparation for peak season shopping.

Managing Director, FedEx Express Australasia, Kim Garner said: 'We know Australians love to beat the queues and shop online at Christmas, but too many businesses underestimate the role shipping can play in the shopping experience, which means they are at risk of letting their customers down and are missing out on a golden revenue opportunity.'

'When it comes to reputation, a positive shopping experience at Christmas can make all the difference and a bad one can have lasting consequences. In fact, our research showed that over half (58%) of Australians wouldn't buy from a business again if its shipping let them down at Christmas.'

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The survey highlighted that the speed of delivery is a frustration point for over half (51%) of Australians at Christmas time, with one in seven (15%) parents admitting that one of their children has missed out on opening their gift on Christmas day due to late delivery.

It also showed over a third (34.5%) of SMEs recognise that the reliability of post and parcel services will have the biggest impact on their bottom line over the holiday season and nearly seven in ten (68%) expect late deliveries to create the most customer complaints at this time of year.

'Giving your business the shipping infrastructure it needs to succeed during the festive season, for example parcel tracking and time definite services, will boost revenue and improve customer relationships. When a shopper is browsing your website for Christmas gifts, a trusted shipping supplier can offer the assurance they need to hit the buy button,' says Kim Garner.

Globally, FedEx expects to see a record number of shipments during this year's holiday season.

Estimates indicate FedEx will handle 317 million shipments between November 27 and Christmas

Eve, an increase of 12.4 percent over the previous year.

Other survey findings include: · 6 out of ten (63%) Australians agree that using postage and shipping services becomes more frustrating at Christmas time · Over a third (35%) of Australians have been told 'your gift is in the mail' on Christmas Day · Close to a third of Australians (30%) have sent of received a gift that was damaged in transit · One in five (21%) Australians have had such a bad online shopping experience at Christmas they avoid online shopping at this time of year all together · Excitement (35%), unprepared (27%) and anxious (22%) are the most common emotions felt by SMEs during the peak shopping season · Eight out of ten (86%) SMEs believe more Australians than ever before are buying gifts online at the last minute

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About FedEx Express

FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $48 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 325,000 team members to remain 'absolutely, positively' focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: FedEx Express press releases are available on the World Wide Web at www.fedex.com.

For further information, please contact:

Max Hewett, Senior Account Executive, Edelman

[e-mail]

0432 332 215