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We’re all sick of hearing about Brexit, but no matter how hard we try to steer clear of the topic, for those working in the delivery industry, it always seems to find a way back into our lives. If you’re an owner driver you might be wondering how your business might be affected – adversely or positively. Although many of the details are not yet set in stone (to put it mildly), there’s one thing we can be sure of – for couriers, it’s going to be a very wise idea to keep the doors, and the lines of communication, to Germany wide open. Overseas Online Shoppers According to a study from Royal Mail, one in five online shoppers in Germany regularly choose to purchase from UK-based sites and they spend (on average) just under £50 each month. It has been said that this is partly due to products being unavailable locally for German consumers and also a result of very competitive pricing. In addition, 81% of online shoppers in the country said that they trusted UK-bought items not to be fake. Here are some further statistics about online shopping in Germany: • Three quarters of online shoppers buy their products from the UK if the item is not available in their local area. • 65% prefer British brands. • The top three product categories are clothing, footwear and books, and German shoppers are also more likely to purchase garden products and second-hand items compared to other international shoppers. What This Means Since so many German online shoppers are choosing to have their goods delivered from the UK, it’s good news all round if you’re an owner driver in the courier industry. As the statistics suggest, these online buyers are making up a pretty large portion of delivery work opportunities, and with so many goods having to cross the Channel, it’s down to the transport industry workers to get them where they need to go. As the most commonly-bought products are relatively small items, this allows couriers with vans and other smaller vehicles to take advantage. It’s an excellent opportunity to make the most of this expanding German market and rake in some tidy profits. Although many owner driver operators are not particularly looking to take on jobs in Europe, those who are willing to travel a little further are likely to end up with more work and, naturally, more pay. Go the extra mile (well, several extra miles), and give your business a head start and you just may find that as well as lucrative work, you will gain some other side benefits. Many couriers agree that the alternative lifestyle is appealing in a lot of ways and very few people are able to travel with such freedom for their job. If you’re an ambitious owner driver always on the lookout for some great opportunities for extra pay, the advice from the experts is to keep the door to Germany open – no matter what happens with Brexit. If you’re prepared to head into Europe with a van full of UK goods, you can rest assured that online shopping will always help keep your business going and your bottom line healthy. Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day owner driver courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.
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