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Packing 101: Packing Essentials
Find a box in the nearest dumpster, throw your stuff in, slap some duct tape on, mark it "Fragile", then ship it. Simple, right? Wrong. Many Retail Shipping Store operators make a grave mistake in thinking that packaging is simple. But in order to properly prepare your packages to survive the rigors of the transportation network, you must follow very specific carrier rules and the physics of packaging dynamics. This class covers both the science and rules; containers, packaging/cushioning materials and how to use the "right" one for the job, packaging techniques, sealing, carrier rules, and tricks of the trade that will make you a true packaging expert. Topics include: |
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The Distribution Environment |
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Carrier Requirements |
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The Dynamics of Packaging |
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Shipping Containers |
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Cushioning Materials |
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Packing Tools |
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The Packaging Process |
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Packaging Demonstrations |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Rut Scarborough – RS Associates
Director, Information Technology |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Packing 102: Advanced Packing
Stock box sizes don’t always fit items being shipped or sent via freight. Custom box/container design and construction is an art, and the product can be a significant profit center with extraordinary margins. Learn – and practice - professional techniques for custom box building for fragile, large, awkward and valuable items. Become your neighborhood Packaging Expert. The lab-based course curriculum includes: |
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Packaging Dynamics |
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Carrier Considerations |
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Packaging Design |
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Corrugated Carton Design & Construction |
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Carton Design Diagrams |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Rut Scarborough – RS Associates
Director, Information Technology |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Shipping 101: Basics of Small Package Transportation
Designed for new store owners and staff, this course covers the basics and the essential rules, requirements, science, and best practices for small package shipping in the United States. Subjects covered: specific carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS) rules and terms of carriage, shipment size and weight limitations, insurance and shipment value protection, packaging requirements, package processing, pricing, shipping product options, service guarantees, automation options, and carrier account setup. |
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Carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS) rules and terms of carriage |
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Shipment size and weight limitations |
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Insurance and shipment value protection |
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Carrier packaging requirements |
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Shipping options |
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Package processing |
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Shipping product options |
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Service guarantees |
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Automation options |
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Carrier account setup |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Brandon Gale – RS Academy
President |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Shipping 102: International Shipping
International shipping is a substantial profit center for retail shipping centers, but remembering every detail, procedure, and regulation can be a challenge. Rules and services can change every day - and knowing how to adjust to those changes can mean the difference between great profits and great losses! Course curriculum includes: |
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Carrier-specific regulations & updates |
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Customs documentation |
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Restrictions and Prohibitions |
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Red Flag countries |
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Shipping options |
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Resources & Forms |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Rut Scarborough – RS Academy
Senior Instructor |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Shipping 103: Heavy Freight & Air Cargo
Large freight is an increasingly important menu item for today's successful Retail Shipping Store. As a high-potential profit center, freight can be complex and certainly has risk, so understanding the rules, options, and opportunities is crucial. This course covers the details-National Motor Freight Classification, trade lanes, carriers, Full Truckload, Less Than full Load (LTL), Air Cargo, Sea Container, shipment preparation (crating, palletizing, specialty packaging/handling), pickup and delivery options, and pricing. Become your neighborhood freight expert and start packing the profit pounds on your bottom line. |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Rut Scarborough – RS Associates
Senior Instructor |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Operations 103: Administration & Accounting for Retail Shippers
Proper accounting, tax planning, banking, and financial analysis are mandatory in any successful business. This course teaches established best practices on how to manage your income, accounts payable, cost centers, payroll, profit and loss analysis, and sales forecasting. The course instructor is a career accountant with extensive experience with retail shipping stores. |
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Step-by-step Quickbooks setup with industry-specific chart of accounts |
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Banking setup |
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Credit card processing |
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Reconciliation |
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Accounts payable/receivable |
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Tax planning/filing |
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Forecasting |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Steven S. Weigman – RS Academy
Senior Instructor |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Operations 102: CMRA Mailbox Rental Management &
USPS Approved Shipper Program
If postal services are a part of your product mix, the United States Postal Service plays a vital role in your day-to-day operation. As a regulator, the USPS requires compliance with the rules and regulations imposed on private mail box rental services through the Commercial Mail Receiving Agent (CMRA) program. And as a business partner, the USPS Approved Shipper Program provides marketing tools and operational support for reselling USPS products and services in your center. This three-hour operations course covers all the basics – and all the bases. Topics include: |
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CMRA Guidelines |
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Compliance Issues |
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Mail Center Security |
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Aviation Security and Hazardous Materials |
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USPS Approved Shipper Program |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Brandon Gale– RS Academy
President |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Operations 501: Retail Shipping Operations 2011 Update
When rules and regulations change, so does the way you do business. It’s not enough just to know the changes - you need to understand how they will affect you, your business and your customers. And equally important, you need to know how they will affect your profitability.
Designed as a continuing education class for veteran operators, this three-hour forum examines changes, additions and eliminations of products, services and procedures affecting the retail shipping industry. Lead by RS Associates president Brandon Gale, this year’s Update focuses on: |
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Domestic Shipping changes |
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International Shipping changes |
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Carrier Business Rule changes |
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Mail Center Security issues |
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Aviation Security restriction |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Brandon Gale – RS Associates
President |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Notary 101: Notary Basics
This course provides the information necessary to develop the skills and confidence to perform virtually any notorial act. Presented in three parts to lead the student logically from an understanding of the basic concepts of notarization, through comprehension of the various notorial acts, and an appreciation of the subtleties of the Notary’s professional responsibility. Course information is state-specific when appropriate. |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Brandon Gale – RS Associates
President |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Sales & Marketing 102: Corporate Sales & Marketing
Business-to-business (B2B) sales can mean big profits for your small business. Targeting local companies as clients may require a lot more effort than courting individual consumers, but the payoffs can be huge. To get your foot in the door, you need to learn the tricks of the corporate trade. Topics include: |
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The Culture of Corporate Sales |
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Identifying and Understanding your Buyer |
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Preparing Bids & Proposals |
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Corporate account administration/management |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Brandon Gale – RS Associates
President |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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Sales & Marketing 201: New Customer Prospecting & Customer Retention
The retail shipping business today is rife with new competition. Budgets are shrinking, and center owners are stretched to the limit to do more with less. The need to reach out and find new customers in new markets while keeping existing customers is more important than ever.
This course covers the tools and resources that can help you expand your market and win new customers—and solidify your relationship with customers you’ve worked so hard to cultivate. Expand profitably into vertical and horizontal markets by learning to: |
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Coordinate sales and marketing efforts to optimize lead generation and consumer interest |
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Use multiple lead generation vehicles, including Internet resources and store websites, direct mail, email, guerilla marketing, referrals and others Public Relations campaigns—the best kind of advertising--FREE |
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Identifying and prioritizing your best prospects |
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Increase the percentage of leads who become profitable customers |
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Customer retention programs |
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INSTRUCTORS:
Brandon Gale – RS Associates
President |
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COURSE FEE:
$85 RS Basic Member | $76.50 for RS Premium Members |
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