Despite consistently rising material and energy costs, we have this year actively chosen not to jump on the bandwagon and increase our prices across the board. In fact, most of our material prices are the same now as they were in 2009!
However, please keep an eye on certain product prices, such as Pop-Up Displays. These types of products will need to have price increases as the cost of the hardware has reached levels where we can no longer absorb the increases. The alternative is of course our stretch textile range. Have a look at our Pop-Up vs Stretch Wall comparison document.
The one thing as a whole that we can no longer continue to absorb are delivery costs. Since TNT was taken over by FedEx and effectively withdrew from the ‘ugly freight’ market, the couriers left handling this type of freight have taken that opportunity to increase their prices dramatically as well as introducing new and exciting ways to charge extra money. Examples include the ‘temporary labour surcharge’ at 9.99% and volumetric weighing (the injustice of which I’ll explain more on, in a future post).
I was talking to a customer last week, who pointed out that some of the other trade suppliers offer free delivery, but I argued, in reality, nothing is free—you’re paying for it somewhere down the line. It's a significant cost to the business and has to be recouped somehow.
So from the 1st October 2022, we will reluctantly be increasing our delivery prices in line with what we are being charged.
On the plus side, if you want to arrange yourself to pick up your order, you are more than welcome and it will save you the delivery cost.