Author: Nanci's

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Shipping Q&A: International (Part 2 of 2)

Mysteries of Shipping Revealed: International Orders

This Q&A is part 2 in a 2 part series.  This article pertains to shipping internationally outside of the United States. 

How are international orders packed for shipping?

Initial sample orders are packed in a single cardboard box and labeled as samples and shipped with FedEx Express International or UPS International.  If you prefer to use your courier such as DHL, let us know.Warehouse Packing 3

Regular orders are packed in cardboard boxes stacked on a heat treated wooden pallet and wrapped in plastic wrap.  Mixed pallets and less than full pallets are always wrapped in purple.  Dry bases are the heaviest and will be stacked on the bottom with the flavoring bottles on top.  Cups and spoons and other supplies will then be stacked on top of those base mix and flavoring boxes.  All orders are double checked through our strict quality control process so you can be confident they will arrive according to your packing list.  Note on the bill of lading at delivery if there is any damage or missing boxes.  Claims must be filed within 5 days of delivery.

Which is the most cost effective way to ship?

Ocean shipping is definitely the least expensive way to move product around the world.  Carriers charge based on weight but mostly on volume so it makes sense to maximize the space on each pallet.  We can fit 60 cases of dry mix on each pallet.  If you are also ordering flavorings, it works well to remove a few cases of dry mix so the flavorings can fit on the same pallet.  Ocean shipping costs significantly less than air shipping.  

For example, shipping for a recent order of 30 cases to South Africa cost $3500 by airplane when it would have only cost $1200 by boat.  A similar order that shipped to China recently cost $2300 by air when it would have only cost $900 by boat.

What is the fastest way to get an international order?

Air shipping is definitely the fastest way to get any order.  For small sample orders, the only way to ship is by airplane.  These small orders are often necessary for the first time to take the product to customs agents in the destination country for testing and approval before a larger ocean order is place.  Shipping a 14 kg sample box to most countries costs about $200 and arrives usually in less than 7 days.

Larger orders such as a typical half (30 cases) or full pallet (60 cases) order take about 10 days by air as compared to 40 days by ocean.  Contact us for a specific quote for your country.

intl-shipping-1Do you ship to my address or to the port?

Door to Door means the shipment goes all the way from the factory to your doorstep.  Small packages shipped via FedEx Express International Air will ship this way and FedEx will bill the customs fees and tariffs directly to you upon delivery.  We don’t ship any international pallet orders Door to Door because the customs clearance process is your responsibility and transit stops at your port for import clearance.  Door to Port means the shipment leaves our factory and arrives at the ocean port or airport and then you clear it through customs and take delivery and arrange the destination country inland transport.  Door to Port is how we arrange the majority of our international shipments.  Port to Port means we deliver the goods to your freight forwarder in the USA and they take it from there.  They might also be willing to deliver it all the way to you via Port to Door – you can negotiate that with them if you decide to set up your own shipping. 

Can I use my own ocean freight forwarder?

Yes, many of our clients actually use their own freight forwarder to arrange the ocean shipping for themselves.  In those cases, it often works best to have us deliver the order to your freight forwarder’s warehouse in California or Florida.  We offer better inland USA transport rates than most freight forwarders.  They excel at offering good ocean rates but usually can’t beat our inland rates.

What about customs clearance?

All orders are shipped FOB Origin which means title of ownership passes from seller to buyer when the goods leave Nanci’s warehouse.  We don’t guarantee customs clearance.  Even when we have shipped for years to a country, unusual or random circumstances can lead to an order getting stopped at customs if the importer doesn’t have the correct import permit.  You always want to engage a good customs broker before placing your order to make sure you have all the proper permits and approvals from customs.  In addition to preparing to import food products, you’ll receive an international shipping authorization from us that will require you to agree to the following:

Wudel International Shipping Terms and Authorization

As the consignee, I acknowledge that Wudel International (Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt) is arranging shipping as a convenience to me.  I take full ownership of the shipment once it leaves Wudel’s factory/warehouse in the U.S.A.  Wudel does not pay destination charges, duties or customs charges and does not guarantee transit times, customs clearance, or delivery of goods — such details are the sole responsibility of the consignee.  Wudel is not responsible if goods are delayed in transit or if goods are rejected by customs for any reason.  The consignee is responsible to be aware of and to adhere to all applicable customs requirements to import food and dairy products and equipment purchased from the U.S.A.

Which are some countries where the Nanci’s products seem to be more easily imported?

With the right connections and permits, the products can be imported into any country.  Here is a list of recent ones that were fairly efficient:  Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Curacao, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, French Polynesia, Ghana, Greece, Guam, Honduras, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, South Africa, Surinam, Switzerland, Trinidad, UAE, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam.

Which are some countries where importing has been more difficult?

Dairy food products seem to be more closely scrutinized than non-dairy.  If you have concerns importing into these countries, you might consider trying our non-dairy lineup first.  Also, labeling is important in some countries.  Check with customs to make sure they don’t require an additional label on each box in the official language of that country with our plant code.  Here are some countries that may require extra preparation on your part to comply with customs demands: India, Japan, Australia, Spain, France, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Columbia, Thailand, Sril Lanka.

Are there any plans to have Nanci’s products available in my country from a distributor so I don’t have to import them through customs?

We love to have product already in country for you and in some countries it may be available.  Check with us to see if there is a local contact who has product or who can broker your order for you.  We may have another client in your country already importing for their own business and willing to import your order with theirs.

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Shipping Q&A: USA (Part 1 of 2)

Mysteries of Shipping Revealed: USA Orders

This Q&A is part 1 in a 2 part series. This article pertains to shipping within the United States. Check back later this summer for part 2 about international shipping.

Why are some of my orders delivered via FedEx Ground or UPS and others come on a pallet via semi truck?

The simple answer is we ship larger orders on a pallet and smaller orders with FedEx Ground.FedEx-ground-truck
There are some advantages to receiving orders on a pallet:

1 – The boxes arrive all together
2 – There is less risk of damaged boxes
3 – Delivery appointments are an option with pallet deliveries
4 – Large orders qualify for a bulk discount (e.g. our popular Baker’s Dozen Special)

What should I expect when my pallet arrives?

We send an email with the tracking information and usually an actual photo of your pallet. When your pallet arrives, it should look like the photo that was sent to you. We always wrap the LTL pallet orders in purple plastic wrap. All the truckers use clear wrap. So, if it arrives in clear wrap you know the trucker has unwrapped and re-wrapped it.

There are several things to look for when accepting your pallet order:

1 – Count the boxes. In your tracking email we usually let you know how many boxes to expect. If you order the Baker’s Dozen (13 cases) and no extra flavors, you will know to expect 13 boxes.

2 – Note obvious damage. Are the boxes broken or open? Is there any powder spilling out of a box? Are the boxes crushed? Any box that shows damage on the outside needs to be opened and checked on the inside. If the bags are not open and all 5 are there, then you don’t need to do anything. If bags are missing or damaged, then the damage needs to be noted on the driver’s copy of the bill of lading (BOL). If possible, please also take a photo of the damage, before and after opening the box. After the damage is noted, then go ahead and accept the pallet and call us to report the incident.

3 – Unpack the pallet. LTL (Less than Truckload) shipments are delivered outside your building. You or your staff will need to unwrap the pallet and carry the boxes into your building. The driver is not authorized to carry boxes into your building. They must simply drop the pallet by your front or back door.

Should I accept damaged shipments?

Smaller orders ship via FedEx Ground or UPS. FedEx and UPS are among the best at what they do. We have found them to be highly reliable in getting your order to you in a timely manner. Occasionally we get a message from them saying one of the packages has received some damage. In that case, we try to have them go ahead and deliver the package anyway. The intent is that at least you’ll get some of the order and in case you’re running low on product, better to receive something rather than nothing. In most instances of damage of dry mix, just 1 bag is leaking and the other 9 bags in the box are still fine.

When you receive the package, note the damage with the FedEx driver, take pictures, and then go ahead and accept it. Email us the photos at info@nancis.com and then give us a call and let us know how many bags were damaged and we will make arrangements for compensation with you. You can have confidence we’ll do what we can to get your products to you in a safe and timely manner.

Why do some items arrive separately?

Depending on the items in your order, we may ship from several different warehouses. We’ll note this on your packing list.  Also, sometimes boxes get separated at Shipping terminals.  This is normal and not a cause for concern.

How long will it take to get my order?

Delivery times are not guaranteed. We suggest storing a box of product offsite in case of an emergency. Sometimes your staff waits until you run out before they tell you they need something.

Here are the approximate delivery times depending on where you’re located in the USA:

Northeast: 5 business days
Midwest: 4 business days
South: 4-5 business days
Northwest: 3 business days
Southwest: 2 business days

Orders submitted on FroCup.com before noon will typically ship the same business day. Orders submitted after noon will ship the next business day.

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Fructose is the endurance sweetener

Check out this great article on fructose:
The farther you have to go, the more you’ll want to consider pure crystalline fructose. Because fructose, compared to glucose, helps the energy store in the muscles last longer.

Endurance and Muscle Glycogen. Carbohydrates stored in the body’s muscles are referred to as muscle glycogen. The more muscle glycogen available during sustained exercise, the greater the potential for improved endurance.

Sugars and Glycogen Storage. The various sugars have different effects on muscle glycogen depletion rates. Glucose, for example, provides a quick spurt of energy, but also triggers the release of insulin. This actually increases the depletion of muscle glycogen and also suppresses the conversion of fat to energy.

Fructose and Glycogen Storage. Taking fructose before exercise, compared to glucose, results in a much lower rate of muscle glycogen depletion. Because fructose does not cause a rapid rise in either blood sugar or insulin. It provides a steadier supply of blood sugar and helps the store in the muscles last longer. This carries the potential for greater endurance during exercise.

The Glycemic Edge. In recent years, emphases has been placed on the glycemic index in the evaluation of dietary carbohydrates. Glucose, which creates the greatest rise in blood sugar and insulin, has been assigned a glycemic index of 100. Foods which behave most like glucose have high index numbers. Fructose, however, has an index of 20, one of the lowest of the 63 carbohydrates on the list, and in this regard can be said to offer a “glycemic edge.”

 

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Spring Frozen Yogurt Flavor Recommendations

Spring has sprung! Shifting your flavors to match the season can help increase sales. Check out our Spring flavor recommendations below and feel free to be creative with flavor names.

APRICOT
APRICOT MANGO
BLACK CHERRY
BLACKBERRY
BLUEBERRY
BLUEBERRY POMEGRANATE
BOYSENBERRY
COTTON CANDY
GEORGIA PEACH
HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE
HONEYDEW MELON
KEY LIME
KIWI
KIWI COLADA
LEMON MIST
LEMON-LIME
MANGO
MANGO STRAWBERRY
PASSION FRUIT
PINK GUAVA
STRAWBERRY COLADA
STRAWBERRY KIWI
STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
WATERMELON
WILD BERRY

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Machine Maintenance

The start of a new year is aSLX400En excellent opportunity to take a look at your soft-serve machine and make sure that it is primed and ready to go for 2016! This includes not only continually cleaning your machine, but also proper lubrication and checking for any wearable parts that may have seen better days. Annually is a good time to remove the side panels and visually inspect for leaks from the motor casing and loose connections. You should also take the temperature of the hopper and freezing cylinder on standby and auto modes and compare that to what the machine is saying to check that it is calibrated correctly still. Ensuring that your machine is running properly and that it is consistently producing a quality product throughout the year will be essential to your customer base and overall margins at the end of the year.

Cleaning your machine is an important aspect of maintenance to help the longevity of your machine. Get in the habit of cleaning your machine at least once a week. This process includes running a sanitizing agent through the machine, effectively killing any bacteria that may have grown or built up.  If your machine goes weeks without being thoroughly and properly cleaned harmful bacteria may build up and could potentially lead to spoiled product.

Once the sanitizing agent is mixed with water and poured into the hopper of the machine, put the machine on the wash cycle and allow the product to cycle through the machine for a period of 5 minutes. This will allow the sanitizing agent to reach all of the nooks and crannies of the machine, killing any remaining bacteria. Be careful not to enable a feature on the machine that willPacket x2 freeze down the product, as the process of the water freezing could severely damage your machine. Every other week, we recommend pulling all of the machine components such as the face plate and the freezing cylinder shaft and let them soak in hot soapy water as well. The process of cleaning the machine is simple in its procedure, and it can be done any employee if they are properly trained how to do so. Check out http://frocup.com/product/sanitizer-packets/ to get started today!

Lubrication is another key technique in keeping your machine running for an extended period of time. The main component of the machine that requires lubrication is the back end of the shaft that sits deeper inside the freezing cylinder. Pull this out and pull off the rubber gasket that fits on the end of it. Lubricate around the square piece at the end of the shaft and place the gasket back onto the lubricated piece. When you pull out the freezing cylinder shaft to clean it is an excellent time to lubricate it as well. Tubes of all-purpose lube are also sold at http://frocup.com/product/machine-lube/.

There are various wearable machine parts that can become damaged and wear down over time. The scraper blades, for example, attach to the shaft on the inside of the freezing cylinder wear down and don’t scrape the edge of the cylinder with the exactness and precision that they once did. This leads to the freezing of product on the edge of the cylinder and can lower the overall quality of your product. These scraper blades are different with each individual machine company so make sure the blade is rated for your model of machine before buying replacements. You can find various machine springs, seals, and O-rings as replacement parts at http://frocup.com/product-category/supplies/.

Look for general brittleness or the wearing down of plastic parts as key points in replacement. Replacing parts before they go out will save you from costly damage to other components of the machine and keep you from having a non-functioning machine during your peak season. Understanding your machine is very important in maintaining it over time. Pulling out all of the main components and familiarizing yourself with them as you sanitize, lubricate, and replace any necessary parts will help you to keep your machine running strong throughout 2016 and beyond.machine breakdown diagram

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Considering Opening a Frozen Yogurt Shop?

Frozen yogurt shops are one of the hottest retail concepts around. It is a fun way to meet a lot of people and become a presence in your local community.  Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt can help refine your concept with low investment cost and high margins. No need to pay high franchise fees. Give yourself the best chance at success by running the numbers and understanding some business basics first. Check out the profit calculator for a customized analysis for your concept.

There are several key drivers to making a profit with a frozen yogurt store. It is important to emphasize profit versus sales. You may have great margins but if your customer base is too small, your sales won’t be enough to drive those high margins to success and profit. You should think of these profit drivers as dials or levers – you can adjust the dials various ways to maximize profit.

 

Key Profit Drivers

Sales Revenue

  • Volume (the number of customers per day and the number of ounces of yogurt sold)
  • Price per ounce
  • Sales of additional items (non-yogurt items)

Costs

  • Labor costs
  • Rent & utilities
  • Product costs (don’t forget to include the cost of free samples)
  • Supplies (cups, spoons, napkins, etc.)
  • Store and equipment maintenance

 

Turning the Dials

INCREASE SALES REVENUE

  • Get more customers. Typically this will mean more costs (like advertising and marketing), but you can also be creative and find traffic generating ideas with no or little cost. Another way to drive more traffic is to improve your product by offering new or unique flavors and by creating a unique product compared to your competitors. Nanci’s products are ideally suited for this – contact us to discuss further.
  • Increase the price. You can increase price and often not affect sales volume, but this is tricky because there is an elusive price Tipping Point. When you cross it your volume will actually decrease because either customers will stop coming or they will buy less. This Tipping Point is unique to every area and every store. One approach is to keep your base price per ounce high but then use discounts and promotions to give customers a lower effective price. Remember that it is much easier to lower your price than it is to raise it.

 

LOWER COSTS

 

When evaluating costs there are Fixed Costs and Variable Costs. Fixed Costs are costs that are the same regardless of how many customers you serve. For example, your rent cost will be the same whether you serve 10 customers or 300.  Rent is a fixed cost. On the other hand, cups are a variable cost because you only incur costs for each customer.

  • One of the largest single costs for your store will be rent. There are a couple strategies to take when deciding on a location. For the purposes of simplicity, we’ll break it down into two strategies at opposite ends of the spectrum, even though in reality there are various strategies in between these two.

High Rent / High Volume. If the location is high rent it needs to also be a high traffic area to drive your sales volume. High rent areas may also allow you to charge more per ounce. In order for this strategy to work, you must have a large number of customers.

Low Rent / Low Volume / Low Cost. If the location is a very low rent property that means it’s probably off the beaten path and doesn’t have as much natural traffic. Generally, this would result in less traffic and lower sales volume, although there are stores that are in horrible locations and still gain a “cult following” and have lots of traffic. A low rent location may also mean you need to charge less per ounce, lowering your sales revenue. In order for this strategy to work you have to keep your costs extremely low and find ways to generate traffic in spite of your location.

  • Labor will most likely be your single highest cost. The big question here is whether or not you can run your store with just one employee. Our profit model shows that unless your store has strong volume (150 customers per day or more), you could lose money having two employees staff your shop. Of Course there are other factors to consider, like employee safety and or employee fraud.
  • Product Costs.This is also a tricky area, because your entire concept is based on your frozen yogurt mix. If your product isn’t good, you won’t succeed. But at the same time, you want to keep those profit margins robust. Nanci’s solves this issue with mixes that are high-quality and available to you at a very competitive wholesale price.
  • Most likely, the customers will demand free samples, but at the very least you should understand how many free samples you are giving away and how it is affecting your costs. One option is to have the sample cups behind the counter so the customer has to request one from an employee. Studies show that when shoppers make eye contact with a store employee they are less likely to steal something – I’d like to think this principal holds true for abusing the free samples as well.

The general belief in the business world, is that you need two or three food retail shops to be able to do it full-time and quit your regular full-time job and work for yourself. Depending on your available capital, you may want to consider opening 2 or 3 shops at the same time. This will also give you immediate brand relevance and can often protect your area from incoming competitors.  Visit FroCup.com for information on machines to get started.  Discounts are available if you order more than one machine at the same time.  FroCup and Nanci’s can help you outfit your new store with all the equipment you need.

Feel free to call 480-834-4290 or email info@nancis.com with any questions.

 

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Frozen Yogurt Training Videos

We’re excited to introduce three new training videos available on our website. We’ve kept them short and sweet, but packed with useful demonstrations.

The videos include:

  • How to Prepare Nanci’s Mix
  • How to Add Air into Mix
  • Soft-Serve Machine Overview

You can view the videos at www.nancis.com/training

Here’s our new Intro to Nanci’s video as a teaser…

 

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Improving Your Customer Service

Customer Service is the root of many businesses, particularly the Frozen Yogurt industry. For most people, going out to grab a cup of froyo isn’t just about the smooth and creamy treat melting on your tongue and tickling your taste buds.  It’s about the experience.  Customer Service is not a transaction — it is the relationship with your customer. It’s making that frozen desert into a little cup of personal bliss for each customer.

Important basics to remember

-SMILE! Even the friendliest person in the world might come across as indifferent or fake if that is what their face says. Remember, the amount of communication between two people is predominantly non-verbal.

-BE ATTENTIVE.  No one likes to be ignored. Greet customers as they enter, and bid them farewell as they leave. On occasion your shop might be very busy — perhaps a line out the door and around the corner (good for you!) — but remember to keep checking in with the customers as they come in and as they wait. It does not matter if they are at the front of the line or just stepping into the back, their business matters.

-BE PROFESSIONAL. Hop off the counters, and wash your hands often. Quit touching your face and looking at your feet. Be confident in how you carry yourself in the workplace and show respect even when disrespected (hey it happens). Keep composed and be ready to work!

-MAKE SUGGESTIONS, GET CREATIVE. Most frozen yogurt shops have local favorites or signature flavors.  These are perfect things to suggest to new customers or returning customers wanting to try something new. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Finding weird and new ways to combine flavors and toppings reinvents the experience for customers and brings back that first-time feeling that is both exciting and mysterious.

-KEEP BUSY. I’m sure everyone is familiar with the “if you can lean, you can clean” phrase seen often in the food industry work place. As an employee, often times work can drag on, which can begin to reflect in your mood and in turn reflect out towards others. Staying on top of cleaning and regular store maintenance in between gaps in customers will not only improve business but also helps pass the time. Take a little extra time cleaning the tables or floors. Or prepare for the rush hour.

-DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS. There is nothing quite like walking into a neighborhood shop and being greeted by a familiar face and even by name. This sense of familiarity and friendliness creates a community feel to your shop. People like to feel that they are making a purchase from people, rather than a corporation or a business. You can also develop relationships with neighboring businesses and their employees. Not only can they be a great marketing resource for you, but they can be great customers as well.

Most importantly, always remember that the customer comes first. The customer is the point and purpose of a business. Make coming to your store the highlight of your customer’s day.