Match made in Reading

An eagerly awaited contest between Scarlet and Blackbox took place in late January at Reading University. The game kicked off at 7pm, but with Scarlet a man down, Blackbox very generously agreed to even up the numbers. After a tight opening without score, the turning point came when Scarlet's goalkeeper arrived. With a full complement outfield Scarlet managed to race into a 2-0 lead thanks to some surprisingly skilful play and good finishing from Reading Depot Manager Paul Bailey.

Blackbox came back strongly but Kevin ‘The Cat’ Hiscock, Scarlet’s International Manager, stopped everything that was thrown at him. A couple more Scarlet efforts found their way into the net, with Kevin still performing heroics at the other end. Cameos from Directors Les Parsons and Adam Barber gave added impetus to a tiring Scarlet team but Spencer Mayo of Blackbox lead the fight back, bringing the score back to 4-2. The scores could easily have been tied, but for the salmon-like Kevin who pushed a couple of powerful shots around the post.

However, Blackbox’s all-out attack left some space in behind which Scarlet took advantage of, wrapping the game up 7-2. Sales Manager Jamie Barker scored with the aid of three deflections, which made up for the two shots he put over the fence.

Everyone agreed that Kevin was Man of the Match. A rematch is planned very soon with Spencer very confident that the result can be reversed.

“Thank you very much to Scarlet for the game – everyone from Black Box enjoyed the game but not the result! Looking forward to the re-match, the best team won on the night.” Spencer Mayo
Purchasing & Group Logistics Manager
Black Box Network Services (UK) Ltd.

Scarlet Calendar 2012 Winners

For our 2012 Scarlet calendar we've widened the theme to include pictures from all around the UK, and our local photographers have once again come up trumps! From the drama of the Dorset coastline to close-up studies of wildlife, we have fabulous images from a range of locations countrywide. Of course we couldn't do any of this without our talented photographers, and we are very grateful to them all for entering the competition. Prize-giving took place in January and each winner was presented with a framed copy of their photograph, copies of the calendar and a bottle of champagne to celebrate with. We always get wonderful feedback about the calendar from Scarlet customers, and we hope that you enjoy the lovely photos throughout the year.

Steve Mundy's wonderful study of a robin is the perfect start to the year.

Scarlet MD Jon Barber presented Paul Morgan with his prize.

Chris Gledhill's stunning image of Wasdale is our April photograph.

We couldn't resist this amazing close-up portrait of a hoverfly by Dave Mundy.

John Ashford's summery photo of The Gertrude Jekyll Garden is perfect for June.

Amanda Precious won with this fantastic photo of the Dorset coast.

Scarlet's Jamie and Leanne presented Sue Avery with her framed photo.

Ed Doughty was congratulated by Jon Barber for his Dyrham Park landscape.

Scarlet's Leanne Godsell presented Evelyn Barnard with her winning framed photo.

Tony Murtagh won with this lovely photograph of Rye.

Martin Cavendish FIOC with Scarlet’s MD Jon Barber

Scarlet’s Martin Cavendish Becomes Fellow of IoC

Congratulations to Martin Cavendish who was gowned as a Fellow of the Institute of Couriers at a ceremony in the House of Lords. The event, which was presided over by Lord Falkland, recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions, and whose expertise and experience benefit the entire industry. Martin has been an important part of the Scarlet Couriers management team for many years, and now holds the position of Operations Director for the group.

The Institute of Couriers, of which Scarlet’s Jon Barber is a Founding Fellow, sets recognised standards and promotes professional and safe practices for the industry.

Scarlet to the rescue!

Marlow’s late night shopping event nearly had to go ahead without its main attraction – Santa’s Grotto – until a last-minute call to Scarlet meant we were able save the day. The grotto needed to be collected from Bourne End and delivered to the High Street, and then transported safely back again at the end of the evening. The Chamber of Commerce were delighted that the story had a happy ending:

“Marlow & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce would like to express our sincere thanks to Scarlet Couriers for coming to our aid at the last minute. Without them a lot of children would have been disappointed and the Chamber would have let everybody down who were looking forward to the grotto. Many thanks to Adam of Scarlet Couriers and his driver Tony Finn for helping us out.”

It’s a pleasure! We were delighted to help.

Carnival Hero – Scarlet to the rescue again!

The Wokingham Winter Carnival is one of the biggest local community events at this time of year, and attracts thousands of people to enjoy the funfair, stalls and performances. But the highlight is, without doubt, the Carnival Procession with its decorated floats and bands – and this is where we were able to rescue a dance company who found themselves without a means of transport. Laurenne Dorgan from the Carnival Committee wrote:

“I, along with the Wokingham Carnival committee would like to thank you and Mick and his wife for giving up his day and taking part in this years Wokingham Carnival. It really does make such a difference and looks great for the procession – the dance company wanted me to thank Mick and his wife for being so helpful and for driving them - if you could pass that on I would be really grateful. Once again, thank you and I hope that you allow Mick to drive again next year.”

The theme of this year’s carnival was ‘Heroes and Villains’ and Scarlet’s Mick was definitely the hero of the day.

Another Ten APC Vans Extend Scarlet's Fleet

Scarlet has taken delivery of another ten liveried APC Overnight vans, further extending our fleet to take care of increasing demand for overnight services. Our three APC Overnight depots cover much of the Thames Valley from Uxbridge through Slough, as well as the whole of the HP postcode, so our vans are a familiar sight out and about!

Jamie's Marathon Fundraiser

Congratulations to Area Sales Manager Jamie Barker for completing the Bracknell half Marathon and raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Jamie's time of 2 hours 15 minutes is an excellent achievement – especially after he badly injured his left foot in a recent accident. After three hospital trips and 10 stitches it looked unlikely that he'd be able to compete, but Jamie was determined after all his hard work training! So very well done Jamie – his JustGiving page is still active if anyone would like to contribute to this worthy cause.

Meet The Team

Check out our new Who’s Who page – introducing you to the Scarlet team across all of our locations. We’re here to help, so do use the email links or call us on 0845 800 0000 to get a quote, book a collection, or for advice on any of our products and services. If you have enquiries for our accounts team, please make a note of their new number 01494 761761 as they are now based at our Wycombe office.

Scarlet – simply the best!

A giant 125ft hoarding has been transformed into a showcase for selected local businesses under the banner “The Best of Camberley”. Our nearly-life-size courier will be seen by an estimated 200,000 vehicles every week who pass the spot on the London Road. This innovative advertising idea – the largest of its kind anywhere in the country – focuses on just one of each business type and features specially photographed company representatives from firms including Longacres Garden Centre, Martin & Co and Sherborne Conservatories and of course – as the Best Courier – Scarlet! More information can be found on the website which is designed as a directory with testimonials to help local people find the best companies by recommendation.

Overnight deliveries in weather-affected areas

The recent bad weather has obviously impacted heavily on Overnight deliveries in many areas. Some depots were unable to collect or deliver parcels for several days. This has inevitably produced a backlog of deliveries which the depots are now working hard to clear. In some areas deliveries are being undertaken in the evenings and even at weekends as they try to get back to normal. However services will continue to be affected until the backlog is cleared so please contact our Customer Services Team if you have any queries or are shipping urgent items to these areas.

Scarlet was Fairy Godmother at Carnival

We're delighted to have been able to help out again in this year's Wokingham Winter Carnival, where we provided the float for the John Nike Panto, Cinderella on Ice. The carnival, which took place on Sunday November 28th, is always eagerly anticipated – the whole town centre is transformed with a fun fair, stalls, entertainments and games, all making for a great family day out. The highlight of the event is the grand carnival parade with the floats. Last year Scarlet came to the rescue of Snow White when she was let down by her float suppliers at the last minute – but this year Cinderella was taking no chances so we were booked well in advance! As well as being a free community event, the Carnival is designed to raise money for charities, which this year were Macmillan Cancer Support and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Thousands of people braved the cold weather to enjoy the fun of the carnival, and at least this year it didn't rain!

Scarlet Growth in Wycombe

Scarlet's first 6 months in Wycombe has seen steady growth across our full range of services, but most especially of course in the storage/distribution sector as we now have a huge 20,000 square feet warehouse! Our Wycombe office at Cressex is the fifth Scarlet location, and combined with our established Slough, Bracknell, Reading and Uxbridge offices gives us unparalleled local coverage. Overnight deliveries are made via the APC Overnight network, of which Scarlet is a founder member, and our new APC collection/delivery area covers the whole of the HP postcode zone. Scarlet is also running a full same-day, international, pallet and warehousing service in line with our other locations. Give us a call on 0845 800 0000 if you are in the Wycombe area and would like more information or a quote. We're looking forward to meeting and working with you soon.

Scarlet Calendar 2011 - Call for Photos

Following the success of this year's beautiful Thames Valley themed calendar, Scarlet plans to team up again with talented local photographers. So if your pictures deserve a wider audience and you'd like to see your work in our professionally produced calendar - we're waiting to hear from you!

With the opening of our new High Wycombe office, we now serve customers as far afield as Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead, so we're extending our theme to include the picturesque South Chilterns along with the Thames Valley. The competition is open to everyone who enjoys photography, and pictures can show scenes or close-ups, country or town - so long as they're shot in this area.

Scarlet's director Jon Barber said: "People look forward to the calendar now - it's an established annual event! Once again we had some fantastic pictures in the competition last year - and we got very positive feedback from our customers about the finished calendars. As a local company it makes perfect sense to feature pictures showing our beautiful area."

Judging will take place in late October, and the closing date for entries is October 21st. The calendars, which are being professionally designed, will be ready in late November - and of course everyone whose pictures are featured will receive copies for family and friends. Winners will also be presented with a framed print of their picture.

All entries should be accompanied by an entry form, which can be downloaded here, along with competition details.

Competition closing date: October 21st

For enquiries please email: photos@scarlet.co.uk.

Scarlet Opens in Wycombe

We're delighted to announce the opening of Scarlet Wycombe on February 6th, extending our complete delivery solution to Bucks-based businesses. Our Wycombe office at Cressex is the fifth Scarlet location, and combined with our established Slough, Bracknell, Reading and Uxbridge offices gives us unparalleled local coverage. Overnight deliveries will be made via the APC Overnight network, of which Scarlet is a founder member, and our new APC collection/delivery area covers the whole of the HP postcode zone. Scarlet will also be running a full same-day, international, pallet and warehousing service in line with our other locations. Give us a call on 0845 800 0000 if you are in the Wycombe area and would like more information or a quote. We're looking forward to meeting and working with you soon.

Scarlet Team Raise £350 for Charity

Our intrepid team of 5 raised a fantastic £350 for Cancer Research when they took part in the 10k run at Dorney Lake. Tina Flannery, Les Parsons, Shaun Oliff, Richard Foley and Nadeem Saleem all completed the distance in what turned out to be quite windy conditions with little shelter – as Les said “At least it helped in one direction! There was a fair spread of performance, with Shaun completing the 10k in a very respectable 55 minutes. Richard managed about 1 hour 5 minutes, and myself 1 hour 12. Nadeem took a while longer, but claimed to be spending time motivating the slower runners as some sort of excuse! Tina brought up the rear accompanied by her husband James. Richard wins the excessive fitness award for happily cycling home when it was all I could do to stagger back to my car!”

Well done to everyone for raising so much for a very worthy cause.

Whatever the Weather…

Snow both sides of Christmas has done its best to disrupt everything and people locally have had to deal with difficult, icy conditions. We were determined to get all deliveries completed before the Christmas break – so literally everyone was out helping with deliveries: directors (and their families!) and our IT department, as well as drivers undertaking extra shifts. And we did it! Everything was delivered including the all-important Christmas turkeys – many delivered to local homes as well as 2,000 distributed nationwide via APC Overnight. The current January snow has obviously caused yet more problems on the roads for the entire country, and currently we are operating and getting parcels through, taking into consideration the conditions along the way. We very much hope to keep working! but do call us on 0845 800 0000 for the latest situation if the weather worsens.

Extra Hour to Order London Economy

We extended the ordering time window on our ever-popular London Economy service while the recent postal strike was on – and after overwhelmingly positive customer feedback, we've decided to make this a permanent offer. You can now call us anytime before 1pm (instead of 12 noon) if your parcel is ready for collection. The London Economy service saves you more than 50% – click here for full details and postcodes covered – and the delivery will reach your customer before 5.30pm.

Scarlet Rescues Snow White

When we heard that the float booked to carry Snow White and her entourage in the Wokingham Carnival procession wouldn't be able to come after all, we stepped in and provided one of our big Scarlet trucks for the day. The scene, promoting the Snow White on Ice show at the John Nike Leisuresport Complex, featured local children in character costume – and was a big hit with the huge crowd who'd turned out despite the wet weather. The rescue was organised by Scarlet's Area Sales Manager Leanne Godsell who explained, "We're delighted to be able to save the day by providing a truck at very short notice – and of course providing delivery vehicles at very short notice is something Scarlet Couriers is particularly good at! The place was absolutely packed and it would have been such a shame if the children hadn't been able to take part in the parade."

Blue Peter Operation Smile Appeal

Scarlet's Slough depot is delighted to be one of the official collection centres for this year's Blue Peter Appeal, which benefits the charity Operation Smile. This year, Blue Peter viewers have been asked to make children's hospital gowns out of T-shirts, and the charity is hoping that more than 20,000 will be donated and taken out to India at the end of the year. Operation Smile is an amazing charity, set up to offer free facial reconstruction surgery – for example the repair of cleft lips and palates - to children around the world. Scarlet Slough is delighted to accept gowns from local children, or to arrange collection from schools in our catchment area who are taking part in the Appeal.

Scarlet helps beat the post strike blues...

With continuing uncertainty over national postal strikes, and a noticeable increase in enquiries here, we're keen to make sure you know about the range of Scarlet solutions to get your important documents and parcels delivered on time. After 4 months of sporadic strike action there's an estimated backlog of 20 million undelivered items in London alone, so businesses are looking for reliable ways to deliver time-sensitive material as well as contingency plans in case the walk-outs escalate. For latest post strike news click here.

London Economy Service – now there's an extra hour to order.

Our London Economy service is proving particularly useful for customers who'd normally post documents to the West End and City – so while the threat of strike action is on we're extending the ordering time window by an hour. You can now call us anytime before 1pm (usually 12 noon) if your parcel is ready for collection. The London Economy service saves you more than 50% – click here for full details and postcodes covered – and your delivery will reach your customer before 5.30pm.

Do you use Post Office Special Delivery? Try Scarlet Overnight Services.

If you regularly use the Royal Mail Special Delivery service, you may be pleasantly surprised that you can use our overnight delivery services for a similar cost – plus we collect so you don't have to queue up at the post office! We can provide you with special A4 or A3 document packs for important documents and lighter goods. Scarlet's overnight deliveries are tracked in real time, so you can see immediately who has signed for your parcel and what time it arrived. Click here for more information about all our overnight services, or call a Scarlet adviser on 0845 800 0000 if we can help with an immediate quote.

Don't want your cheque to get stuck in the post?

Companies rely on Scarlet's Cheque Collection service – and not only because of the threat of post strikes! We collect your cheque directly from your debtor via our agents anywhere in the country and bank it immediately – all on the same day. We fax you the remittance slip, and that's it – job done. Click here for more information on this service, or give us a call to arrange a collection.

Whatever delivery issues you are facing, give us a call. We've the resources of four Thames Valley offices, a national overnight network, a range of dedicated services and 90+ locally based vehicles – all ready to help!

Scarlet Calendar 2010 - Call for Photos

Following the success of this year's beautiful Thames Valley themed calendar, Scarlet plans to team up again with talented local photographers. So if your pictures deserve a wider audience and you'd like to see your work in our professionally produced calendar - we're waiting to hear from you!

Staying with the Thames Valley theme to keep the local focus, the competition is open to everyone who enjoys photography, and pictures can show scenes or close-ups, country or town - so long as they're shot in this area.

Scarlet's director Jon Barber said: "We were overwhelmed by the quality of work submitted last year, and the calendars were extremely popular - we got very positive feedback from our customers. As a local company it makes perfect sense to feature pictures showing our beautiful area."

Judging will take place in late October, and the closing date for entries is October 16th. The finished calendars, which are being professionally designed, will be ready in late November - and of course everyone whose pictures are featured will receive copies for family and friends. Winners will also be presented with a framed print of their picture.

All entries should be accompanied by an entry form, which can be downloaded here, along with competition details.

Competition closing date: October 16th

For enquiries please email: photos@scarlet.co.uk.

Champagne Winner

Congratulations to Mike Coombs from Memco Ltd – this month's online booking champagne winner, seen here receiving his prize from Scarlet's Leanne Godsell. Maidenhead-based Memco, the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of infrared sensors for the lift industry, sends consignments via Scarlet's overnight delivery service as well as using our remote collection service. They told us: "Memco Ltd delivers premium customer service, and we are satisfied that we have a complete delivery service in Scarlet Couriers that enhances these standards. In particular their website with on-line booking, and track & trace facilities ensures that we can answer customer queries in a speedy and efficient manner".

Each month, we draw a lucky champagne winner from customers who've used our online booking system. Just book online and next time it could be you…

Changes for Importers/Exporters To Non EU Countries

Following changes at HM Revenue and Customs, exporters/importers will have to apply for an Economic Operator Registration Identification (EORI) if:

1. You are exporting goods of over £600.00 in value to any NON EU country.
2. You are importing goods of over £18.00 in value from any NON EU country.

This will come into effect from 1st July 2009.

In the past your VAT number was sufficient. Future import/exports will require the new EORI number.

You may have already received notification from HMRC of your new EORI number (i.e. those that already have a TURN number, which consists of their VAT number + 3 noughts).

The EORI application form can be downloaded here.

Champagne Winner

Our April champagne winner is Winston Jaunaii who is part of the postroom team at the Uxbridge offices of leading global bio/pharmaceutical services organisation Parexel. Scarlet have worked with Parexel for more than 3 years, taking care of all the company’s sameday and overnight delivery requirements.

Winston – seen here being presented with his prize by Scarlet’s Jon Wheeler – kindly commented that it was a pleasure to be dealing with Scarlet Couriers and said “It is the simplicity of processing orders both online and via Customer Service Staff that make the difference.” Thank you very much – and congratulations!

Could you be our next winner? Each month, we draw a lucky champagne winner from customers who’ve used our online booking system. Next time it could be you…

Chiltern 4 – Scarlet 1

When longstanding customers Chiltern International challenged us to a match against their company football team we could hardly resist, so Scarlet's Nadeem Saleem – a keen player himself – set about scouting out our best talent. On the night there was excellent support for both sides, but our newly formed team was – in the captain’s own words – “all over the place” in the first half, which we lost 4-0. However, the Scarlet team rallied in the second half, scoring our only goal of the evening. Having proved that the passion to play the game is there, we’re now looking forward to a rematch – and any other challenges that come our way!

Congratulations to our iPod Winner

Lee Goodyear, director of WBK Ltd in Maidenhead, was the lucky winner of our iPod draw in early March. A regular user of Scarlet's online booking system, Lee considered Scarlet to be "the natural choice" when he started WBK Ltd 5 years ago, as we can supply all the services he needs – sameday, overnight and pallets – to take care of both local and national customers. Reliable, safe delivery is particularly important for WBK as the company supplies glass and chinaware to a blue chip client list which includes household name hotel and restaurant chains. Now a £1 million turnover company sending out 500+ consignments a month, WBK is a great success story and we're delighted that Scarlet continues to be Lee's distribution partner of choice.

Beat the Crunch with our Flexible Services

Have you discovered Scarlet’s London Economy service? Or could an Overnight delivery fit the bill? Our flexible services can save you money!

For London-bound deliveries which are not so time-critical, it’s well worth considering our London Economy service which comes in at under half the price of a direct delivery, yet still ensures delivery the same day. Both van and bike London Economy deliveries are available – just have your documents and parcels ready to collect by midday and we’ll get them to their destination before 5.30. Check here for the postcodes covered by this service, and maximum weights.

Or maybe our Overnight service would fit the bill? Choose the most convenient delivery time to suit your needs – before 9am, before 10am, before 12 noon or our regular “next day” by 5pm, almost anywhere in the country.

With Scarlet, the choice is yours – from direct immediate for the most urgent deliveries to nationwide overnight, allowing you to select the most economical service to meet your needs. We’ll be happy to help you – just give us a call and we’ll take care of it, whichever service you choose!

New Magazine Service

If you have 50+ catalogues or brochures to deliver, why not try the new lower-cost Magazine Service? Aimed particularly at printers, publishers and direct mail companies, the service is also perfect for anyone sending out yearbooks, annual reports or brochures. Just one price covers parcels up to 2kg each, and customers have reported worthwhile savings over regular post, particularly for bulkier publications. If you think the Magazine Service could help you, just call a Scarlet adviser for more information.

Couriers "5th Emergency Service"

To celebrate its 21st anniversary, the National Courier Association has relaunched as the 5th Emergency Service offering a same day service from any major UK town within 45 minutes. The NCA - of which Scarlet is a founder member - is a network of 80 independent same day courier companies who between them operate a fleet of 2500 vehicles nationwide.

The organization has also created a new Code of Practice which sets the standards for professional courier companies, including ensuring that riders and drivers are properly trained and experienced, and that a fair pricing structure is in place. Scarlet's Director Adam Barber, who helped to develop the Code says: "Our Code of Practice has been developed to provide customers with high service levels, emphasising our efficiency, reliability and focus on security. All NCA members are externally checked and verified by experts."

To read the full NCA Code of Practice, visit www.thenca.co.uk.

Sport - Brought to You by Scarlet Couriers!

Scarlet were proud to be main sponsors, for the second year running, of an exciting match between Reading FC and Spurs at Madjeski Stadium The crowd of 24,000 saw the visitors triumph 1-0, but Man of the Match was the Royals' Andre Bikey. Scarlet continues to sponsor the sports news on 107fm and is pleased to be involved with our local teams.

The Scarlet team with John Madjeski

MotM Andre Bikey receives his award from Nancy Barber

Jon Barber Elected to APC Board

Scarlet MD Jon Barber has been elected to the Board of APC Overnight as the company's Marketing Director. APC Overnight is a unique organisation - it is the UK's largest next day delivery network but was founded and operated by a consortium of independent delivery specialists of which Scarlet is a shareholding founder member. The network, which has been established for 15 years, specialises in timed deliveries and boasts a better-than-99.8% on-time delivery record.

Book a winner!

Book a collection online, and you could be celebrating with a bottle of bubbly! Each month, we draw a lucky winner from customers who've used our online booking system. Next month it could be you…

Jackie Mason of Chiltern International Ltd was surprised when a routine booking turned into a celebration! Based just down the road from our Slough headquarters, we're delighted to say that Chiltern International have been working with Scarlet for more than 10 years. The company is a leading contract research organization with offices across the United States, Europe and India.

Jackie (pictured right) was presented with her prize by Scarlet's Nadeem Saleem.

Scarlet Tops League at UK's Largest Overnight Delivery Network

With nearly 40,000 overnight consignments safely processed in the space of just 4 weeks, Scarlet was the biggest APC depot for the month of October. The APC overnight delivery network is now the largest in the UK, with more than three times the number of depots run by Parceline, and nearly twice as many locations as TNT. APC was set up by Scarlet and 50 more of the UK's leading independent courier companies in the early 1990s, and is still owned and managed by its member depots – now 125 strong. Handling more than 70,000 consignments a night through its central Walsall hub, APC has always prioritised high levels of service and is currently recording an impressive 99.86% on-time delivery rate nationwide.

Green Light for Scarlet Drivers

Scarlet's ongoing assessment and improvement policy has seen all our drivers taking part in the Government's SAFED training programme, aimed at improving safety and reducing vehicle emissions.

Each driver undertakes a full day of intensive training, and results have been overwhelmingly positive. Scarlet's General Manager, Martin Cavendish, says:

"Once the fuel management techniques have been put into practice, drivers have reported as much as 60% improvement in fuel efficiency - which of course means far lower carbon emissions - and that's good news all round."

Safety is the other major emphasis of the programme, not only to reduce accidents but also to train people in more ergonomic driving techniques for their own benefit.

The SAFED (Safe and Fuel Efficient Drivers) programme is funded by the Department for Transport and aims to train 7500 professional van drivers from throughout the UK.

Scarlet Teams Up with 107fm

Sports fans in Reading are being introduced to a new sponsor for 107FM's sports reports - Scarlet Couriers! At the same time we've launched Scarlet's first ever radio advertising campaign with six different ads appearing throughout the day.

Reading 107FM, which has 40,000 listeners in the Reading and Wokingham area, is the official station of the Royals - and Scarlet will also link up with the team for a co-sponsored match in April.

Scarlet's Reading office has become firmly established with an expanding customer base - so now is the perfect time to underline our name and services via the popular radio station. Listen out for the 107FM sports reports on the half hour - and for Scarlet's advertising spots throughout the day.

London Congestion Charging Zone extended

From Monday 19th February the London Congestion Charging zone is extended west to include most of Kensington, Notting Hill, Bayswater, Chelsea, Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Pimlico. This will consequently affect the cost of deliveries to postcodes in W2, SW3, W8, W10, SW7, W11, SW10 and SW5 - except for deliveries to the Earls Court exhibition area which is just outside the Zone so will not incur the Congestion Charge.

The extended zone also covers parts of W14, but because the majority of Scarlet deliveries to this postcode are for the Olympia Exhibition Centre which is outside the charging area, we have decided to exempt W14 destinations from the charge altogether.

Scarlet Pallet Service

Whether you ship 30 pallets a day or one pallet a week - talk to Scarlet. Our overnight pallet service offers you reliable nationwide overnight pallet delivery at extremely competitive prices.

Next day delivery can be made to addresses throughout England and Wales, most of Scotland plus the area around Belfast and Dublin, with a 2-3 day service to the English islands and to Eire. Please call us for details of available services to your delivery area. If your customer asks for a timed delivery window - or a Saturday morning delivery, that's no problem - and we can also arrange remote collection from your supplier. For less urgent UK consignments we can also offer you the option of our 48-hour economy service.

For more information about this service, or if you need to ship pallets to Europe or require a bespoke solution, just call your nearest Scarlet office and let us know how we can help.

Scarlet Arrives in Reading

Our newest Scarlet office opened in July - we've expanded westwards into Reading and are already providing our "one-stop shop" delivery services to Reading-based businesses.

With so many major companies headquartered in Reading and its Business Parks, Scarlet's expansion was the logical move. Our new office is right around the corner from the Madjeski Stadium, so we're centrally located to collect without delay!

Adam Barber, Scarlet's Sales Director, says:

"Our first six months have gone really well - and we're pleased that so many Reading-based companies have discovered Scarlet! People appreciate the time and cost savings they gain from organising all their direct, overnight and international deliveries with just one call, or via our online booking system at www.scarlet.co.uk."

It's easy to set up an account with Scarlet - just fill out our form or call 0118 975 2525. We can have your account up and running within 20 minutes, so you can start using it straight away.

Make life simple with e-billing!

Would it be more convenient to get your paperwork from us via email? Our new system means that we can now offer you the choice of receiving your Scarlet invoices by email or fax if it would make life easier. With online booking and e-billing, you can save time - and paper! Just call our accounts team on 01753 576777 or email accounts@scarlet.co.uk, and we'll set everything up.

Congratulations!

Mark Bailey of Winkfield company Castle Care-Tech is our first champagne winner for online booking! Scarlet's Vicky Gregory presented Mark with his prize at Castle Care's offices in North Street. Mark commented:

"The new system is very straightforward to use - and we find it a real bonus being able to track our overnight parcel deliveries online."

Our next champagne winners were Phil Reardon and Sam Thomas from Compass Group - seen here accepting their prize from Scarlet's Jon Wheeler. Phil, who runs the Compass HQ Despatch department, is impressed with the new online booking system:

"Online booking has cut out all the paperwork we used to have to do, and being able to track deliveries directly from the computer has certainly made life easier."

Melanie Taylor of Maxess Systems was our next winner, and is seen here accepting her prize from David Denham from Scarlet's Bracknell office. The company, who manufacture security equipment such as door entry swipe card systems, are long-standing Scarlet customers. Melanie generously commented that she'd always had excellent service from Scarlet - prompt and efficient - and that the website continues this trend. Thank you very much, Melanie - we're delighted!

Our next winner was Hazel Piggott from Teledyne Controls Flight Data Ltd, who was presented with her champagne by Scarlet's Zak Sabir. The West Drayton based company create flight recording equipment, and have been using Scarlet since we opened our new Uxbridge office. Hazel, who mainly uses our international service, appreciates the simplicity of the online booking system and finds it helpful and friendly.

Why not give our new online booking system a try? Who knows - you could be the next champagne winner!

Fuel Surcharge

As I am sure you're aware, fuel prices are currently rising at unprecedented speed, with the AA reporting that diesel prices have risen by their highest margin this century. Diesel went up by nearly 7p per litre in May.

For many years Scarlet worked hard to absorb these increased costs but we - along with the majority of major transport companies - are regrettably not able to offset these prices. Analysts predict no let-up in the escalation of fuel costs, of which nearly 60% is tax (the May price averages 124p per litre - over £4.50 per gallon, with £2.70 going to the Chancellor).

Scarlet is committed to a straightforward, transparent pricing structure and we were reluctant to impose a fuel surcharge. However given the reported volatility of the oil price, we decided that it would be fairer to introduce a variable surcharge rather than to impose a price increase - the benefit of a surcharge being the flexibility to adjust it downwards as well as upwards to reflect actual diesel prices.

This fuel surcharge is based on the latest figures from the AA's fuel price report and calculated as a proportion of the % annual increase since August 2004. Please ask a Scarlet advisor for the up to date figure.

We have reached this decision after careful consideration and, while we would obviously prefer not to impose any surcharge, we have to take this step to safeguard the standards that have created Scarlet's reputation for reliability and value.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me on 01344 489099 or by email.

Adam Barber, Sales Director

Scarlet's Jon Barber apppointed to National Awards Panel

Scarlet Director Jon Barber was part of the prestigious National Courier Awards judging panel for the 10th anniversary ceremony, held on June 21st at Stationers Hall in the City of London. The 2005 awards panel was announced at the House of Commons, where Lord Falkland and MP Steve Norris joined the panel for the launch. Pictured here are Steve Norris MP, Chairman of the NCA Alan Savage, Jon Barber and Lord Falkland, President of the Despatch Association.

Scarlet Celebrates 1st Year in Uxbridge

Opened in March 2005, Scarlet's new Uxbridge office extends our services to companies and businesses at the busy eastern end of the M4, with our complete delivery solutions - immediate direct delivery, international and nationwide overnights - now available to customers based in UB4, UB5, UB6, UB8, UB9 and UB10. If you're based in the Uxbridge area and need reliable, cost-effective delivery services, give Scarlet a call on 01895 811977 or email us for brochures and quotes, or to discuss bespoke delivery requirements.

Beware Web Fraud

We understand that our web address is being used to validate an attempted web fraud. An apparently plausible e-mail containing links to both Scarlet Couriers and the National Lottery web-sites suggests that the recipient has won a substantial sum on the lottery and that once an amount of money has been sent to process the claim a cheque will be delivered by Scarlet Couriers.

Please send no money to these people.

Scarlet Couriers have reported this to the police and continue to notify all who contact us that this is merely an attempt to part them from their money.

We have no connection with any lottery and do not hold or deliver cheques on their behalf.

For more information about this type of fraudulent activity - known as a "419 scam", please click here.

Warehousing Services Expand

Our new 5000 sq ft warehouse in Slough means we can offer additional opportunities for stock storage and fulfillment. Warehouse services are a growing area for Scarlet, and are proving invaluable to clients needing stock and supply, bespoke fulfillment services...or simply storage! If you have stock to store and supply into local businesses, our central Slough location and onsite courier fleet mean that deliveries are efficient and convenient. Scarlet can also arrange fulfillment to end-users - for example corporate gifts - which will be safely stored and despatched on demand. To facilitate this service we can organise label printing from your data, packing and a choice of delivery options - with bespoke services no problem. Just give us a call to discuss your requirements.

Scarlet on the Move

Scarlet is expanding! Ever-increasing volumes of consignments demanded extra resources - so in the space of eight weeks we moved both our Slough and Bracknell control centres to larger premises, more than doubling our capacity. Our Bracknell office is now located conveniently in Longshot Lane, while in Slough our new building has been customised to give us increased office/accounts areas, plus warehouse space totalling 5,000 square feet!

From our customers' point of view, the changeover was seamless - the main Scarlet phone numbers remain the same (though you'll find additional Scarlet advisors on hand when you call). Behind the scenes, our new IP telephone system is linked directly into the computers which makes for faster, more efficient bookings. This totally programmable ISDN-based system makes our telephones as future-proof as possible, giving us room to grow.

However, cutting-edge technology is balanced with personal service as Scarlet MD Jon Barber is quick to point out:

"Despite a huge increase in email communications, person-to-person voice calls remain our most important point of contact with our customers - and while we plan to use technology to the full to maximise efficiency, you'll always find a real person answering your call."

More technology and more space mean more options and services. Whatever your requirements, let Scarlet provide you with the complete delivery solution.

Download the latest Scarlet Express newsletters, or call us for a printed copy.

Scarlet Express issue 7
Scarlet Express Uxbridge special