The Rapid’s Post

I think we can all agree that tipping is getting a little out of hand. It feels like I can’t get fast food or pick up dinner without being asked. Here are my current tipping policies: -For dine-in with table service, 15% for standard service. For great service, I bump it to 20-25%. -For counter service, where I order, pick up, and carry food to a table, 10% seems fair. But if I also have to wait in a long line or bus my own table, let’s call it 5% because now I basically should be on payroll! -For pickup, 5% says, “Thanks for the bag and the napkins, I’ll take it from here.” -Deliveries are trickier to quantify and tips vary based on delivery fees, order size, distance traveled, weather, time of day, etc. 20% with a minimum of $5-10 seems about right. The way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if my Amazon delivery guy started asking for tips; and with the amount we order, he’s probably the most deserving! What’s your go-to tipping strategy in this brave new world of tip jars everywhere? #TippingCulture #CustomerService #ServiceIndustry #Tipping #FoodForThought

Ben’s random Thursday thoughts while sat on the bay at Amazon Lutterworth: If you put 1 pence, 1 single solitary pence on the price of every item in the supermarket, the UK would be a better place.. Confused?! Allow me to explain… Firstly - your shopping would go up, last week we bought 87 items, so mine would go up 87 pence, hardly the end of the world, but that is the only downside.. Example: On an average pallet of Coca Cola, there are 52000 cans of Coke. 85 cases, 24 to a case, 26 pallets, 1 pence represents an increase in cost of just over £500 per pallet, which will be paid for by the consumer, Me and You. However - an increase of £500 per load would allow the hauliers be paid more, they in turn could pay the staff more, the staff in turn may be able to buy more/better quality products with the increased salary and so on and so forth. Or buy something from someone else who can then by from the supermarket. And it’s not just the haulage industry that would benefit from the increase, every industry involved with the manufacture/delivery processof goods sold on the supermarket shelves would/could have the same opportunities if the shelf price of goods went up by 1p per item.. Sadly, the reality is very different, if the price went up 1p per item we’d all still be working for shockingly bad rates, and the share holders of the blue chips would just be 1p per item richer.. Its a logical thought though, which is exactly the reason it can never happen..

Hope Santa Delivered Faster than 10 Minute Remember when Domino’s🍕 made headlines with their iconic “30 minutes or free” promise? The OG move that changed the game. But before that? - It was your grandma running the original supply chain -Your dad was inventory management -and you, the proud unpaid (occasionally underpaid) delivery intern, running milk and biscuits to neighbors. Nostalgia, right? Fast forward to today, where even waiting 10 minutes ⏳ feels like a crime against humanity. What changed? Giant companies did—they shaped our idea of convenience. Now it’s simple: If you’re a planner, your pantry is stocked for months. If you’re not, you pay the surge price and cry about it. The choice? Always yours. Just know, convenience isn’t free—it’s a business mode Anyway merry christmas : May your package be swift & your sweaters are truly ugly☃️🧣🧥. #MerryChristmas #ConvenienceEconomy #CustomerExperience #SupplyChainInsights #BusinessLessons #InnovationInBusiness #consulting #ecommerce #ModernConsumer #ConvenienceCosts #surgeprice #zepto #swiggy #zomato #Dunzo #Blinkit #Amazon

All Hands on Deck: Embracing the Peak Season Peak Season 2024 wrapped up with a bow and I can honestly say I've seen and done it all. From navigating peak during the challenges of COVID-19, to handling last-minute shipments when Amazon dropped millions of unscheduled packages, to working through some of the biggest snowstorms the industry has ever seen—each season brings new challenges. I’ve experienced it all: loading trucks at dawn, sorting packages at 3 AM at the airport, spending a month as a driver helper in my browns, delivering in my own car, and even while in business suits. Through ice, rain, and snow, it's all about getting the job done. Just last week, I was in LA—scanning, sorting, and delivering packages. No matter the conditions, we adapt and push forward. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. #PeakSeason #Logistics #SupplyChain #Adaptability #Teamwork #DeliveringExcellence #HardWorkPaysOff #DeliverDirect

On Monday, we have a tactical management meeting where we discuss wins, upcoming operational issues, and questions. We also review costs from previous weeks and analyze sales, food, and labor costs. We also review third-party scores for services like Uber and DoorDash. During the meeting, we set objectives for the week and ensure that managers are focused on addressing any cost issues and implementing practical solutions. Want to learn more? Follow us on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e7udi4YN or @andrewscott9329 #weeklyteammeetings #performancereview #employeefeedback

As I waited for the grocery delivery at home, I wondered: How will habits and discipline evolve when everything we need arrives in just minutes? 🧐 Quick commerce is a blessing, no doubt. Forgot milk? Need pasta for dinner? Just tap, and it’s there in 10 mins. But what about planning ahead? Grocery lists? The discipline of preparing for the month? It made me wonder—will the next generation even know the value of thinking ahead? Or will “just-in-time” convenience become the default way of life? Efficiency is great, but are we slowly trading long-term habits for short-term ease? What do you think? #quickcommerce #qcom #habits #justintime

Sad to see this iconic brand cease operations. Maybe you, like me, grew up on Schwan's ice cream (and fish sticks). Yelloh announced on September 23, 2024 that it would cease operations on November 8, 2024, citing "insurmountable business challenges". “Our concern is now for our employees and caring for them as we all come to terms with the fact that this business – that served millions of families and provided a livelihood for thousands over the decades – has regrettably run its life cycle.” I don't pretend to to know what the family-owned business tried to do over the years, other than through the eyes of a consumer. I do know their customer service drastically changed several years ago, with drivers being pressed to "keep moving" vs. talking with customers like my family. They were rushed, and part of that I understand. Efficiency is important. But in doing so, I believe they put one metric above another. Driver time "sitting" was minimized. What management likely did not anticipate was that in minimizing that time, the drivers spent less time with the very customers that were buying their product. And buying less. Because they were in a hurry. I'd bet if we reviewed their metrics over time, sales per customer went down as efficiency was the goal. I could be wrong. But. They ran out of inventory frequently, defeating the very purpose of the delivery truck to your door. And the drivers were frustrated because they were pressed for time and unable to provide their customers with what they wanted. Maybe they tried to pivot. Maybe it simply didn't work. It's simply sad. #allownersexit #exitbetter #exitwell #customerservice #smallbusinesschallenges #closelyheldbusiness #businesslifecycle

When you have a plan, it’s much easier to get stuff done….like grocery shopping 🛒 However, when you don’t have a set routine or schedule, it can be easy to stay busy but get nothing accomplished. Creating simple lists and actionable steps to navigate the start of Warehouse Buyers Club has been crucial for growth. What helps you get “$tuff” done? 👀 Side note…. How random is that store list?!?! 😂 #entrepeneur #success #routine

🚛🌟 At Whitewater Freight, we're always inspired by companies that find practical and useful ways to make a difference. Domino's "Paving for Pizza" initiative is a perfect example! 🍕🚧 In 2018, Domino's launched an innovative campaign to fix potholes in towns across the USA. Recognizing that potholes can ruin more than just a smooth ride, they took action to ensure their pizzas arrived safely and undamaged. The program filled hundreds of potholes, improving road conditions and demonstrating their commitment to quality service. 🌍🛤️ This initiative not only solved a problem but also provided real value to the community. By addressing a common issue, Domino's ensured better delivery experiences for their customers while also supporting local infrastructure. Their effort is a reminder that businesses can positively impact their communities in practical ways. 💪 At Whitewater Freight, we share this commitment to adding value through our marketing efforts. We believe in providing useful, actionable insights and solutions that benefit our clients and partners. By focusing on practical improvements, we aim to enhance every step of the logistics journey. 🚚✨ Our marketing strategy is centered on delivering value—whether it’s through insightful content, innovative solutions, or community initiatives. Just like Domino's, we strive to make a positive impact by addressing real-world challenges and providing tangible benefits. 👏 Let’s continue to find ways to make a positive impact in our industry and beyond! 🌟 #Logistics #Innovation #ValueDriven #CommunityImpact #WhitewaterFreight

The pause on Congestion Pricing means crisis averted for now - but even without the looming threat of delivery fees, we should still work together to change the 7-9AM "attended" delivery paradigm that most foodservice operators prefer. Doing business this way in New York City makes foodservice delivery expensive and environmentally unfriendly. Here's why: When NYC operators insist that deliveries be made to attended kitchens during a 2 hour time window in the early part of rush hour, it forces distributors like Lobster Place to be in hundreds of locations at the same time at the precise moment when vehicle mobility is at its worst. By allowing early access to unattended kitchens before 7am, operators reduce the requirement for distributors to be everywhere at once, greatly speed up delivery times, and consequently reduce the number of trucks required to "feed the kitchens." We estimate that by expanding the delivery window to 5am-9am, kitchens could reduce the number of trucks required to make deliveries by as much as 33%. Case in point - imagine what it would mean for your personal relationship with Amazon if you only accepted your packages in a 2 hour window of time during rush hour and you made the Amazon courier wait for you to open your box and inspect its contents. The Amazon courier would NEVER be able to finish their route - and Amazon would need more trucks and drivers to deliver their packages on time. This is why purveyors have delivery minimums and delivery charges and Amazon doesn't - because the 7-9AM attended delivery paradigm makes last mile logistics incredibly inefficient. But we can work together to change that. With your permission and cooperation, our drivers can access your unattended kitchen as early as 5:30AM, load-in your products in the locations you specify, snap a photo of the delivery contents, and lock up behind them. When your crews arrive and inspect the product, we'll still replace it same day is there's a problem. We're already doing this at over 60 locations across the city. Governor Hochul might have removed the financial consequence of continuing the status quo - but early access/"dark drops" are still a better, more environmentally friendly way of doing business.