It's Working for U.S. Direct Sellers! Access' New Australian Lane Quickly Trims Their Bottom Line

    PROVO, UT, June 06, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Rarely does a new service deliver beyond expectations as quickly as has Access Technology Solutions' (ATS) Australian shipping lane, the international solution provider's newest consolidated logistics service into a thriving Asia-Pacific market for U.S. direct exports.

Companies including It Works! Global are quickly finding that ATS is helping them profit handsomely from Australian's booming market for direct-to-consumer imports. It Works! Global distributes all-natural products, including the Ultimate Body Applicator, for people pursuing a healthier or more active lifestyle. The desire to live better is driving a fitness boom in AU and fueling the success of international companies like LuluLemon Athletica, which just launched its first localized web site in Australia. LuluLemon's direct to consumer revenue increased over 70% last year.

Much like the first (and most popular) It Works! product, The Ultimate Body Applicator, which expertly tightens, tones and firms specific body parts of both Hollywood celebrities and the folks next door, ATS efficiently tightens, tones and shapes up the international shipping and customs clearance process. By cutting out unnecessary middlemen, ATS is now directly delivering product from the U.S. to Australia in 4 to 5 days, generating a typical savings of 80% compared to common carrier's published rates.

"One of the bigger challenges in the direct selling industry, especially for those expanding internationally, is the ability to bring to market a truly original offering that captivates people. With the Ultimate Body Applicator, we knew we had that special something," explained Mark Pentecost, CEO It Works! Global. "When my Global Supply Chain Director, Trenton Langkamp, came in all pumped up about ATS saving us $35K per month on rural delivery fees alone in Australia, I knew we'd found a truly unique service. Thanks to ATS, we can cost-effectively share a really special product with the whole world."

ATS's consolidated Australia shipping service eliminates remote fees (which can be as high as $24.00) for up to 20% of the 23 million people living in Australia. Due to the high costs to ship into rural areas, many international marketers often only focus on urban areas. High rural shipping fees mean they miss out on significant sales opportunities explained Chris Boyle, Access' co-founder and CEO. "The team over at It Works! Global likes to say that the tape measure doesn't lie. Well, when it comes to doing business internationally, the ATS team likes to say neither does the shipping invoice," Boyle chuckled.

"One of the great things our Australian shipping lane offers direct selling companies is a consistent customs clearance process," explained Boyle. "Our partners are expert brokers highly skilled in clearing product for personal import to Australia. We also assign each client account to a dedicated broker whose personal attention to detail eliminates those unexpected fees that usually result when shippers use common carriers. In addition to charging a lot more for shipping, common carriers' broker relationships are simply not set up so they can be personally familiar with a shipper's products. So working with us is a win-win."

Australians can import up to $1,000AU in goods without paying the 10% goods and services tax (GST).

Australia's attractive personal consumption import allowances are one reason direct selling and online commerce are both booming in Australia, increasingly at the expense of department stores. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that while retail sales at Australia's department stores have fallen consistently since 2009, sales of "other retail" (which includes direct-to-consumer sales) have grown 6%, a significant rise given the global economic times. In fact, sales by members of the Direct Selling Association of Australia have reached $1.6 billion annually.

For shipments to Australia, ATS' consolidated shipping solution also offers flexibility with duty/tax payments, which allows product to be delivered duty unpaid (DDU) or delivered duty paid (DDP). ATS clients are also able to declare a product's value in either U.S. or Australian dollars, which delivers them even more flexibility when declaring values of shipments to Australia.

ATS' dedicated Australian shipping and logistics solution considerably increases the speed of product delivery to warehouses, distribution centers, businesses and residential destinations throughout Australia. Although open to brands throughout the world, ATS' Australian lane will provide direct-to-consumer brands in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific markets significant increases in delivery speed and equally dramatic decreases in shipping costs. ATS has built a strong reputation in the biggest Asia-Pacific markets during the last decade and today handles fast-growing volumes of packages into and out of the region.

It Works! Global offers a range of body slimming, skin care and nutritional products that provide an overall sense of well-being and vitality. In addition to The Ultimate Body Applicator, It Works! offers popular products like It's Vital, an advanced formula multi-vitamin, mineral, and enzyme supplement with all the known daily nutrients the body needs; Confianza, a naturally based supplement that increases energy levels and reduces stress and fatigue; and New You 3.0, a one-of-a-kind longevity formula designed to stimulate and support the production and release of the body's own rejuvenating human growth hormone.

In 2010, It Works! expanded into Australia and select areas of Europe, and the company has continued to break new sales records throughout the year. The company has witnessed 436% increased growth during the last three years. It Works! was ranked on Inc. Magazine's prestigious 2011 Inc. 500/5000 list as one of the 50 fastest-growing companies in its category

Access Technology Solutions (ATS) is the leading international partner for the Direct Selling industry, helping some of the markets biggest names expand overseas faster, and with less risk and investment. With the ATS Global Access logistics portal, our clients tap a world class network of logistics partners for both shipping direct from the US and in-country warehousing. In addition, ATS provides ecommerce sites with our Distributor Portal service, which combines native language websites, customer support, and local payment methods. The ATS Goopping division (www.goopping.com) helps global consumers purchase products from their favorite US online retailer and have them shipped to their door world-wide.

ATS has been included in the top 10 of Utah's 50 fastest-growing companies since 2007. ATS has been featured in the prestigious Inc. 500/5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S. since 2009. For an engaging overview of international commerce opportunities and how ATS is helping top brands expand globally, check out Terry Bradshaw's Business Day TV special (http://corporate.accessts.com/archives/472).

For more information about how Access can help your international sales growth, please contact Tom McGurran ([email protected]) at 877-811-8108.

Access Technology Solutions is the leading company providing technology solutions for international logistics for U.S. direct sales and eCommerce companies expanding overseas.

Website: http://www.accessts.com

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