March 22, 2018
Bombings Prompt Promo Firms to Adjust Deliveries
Tensions among residents and businesses remain high in Austin, TX, even after police reported that the suspected serial bomber who has terrorized the city for nearly three weeks died on Wednesday. Authorities now believe they’ve recovered all the explosive devices left by alleged bomber Mark Anthony Conditt, but officials are still urging caution following four recent explosions that went off in Austin and one at a FedEx facility in Schertz, TX.
As a result, several promotional products firms in the area have had to adjust their services, particularly the delivery process. Jesse Villegas Jr. of Villegas Printing (asi/352184) said the company has added extra wiggle room when scheduling deliveries just to be safe. “We’re being extremely careful,” Villegas said. “We’re just scheduling all we can a few days later and we’re making sure everything that comes in is something we ordered.”
Zachary Martin, owner of Product Creations Group (asi/299695), said the company’s carriers have been instructed to deliver packages directly to the recipient’s front office. “We’re leaving nothing on the door step,” Martin said. “Any packages from an unknown source will be treated with suspicion. So far, no businesses have been targeted, but it certainly changes your thought process when you see a package lying on the ground.”
As a national e-commerce distributor, most of Print Globe’s (asi/515631) customers are largely outside of Austin, so the company hasn’t had to make any major adjustments in terms of drop-ship orders from its supplier partners. However, one of the bombings occurred just a few miles from the company’s offices. “Our immediate concern was for the safety of our team and their families, as well as for our Austin community in general,” said Donna Estes, director of product development at Print Globe. “We receive numerous deliveries throughout the day to the office ourselves, so we share the overall sense of concern and uncertainty that most people in Austin are experiencing right now.”
On Tuesday, Merch Gal (asi/267609) owner Raquel Pena brought a dozen packages to the post office and all drop-offs were sent to an outside receiving area. “It was calm and quiet, yet tense inside one of the busiest USPS centers in Austin,” Pena said.
That tense feeling is shared among all Austin residents, said Jackie Strong, owner of SWAG Necessities (asi/340477). “We’re definitely being more cautious than ever before,” Strong said. “We’re more closely tracking inbound shipment and matching up scheduled delivery dates with what is being left at the front door. It’s insane what’s happening right now, but we’re doing our best to stay safe.”
Interim Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said authorities believe the same bomber was responsible for all five recent explosions. Manley also said police are now investigating whether the suspect had any accomplices. The explosions killed two people and injured four others, CNBC reported. After the explosion at the FedEx facility on Tuesday, FedEx told authorities that the same person who shipped the package had sent a second one, which officials located and secured at one of the company’s facilities near Austin’s airport.