Rivals race to stamp on Royal Mail as strikes take a toll | Business

Every day, Andrea Wood parcels wool, cotton reels and other materials to send to customers of her firm, Always Knitting and Sewing, and sets them aside for collection from her Royal Mail courier. About 95 per cent of what she sells from her shop in Chorley, Lancashire, is ordered online. But lately her boxes have been sat in a corner, awaiting delivery, while Royal Mail is paralysed by a series of strikes.

“It’s been a nightmare,” said Wood, 55. “We’re seeing delays of up to ten days. Cashflow is a real problem. A lot of customers are saying, ‘If it’s taking that long to deliver, I’ll go somewhere else.’ ” Wood reckons her sales in the run-up to Christmas have plunged by a quarter. “Ultimately,