With the number of domestic deliveries soaring as a result of internet shopping, and it being the festive season, you could consider getting involved with collect+. Collect+ offers a service where customers of the likes of Boden, Littlewoods, DABS and House of Fraser can arrange to have their parcels delivered to a local shop. Rather than turning up after work to find a note telling them to go to a remote sorting office, currently the case with 10% of home deliveries, customers are notified by SMS or email that their package is due to arrive at their local shop – 3,500 businesses are already involved. As well as being part of the delivery part of the operation, customers can also use the local shop for returns. Check the site out on www.collectplus.co.uk/merchants. Maybe there are some retailers out there who have already added collect+ to their customer offer, does it drive footfall? Is it worth investing time in?
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Jai Singh
29/11/2010
We have Collect+ and this does bring new customers to the store. However most customers will only come to collect their parcels, but it is a great way of introducing new customers to your store.
Another point to consider is where you will store the parcels. The process of receiving and sending the parcels to and from drivers/customers is pretty quick, but during peak times it can cause queues!
On the plus side (no pun intended!) customers do notice your store and are then intrigued as to what other services you offer and together with a promotion leaflet you can gain new customers!