The Royal Mail plans to introduce a ‘click and collect’ service later this year that will allow internet shoppers to pick up orders from their local Post Office.
The organisation said it will be the UK’s largest click and collect network and would provide ‘convenient, secure parcel collection facilities.’ Details of the plan have emerged as the Government finalises plans to sell off the Royal Mail for £2.5 billion in a potential stock market listing this autumn.
Royal Mail said there are 10,900 Post Office branches that will take part and many could stay open later to help make it easier for shoppers to collect parcels. About 4,000 will offer a collection service outside of normal Post Office hours.
It said 99 per cent of the population lives within three miles of a Post Office. Royal Mail cited a recent survey in which 76 per cent of people in the UK said they would be more likely to use an online retailer again if it delivered through Royal Mail, which it said made it ‘the most trusted delivery firm in the UK.’
‘Royal Mail is a key partner for online retailers and we are well placed to benefit from the growth in e-retailing. Home shoppers already love our services. The click and collect initiative will help online retailers give shoppers even greater control over the delivery of their items. We are committed to developing services to ensure we meet the changing demands of online retailers and their customers,’ said Nick Landon, Managing Director of Royal Mail Parcels.
Online sales increased by 14.9 per cent to £31.1 billion in 2012, representing 10.6 per cent of total retail sales. By 2017 online will account for around £50 billion or 15 per cent of all retail expenditure, according to market research firm Verdict.
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