Lynx Express launch new Home Delivery service
LYNX Express, one of Britain's largest independent parcels carriers, has entered the home delivery sector with the launch of 'LYNX@Home' a new commercial arrangement with retail giant Redcats UK.
The LYNX@Home service will utilise the Redcats Courier Link home delivery courier network for its last mile deliveries. LYNX will be responsible for sales, collection, pre-sortation, billing and POD. Initially a standard 48 hour service will be offered.
LYNX will deliver goods to Redcats couriers within a pre-set time window every day. Bill Reid, the recently appointed Director of 'LYNX@Home', explained: "Both organisations recognise the attractiveness to third party customers of the new 'LYNX@Home' service which utilises the complementary strengths of the LYNX distribution network and Redcats Courier Link home delivery couriers.
"It is a new revenue stream for both companies and offers a major commercial opportunity for both businesses.
"The new service has all sorts of mutual advantages,' he said, 'LYNX are looking at a home delivery model that is arguably one of the most efficient in the country.
The new division has evolved out of the relationship between LYNX and Redcats over the past 14 months, since LYNX signed a £multi-million five-year contract with the Wakefield and Bradford based arm of parent company Pinault, Printemps, Redoute.
"The marketplace, continues Bill, falls into two main areas. Firstly, fulfilment houses who basically do pick pack despatch operations for very small parcels going to home addresses. Secondly, the Internet which as a marketplace is 'staggering in size', he said.
He continued: "Indications so far show a massive interest level in the type of delivery service being offered by 'LYNX@Home'. Generally people are dissatisfied with various aspects of the currently available services and are receptive to a new alternative.
"Interested customers are indicating they would much rather have the last mile being carried out by a 'community person' such as one of the Redcats couriers who live round the corner.
Bill Reid added: "'LYNX@Home' is a much more consumer-friendly delivery service. If somebody is not in, the courier can pop back because they live in the area. That is what is attracting people. The big issue is expectation in this consumer sector and people prefer the personal courier approach, he said.
Bill Reid stressed that he sees the 'LYNX@Home' delivery service as a 'softer service' than some of the more traditional 'man and van' approaches in the market.
"There is not the same hard edged approach of a normal delivery service. The couriers tend to be home based, for example parents who need to work from home, or people who may be retired but want to continue to work on a more flexible basis. The couriers may deliver every day, once a week, or once every three weeks to the same address. It is a repeat delivery and they build up a relationship with the customer receiving the goods. "We believe the Redcats service is a unique service in its own right in the way it is configured. It has taken years to build up. For LYNX it is a great opportunity to sell a new product, but the risks and start up costs are low because we are stepping into this marketplace through Redcats into an existing last mile network, he said.
The 'LYNX@Home' service was launched in the UK following a four branch trial in Swansea, Coventry, Leeds and Reading. The trial was a great success.
Initially a team of employees will be devoted specifically to the launch of the new service. The other investment required has been an element of systems development. Otherwise the new division has been launched using the current LYNX infrastructure.
Bill Reid added: "The potential is phenomenal because we can input almost as much revenue as we like into this without any infrastructure implications. We don¿t need to buy vans or build branches. The Redcats model is a proven solution and without equal.
"In effect we are creating a new network of additional courier resource within the network of LYNX Express. The team numbers will grow as the volume on the service increases.
"Early indications are that we will easily achieve our initial target to develop the revenue stream on LYNX@Home from both our current customer base and prospective customers who use other carriers for this service. In the future our potential is unlimited and interest is already massive, not just from domestic shippers, but also from the international in-bound market to the UK," he added.
