Ceska posta adapts to Czech consumer lifestyle
Czech postal service operator Ceska posta (CP) is in talks with the country’s retail chains on expanding its network of outlets in hypermarkets, the daily Hospodarske noviny reported. But the negotiations won’t be closed any time soon.
“It’s complicated to set up a new outlet because Ceska posta requires a certain amount space for its operation to handle and store packages, for example,” said CP spokesman Ivo Mravinac. The minimum space required, he added, is about 120 square meters.
CP currently operates outlets in 12 hypermarkets throughout the country, in addition to two located in business centers. Mravinac said that the company has simply followed the trend of its customers, who are spending more and more time in modern shopping malls. The opening hours of the CP outlets would typically correspond with those of the particular hypermarket, he said.
Among the sites that Ceska posta is considering for its network expansion are hypermarkets operated by retailers Tesco Stores CR, Ahold Czech Republic and Kaufland Ceska republika. CP has analyzed the market and will replace only the inessential and unprofitable operations with outlets in hypermarkets, which are expected to show greater profits, Mravinac explained. The retailers could in turn benefit from an increased inflow of customers, he said. Most recently, CP opened an outlet this spring in Ceske Budejovice, South Bohemia.
In neighboring Slovakia, local postal service operator Slovenska posta (SP) has applied a similar strategy. A year ago, the company opened the first post office branch in a smaller-format Tesco hypermarket in Partizanske, west Slovakia. After the first outlet proved to be a huge success, SP has added more outlets in hypermarkets, the company’s representative said.
CP is at the same time attracting customers by introducing new services as of next month, such as delivery of postcards created from MMS. Customers who take a digital photo with a mobile phone supporting MMS can e-mail the picture along with text to CP, which promises to process the order overnight for Kc 30 (1.05 euro) and send a paper postcard to a desired postal address the following day. Mobile operator Telefonica O2 Czech Republic currently offers a similar service.
