Collectpoint – convenience store network a winner

Collectpoint: Collectpoint – convenience store network a winner
From M2 COMMUNICATIONS, September 20th, 2001

Sep 20, 2001 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) — Speaking at a meeting with e-tailers
recently, Jim Doyle, head of international development for the PickPoint /
Collectpoint Internet fulfilment business, described the rapid progress made
in the UK over the past twelve months in both recruiting on-line retailers and
also chains of late-night opening stores as collection points for the service. Collectpoint now has a wide variety of on-line and mail order retailer
partners, allowing shoppers to collect their purchases from over 3,200
collection sites throughout the UK. All Collectpoints are open from early
morning to late at night seven days a week and some are open 24 hours per day.
When shopping with a participating retailer, shoppers simply select a
Collectpoint near to their home and pick up their parcel when convenient. A competitive environment Commenting on Collectpoint's success, Jim Doyle
said: "Collectpoint in the UK has grown out of a customer need for a speedy
and reliable last link in the Internet fulfilment chain. The challenge now is
to build awareness. In this respect, I was delighted with the news that
Consignia, with Parcelforce and Royal Mail as carriers and post offices as
collection points, would be entering the market. The potential is huge and
another major player can only serve to help us in driving up awareness and
usage of fulfilment services across the board." "At Collectpoint we are also well-placed to meet any competition in the
sector. We offer some of the most convenient collection points as we
specifically target local stores with long opening hours. We are also very
flexible over what we are able to handle. We deliver parcels up to 25 kg,
rather than the lower weight limits imposed by some others, allowing a wider
range of goods to be sent. We also allow up to three parcels per consignment
making it easy for customers to order products such as personal computers
where individual components may be packed in separate boxes. Collectpoint also benefits the retailer by allowing them to choose any carrier
that is commercially the best choice." Since 'going live' in June last year, Collectpoint has delivered many
thousands of parcels securely and conveniently to customers throughout the UK
and Ireland. For further information, access Collectpoint's website at www.collectpoint.com NOTES FOR EDITORS: PickPoint AG is a 60 percent subsidiary of D.Logistics AG, which is listed on
the Frankfurt stock exchange. In Germany, partnerships have already been
established with Deutscher Paket Dienst (DPD), United Parcel Service
Deutschland (UPS), TNT, Agip Deutschland, Jet, AVIA, the federal association
of free gas stations and independent German oil retailers (bft), Eggert
Mineralol AG and Sudtank GmbH & Co. Currently there are more than 1,700
PickPoints throughout Germany. In May 2001, PickPoint AG took a majority stake
in the UK's Collectpoint plc. Collectpoint plc has more then 3,200 active delivery points in Britain. In
January this year, it expanded into Ireland where it has now established over
200 Collectpoints. Collectpoints can be found in numerous branches of Dillons/One Stop, SPAR, The
Mills Group, David Sands, GT News and the Co-op as well as in some Londis and
BP shops. The large number of collection points is making the service
increasingly attractive to a wide variety of Internet retailers. Latest partners include QVC; www.gadgetshop.com; and www.worthaglance.com. Information about online shops and the service and selection of the nearest
delivery points can be accessed via Collectpoint's website at
www.collectpoint.com CONTACT: Brian Daniels/Katie Sutton Tel: +44 (0)1344 622280 e-mail:
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