PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE’S WORLD OF SHOPPING WINS TOP PRIZE AT WORLD MAIL AWARDS

World of Shopping, the global shopping site developed by Parcelforce Worldwide, in partnership with Global eBusiness Solutions specialists, Retail Futures, last night picked up the Internet Commerce Award at the World Mail Awards in London. The shopping site – www.worldofshopping.com – undertakes all aspects of web design, promotion, secure order processing and delivery on behalf of retailers, giving those companies which may not normally consider using this channel the opportunity to sell their products to customers across the globe. Parcelforce Worldwide and Retail Futures beat off competition from the United States Postal Service to win the award for internet developments that add value to the mail industry. The awards were part of the World Mail & Express Conference, one of Europe’s leading postal conferences, attended by postal industry leaders and key decision makers including representatives from postal offices, integrators, equipment suppliers, customers, airlines and mail houses. Alan Wright, E-Commerce Manager for Parcelforce Worldwide, said: “I am delighted with World of Shopping’s award as it confirms our belief that we have a world-wide winner in our hands. “World of Shopping enables our business customers, whether retailers, wholesalers or manufacturers, to access a global market, benefiting from global marketing and the global reach of Parcelforce Worldwide and the Consignia group as a whole.” A range of over 20,000 products from 100 different suppliers, primarily with a strong British flavour and of high quality and predominantly gift-style or collectible nature, can be purchased on this multi-currency, secure shopping site. Interestingly, it is most desirable amongst overseas shoppers with 70 per cent of purchases currently being made outside of the UK. John Andrews, CEO of Retail Futures, said: “When customers purchase goods from World of Shopping they can buy with confidence because their shopping will be delivered safely and securely to almost every country in the world.”
Parcelforce Worldwide has many initiatives in place to meet the fast
expansion
of online retailing including the introduction last year of time-slot
deliveries
to 9pm. And as part of the Consignia group, it is leading the way in new
initiatives to provide even more convenient delivery to people who shop
from
home. :: Note to Editors * Parcelforce Worldwide handles
some 150 million parcels annually. * Parcel delivery is an
increasingly competitive market and Parcelforce
Worldwide has invested GBP 100 million in the development of massive new
distribution hubs in Coventry to handle the continued growth in express
domestic
and international traffic. Retail Futures provides complete
end-to-end Global eBusiness Solutions for
both the business to consumer and business to business sectors. Retail
Futures
was established in 1997 and has a strong management team with widely based
experience and expertise in large scale, non-store profitable retailing
with
consumers globally. The company has a significant range of global blue
chip
clients and partners. Retail Futures’ web site address is
www.retailfutures.com UNS Contact: Parcelforce Worldwide 020 7250
2468 (24 hour) Room 101 148 Old
Street London EC1V 9HQ ends canPA NEWS, 17th May 2001