Deutsche Post today began testing special drop-off points for letters and parcels at 38 locationsacross Germany to broaden its network for business customers. DHL has meanwhile picked up a new
home delivery contract in the USA.Deutsche Post said it will be testing the additional posting offices for business customersat a total of 100 locations throughout Germany until late 2007. Since April, it has been conductinga pilot project with business mail drop-offs at five locations in Dortmund for those businesscustomers who must otherwise make daily trips to retail outlets to post their items.
The postal group said its initiative responded to customer desire for faster and easierhandling of posting, and would also relieve some of the burden on retail outlets and further reducewaiting times at these locations.
The 100 new business mail drop-offs planned will augment the approximately 120 existing bulkmail acceptance offices throughout Germany which have for years now been accepting large quantitiesof letters and parcels from business customers.
In June, Deutsche Post announced that it would be testing 600 new Postpoints targeted atprivate customers to be opened by the end of the year. Starting in 2008, Deutsche Post will then beavailable for its customers at more than 13,700 locations in Germany. Added to this are theapproximately 900 Packstations open for drop-off and pick-up of small packages and parcels aroundthe clock. The number of these stations will grow to 2,400 by the end of 2009.
Separately, DHL USA has been chosen by fashion apparel retailer Chico’s FAS, Inc., with 965stores across the US, as its direct-to-consumer delivery service provider. DHL will serve Chico’sonline and catalogue sales business, providing US domestic and international express services tosupport its retail distribution network.
Through the new agreement Chico’s and its related brands will use the DHL@homebusiness-to-residential service to deliver directly to their consumers nationwide. All shipmentsordered by customers online, by catalogue or by phone will be fulfilled at Chico’s DistributionCenter in Winder, Ga., and transported to DHL locations nationwide – with the U.S. Postal Servicehandling the final mile delivery as part of the DHL@home service offering. DHL will also be theexpress delivery provider for Chico’s international customers.
