Australia Post is generating record parcel volumes from e-commerce during the peak pre-Christmasperiod predicting more online purchases from Australian websites in December this year than in any
other month, and has opened more 24/7 superstores to keep up with demand.The Australian postal operator was expecting yesterday (9 December) to have been the country’sbusiest online shopping day ever.
Australia Post spokeswoman Melanie Ward told CEP-Research: “We’re expecting an extra 3 millionparcels this December, compared to last year when we were delivering around an extra 100,000parcels per day compared to a normal month.”
During this week, following the busiest online shopping day of the year, Australia Post expectsto deliver half a million more parcels across the country. Last year, Australia Post also deliveredan additional 3 million parcels in December alone with parcel volumes growing at around 11%, Wardexplained. “70% of our parcel volumes are generated from e-commerce,” she added.
Richard Umbers, Australia Post’s Executive General Manager Parcels and Express Services, said:“To make it easier for Australians to shop online and collect their parcels at a time that’sconvenient for them, we’ve installed new 24/7 parcel lockers in 49 locations across the country intime for Christmas. Customers can register for the free service today at www.auspost.com.au to have their online Christmas purchasesdelivered direct to a parcel locker location of their choice. We will be rolling out these lockersnationally over the coming year to a further 200 locations.”
To cope with the peak in online shopping and shipping volumes, Australia Post has launched a newflagship superstore in Sydney’s central business district, making it easier for customers to shipproducts in time for Christmas. The superstore includes a 24/7 zone with self-service terminals,vending machine and parcel lockers so customers can pick up or send their Christmas parcels anytime of the day. It also features an online shopping zone with Apple Macs and iPads for customersto buy their Christmas gifts online, in-store.
“More than 2,350 of our retail outlets are also open for extended Christmas hours during theweek with the majority trading on Saturdays and more than 375 outlets also open on Sundays. We’realso delivering parcels on weekends to ensure people receive their items in time for ChristmasDay,” Umbers added.
Online marketplace eBay Australia also estimated a strong sales increase of 17% on 9 Decembercompared to last year’s busiest online shopping day with 300,000 products sold on eBay.com.auduring that day alone and 2.3 million expected website visitors. This equals a 26% increase in thenumber of visitors over last year’s busiest online shopping day on 11 December 2011.
Deborah Sharkey, Vice President, eBay Australia, commented: “Despite positive online growthfigures, we recognise that the retail industry is facing real challenges. Consumers are notspending more, they are spending differently. They are sending us a clear message that they want toshop online and mobile, alongside physical stores. The challenge for the modern retailer is to beeverywhere the consumer is.”
PayPal, the global e-commerce payment option, estimated the last week to be ‘the busiest onlineshopping week Australia has ever seen’.
Jeff Clementz, Managing Director, PayPal Australia, said: “We are witnessing an increased growthin the number of Australian retailers who have opened their virtual store doors to receptiveconsumers. This year, consumers will be shopping across a mix of retail channels, from theirtablets to their mobiles to in-store. Wherever they are shopping, consumers are looking forflexibility, convenience and security.”
With 4.7 million active PayPal accounts in Australia, consumers have the flexibility to payonline or with any connected mobile device using their account balances, bank accounts or creditcards. They can purchase goods with PayPal in 190 markets and 24 currencies around the world withover 60,000 merchant partners in Australia.
Australia Post delivers more than 93 million items to 11 million addresses across Australiaevery week. With more than 4,400 outlets, it has the largest nationwide retail network with over2,500 of these outlets placed in rural and remote areas.
