Royal Mail has secured a one-year contract with British lifestyle fashion company Joules to handle its customer deliveries, including late orders for next-day deliveries, and is also planning to raise mail prices next month.
Since it was established by Tom Joule over 25 years ago, Joules has become one of Britain’s best-loved lifestyle brands, selling an award-winning collection of clothes and accessories for men, women and children.
Royal Mail will deliver diverse fashion goods to Joules’ customers across the UK using its Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 services.
The postal group said it has recently extended late acceptance times at its National Distribution Centre, Northampton, and now accepts parcels up to 23.30 for next-day delivery with its Tracked 24 service and in two days with Tracked 48.
The later acceptance time was key to Royal Mail being selected as Joules’ delivery partner. Customers are able to place online orders with Joules until 20.00 for delivery by Royal Mail the next working day.
The company will use Royal Mail’s detailed reporting suite to enable its team to deliver on its customer service promise. The reporting offered with Royal Mail Tracked products is powered by Royal Mail’s ongoing investment in barcoding and tracking technology.
Crissy Wisdom Chew, Joules Transport Manager, said: “Joules is a favourite time-off brand for families all over the UK. Time is at a premium for many, so it's really important that our customers trust that we can consistently deliver on speed and convenience. Our partnership with Royal Mail will enable us to do this.”
Nick Landon, Managing Director Royal Mail Parcels, said: “We are delighted that Joules has become one of the first brands to fully make use of the later acceptance times at our national distribution centre. We take customer service just as seriously as Joules, and as their chosen delivery partner we are committed to delivering their brand promise on their behalf.”
Meanwhile, Royal Mail has announced it will put up stamp prices from March 29 “to help ensure the sustainability of the Universal Postal Service”. The price of a First Class stamp will increase by 1p to 64p and the price of a Second Class stamp will increase by 1p to 55p.
“We have carefully considered the impact on our customers and our own business before deciding to apply the smallest possible increase in stamped letter prices. We believe these changes are necessary to help ensure the sustainability of the Universal Postal Service,” Britain’s designated national postal service provider explained.
“From 29 March, Royal Mail’s stamp prices remain among the best value in Europe. The UK also has the highest quality specification of any major European country,” it added.
The European average for First Class letters up to 100g is 78p and for Second Class letters, up to 100g, is 64p, according to Royal Mail.
