GLS has opened its 500th parcel shop location in the Netherlands as it continues to expand itsB2C services in Europe.
The 500th Dutch parcel shop opened this week at a partner shop in the town centre of Breda. Theparcel shops, launched in 2006, operate as ‘shop-in-shop’ concepts in various retail outlets suchas newsagents and convenience stores.
The Dutch parcel shops are well used and last year alone the number of sent parcels doubled, GLSsaid. Consumers can use the parcel shops to pick up online orders, send private parcels and hand inreturn parcels, the Royal Mail European parcels subsidiary said.
Milo Kars, General Manager GLS Netherlands, commented: “The parcel shops play an important rolefor online shoppers to receive their ordered goods quickly and conveniently.”
As part of GLS’ FlexDelivery Service, consumers can already select where they want to haveparcels delivered before the delivery is made. More than 50% opt for a parcel shop. In addition,consumers can easily return goods with the ShopReturn Service. GLS offers both services toe-retailers who can integrate them into their webshops.
Kars emphasised that GLS ensures it has a stable parcel shop network by gradually expanding itwith carefully selected new locations and training the staff in how to handle the parcelprocedures.
Earlier this year GLS introduced a three-hour time window for FlexDelivery home deliveries inthe Netherlands.
