It looks as if Hermes UK is on-track to deliver its target of 5,000 'ParcelShops' by the end of this year, after signing a deal with Payzone to open more online order delivery and collection points at its outlets.
Over 1,000 more convenience stores will offer Hermes' customers the ability to have their orders delivered to or returned to more locations, placing the number of shops close to its target for the end of 2014.
Hermes UK’s CFO Rob Edson said: “We see our relationship with Payzone as a strategic partnership - the tie up will be instrumental in accelerating the growth of our ParcelShop estate and ultimately providing greater multichannel choice and convenience for our customers in 2014 and beyond.”
The B2C parcel carrier has been one of the quickest adopters of the relatively new delivery concept. Launched in June 2012, it now has 3,500 parcel shops in place- 700 of which are operated by Payzone.
The network is also being utilised by DPD, which is offering its customers the ability to have their goods returned through Hermes’ parcel shop network.
A recent report by market analyst Apex Insight hailed the sector's establishment of parcel shops as a success.
Within the last year a network of convenience stores have been set up by UPS, while Yodel’s joint venture with PayPoint, Collect+, has also been growing.