Parcel2Go, the online parcel delivery service that uses carriers including UPS, DHL, City Link and Home Delivery Network, has launched a ‘Light’ offering to suit smaller businesses that send out up to 500 parcels a week.
Parcel2Go Light, launched to coincide with the national postal strike due later this week, enables businesses to send packets of up to 3kg for £3.99 each. A £5 charge for collection of the items applies, regardless of volumes sent, with the flat £3.99 per item fee covering delivery to any address in the UK.
One of the first to sign up for the new service is promotional merchandise supplier Silk Group. “The current unrest to Royal Mail is a serious threat to our business,” says the company’s Jane Barber. “Not only do our orders need to be fulfilled but we need to ensure that cheques are coming in through the door. Being able to take advantage of discounts on bulk deliveries reduces our postage costs significantly on both the existing Royal Mail special delivery costs and other courier firms.”
“The postal strike is putting SME businesses in a very vulnerable position while adding costs on the bottom line as alternative methods of mail fulfillment are sought,” says Fil Adams Mercer, Parcel2Go’s CEO. “While the major online retailers such as Amazon and John Lewis can negotiate favourable terms with courier companies it is the SME trader who must foot the bill of using alternative private sector companies. The Parcel2Go Light package aims to offer economies of scale which will incentivise SME businesses to make a long term switch to the brand.”
“During the national postal strike of 2007 our business doubled with newly acquired customers remaining on our books following the industrial action,” Mercer adds, before warning that if the dispute is not settled soon Royal Mail workers could find “there could be little or no business for strikers to go back to.”
Parcel2Go reports that it has experienced a 20% uplift in business since the current industrial action started.
