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GLS opens parcel shops throughout Europe

With the parcel shops, GLS offers private and commercial customers with sporadic shipments the possibility of sending consignments quickly, reliably and at attractive prices. Going shopping and sending parcels at the same time – GLS parcel shops are a practical and timesaving alternative to public postal office counters.

Following a shop-in-shop-system, the parcel drop points are integrated into news and tobacco shops as well as shopping centres. Shop operators also profit from the parcel shop idea: by offering this additional service they increase the attractiveness of their business.

The first parcel shops in Europe

GLS Germany is a pioneer in the area of parcel shops. Already in 1997, the first drop points were opened here. Today, the network has a total of 2,500 parcel shops – the number will be doubled to 5,000 by the beginning of 2007.

GLS subsidiaries all over Europe are following this example. In Austria, the opening of GLS parcel shops has started successfully: In less than three months, GLS Austria set up almost 100 of the 500 planned parcel shops. In Hungary, Ireland and Portugal, the first drop points have also already been opened. In the Netherlands and in Denmark, the introduction of the shops is set to begin, in France, GLS is preparing a test run.

The new B2C strategy

In addition to this, GLS has tested an extension of the concept in Germany. The use of the parcel shops as an alternative delivery address for private consignees was validated in a pilot project. The idea: if consignees are not at home, GLS delivers the B2C parcels to the nearest parcel shop. There, consignees can pick up the parcels on their own. The new service will be offered in Germany in 2006.

“With this concept, we are meeting market needs. The demand in the B2C area is continuously increasing – all over Europe”, says Rico Back, Chief Executive Officer of GLS. About 50,000 to 60,000 parcel drop points would have to be set up to create a full area-coverage parcel shop network in Europe.

Quality delivered by GLS

GLS Ireland is a subsidiary of General Logistics Systems B.V., Amsterdam (GLS). GLS is a Pan-European company providing reliable, high-quality parcel and express services as well as value-added logistics solutions. The company offers its services through wholly owned and partner companies in 34 European states. The GLS system consists of 29 central transhipment points, 667 depots and 14,500 people. Some 17,700 vehicles are on route moving 280 million parcels annually for 220,000 customers throughout Europe. In the financial year 2004/2005, GLS achieved revenues of 1.34 billion euros. GLS stands for “European Leader in Quality“. This is something that everyone working for GLS strives to achieve every day.