As online shopping levels continue to grow, never has the final mile delivery experience been more important.
It is a concept embraced by Northampton-based Panther Logistics – which has been at the forefront of two-man delivery for the past ten years since it revolutionised the market with its next-day delivery service.
Since then, Panther has extended its offering to include premium delivery options such as weekend and nominated day delivery together with upgrades including wet and dry installation, soft assembly, premium time windows, Saturday and Sunday deliveries, plug and play, door removal and customer returns. The company also offers recovery of non-operational and obsolete goods with specialist disposal.
It is a business which has gone from strength to strength with volumes in 2020 increasing
exponentially as customers invested in outdoor activities and home improvements.
Online shopping now accounts for a quarter of all retail sales and is expected to increase to one third by 2024. Figures show that UK
consumers spent an estimated £141.33 billion online last year – up by a massive 34.7% on the previous year.
Among the most popular items are furniture and homeware (28%), white and brown goods (18%) and sports equipment (17%).
And although the figures are since reported to have dipped very slightly – with a 6.3% decline – the continued upward trend means e-commerce sales are expected to bounce back to 2020 levels within the next two years.
It is a fiercely competitive marketplace and one which demands the ultimate in customer service from purchase through to delivery.
Indeed, the importance of a quality delivery service was heightened more than ever when the first lockdown forced businesses to shut up shop and ramp up their online offering.
Many businesses were caught out by the swift onset of the pandemic and the resulting effect on trade.
Samuel Scott, Head of Sales & Marketing at Panther, said:
“When you take into account that with most online transactions, the only point of physical contact a purchaser has is with the delivery driver, it is vital that the customer receives the ultimate in customer service.
“It is this final element of the transaction that the customer will remember and will have a long-lasting impact on whether they shop with that retailer again.
“Retailers, therefore, need to focus their attention on the service offering so as to ensure they remain ahead of the game.”
Panther’s flexible offering has also been a popular selling point amongst its customers. Whether a consumer is working from
home or has returned to work necessitating a seven-day-a-week service, and pre-10am and post-6pm delivery slots, the company has a service to meet their needs.
Flexible, competitive service
Among Panther’s most recent contract wins was leading British pet supplies retailer Pets At Home. As part of the contract the company is delivering larger items such as rabbit hutches and dog cages.
Panther’s seven-day-a-week delivery service allows clients to offer end customers a flexible, competitive service. All deliveries are collected out of Pets At Home’s distribution centre in Swan Valley, Northampton, ready for the next morning.
Samuel Scott added:
“Pets at Home is one of the UK’s best known and respected brands in the pet and retail space and we are delighted to
assist in scaling their delivery capabilities following the reliance on online shopping.“We see ourselves as an extension to its customer service offering and look forward to helping Pets at Home provide a flexible and professional delivery service to its customers.”
Sam Farhall, Head of Digital Operations at Pets At Home, said:
“We are always looking at ways we can improve our customer offer and we’re pleased to be working with Panther to offer their
specialist two-person delivery service, which will provide a new and easy option for customers who purchase our larger products.”
Contact Panther Logistics on 01604 215000 or click here.
