Parcel Connect Gears Up for Boom in Online Shopping

Fastway has announced it is in the process of establishing its online delivery service, Parcel Connect, as a separate stand-alone business. The move comes as the company seeks to build its Parcel Connect brand as a personalised delivery service to support online shoppers and lifestyle consumers, as it gears up for the expected surge in online shopping and delivery options for consumers this peak season. Online sales in Ireland reached €4.6bn in 2013 and are forecast to reach €5.5bn this year.    

Having launched with only 300 stores last year, the network has grown substantially and now has over 1,000 Payzone agents offering Parcel Connect services, throughout every county in Ireland. The business, which has already handled over 250,000 parcels since launch last year, expects volumes to double over the next 12 months.

One of the key features of their new mobile optimised website is the ability for customers to use the Parcel Connect Virtual Address service. By registering for this service, customers can avail of free UK delivery into Parcel Connect’s Northern Ireland depot address and pay the lower cost of having parcels delivered to the local Payzone store. 

Commenting on these latest announcements and plans, Danny Hughes, CEO at Parcel Connect, said: “Ireland isn’t moving online, it has already moved. Consumers and traders alike are crafting methods of shopping and selling online in ways that revolve around their lifestyles and needs. But frustrations still remain, and that’s why we’re so excited about supporting these customers with innovative new services that give complete flexibility, simplicity and peace of mind at a cost effective price. Our relentless commitment to providing the perfect online experience, together with the partnerships we have forged with Payzone and online retailer brands such as Littlewoods Ireland, ASOS and MissGuided is proving to be a winning combination that will see Parcel Connect become an inherent part of Irish people’s everyday lives.”

Speaking on behalf of Payzone, Jim Deignan, managing director said: “The Parcel Connect service was born from a need to reduce the barriers for consumers around missed home deliveries and problematic costly returns. Leveraging the local Payzone retail network, consumers now have a more convenient, safe, reliable and cost effective delivery option to support their online shopping experiences. We look forward to significantly increasing the volume of transactions across our network throughout the country by end of 2015, supporting our local communities in towns, cities and rural locations and working with Parcel Connect to build out the portfolio of retail brands that sign up to this latest online delivery platform.”

Launched at the end of 2013, Parcel Connect allows online shoppers and small businesses to send, collect and return parcels via local Payzone branded convenience stores nationwide. Customers can find their nearest Parcel Connect / Payzone outlet by logging on to www.parcelconnect.ie