InPost to expand Locker Shop concept across London and Manchester
European parcel delivery group InPost has announced the roll out of its Locker Shop concept to new locations across London and Manchester following a successful trial in Camden, as the firm continues its rapid expansion across the UK.
Locker Shops are essentially dedicated stores which house a large number of locker compartments. In April this year, InPost deployed its first Locker Shop in Camden, London, as part of a pilot programme.
It was a “huge hit” with London locals, according to the firm, which is now bringing the concept to more “hyper urban areas” where there is significant demand for its lockers, providing greater access to its parcel locker network.
New locations
Initially, the new locations include Liverpool Street and London Bridge in London, which will open in 2024. Next year further locations including in London and Manchester will be opened, as part of a strategic roll out. Full details of further InPost Locker Shop locations will soon be announced, the company noted.
The new shops will feature InPost’s eye-catching yellow and black branding with localised design elements to further engage with local consumers.
“The results of our Camden trial showed us that consumers love our InPost Locker Shops,” said Neil Kuschel, CEO of InPost UK. “We know that locker lovers are seeking convenience – that’s the number one reason they’re choosing out-of-home delivery – and what’s more convenient than having a store in your neighbourhood?
“We are committed to making parcel collection and returns as simple as possible for our customers. By expanding our network of Locker Shop locations to more urban areas, even more consumers will now be able to pop in and pick up or drop off their parcels with ease, taking us one step closer to our goal of ensuring every consumer has access to an InPost Locker,” Kuschel added.
InPost in the UK
In the UK, InPost is leading the locker revolution as more and more people choose out-of-home delivery options. Following rapid expansion in recent years, InPost revealed in its Q3 results that it now has 11,800 OOH points, including 8,400 locker machines, in its UK network, representing a strong 72% year-on-year growth.
The UK market also drove growth overall at the InPost group, which is active in the UK, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands with more than 43,000 APMs and over 35,000 PUDO points.
In Q3 2024, UK parcel volumes accelerated significantly, growing by 88% year-on-year to reach 25.1 million. The C2C segment remains the largest contributor to volume in the UK, driving most of the growth, InPost noted. Meanwhile, revenue in the UK market doubled YoY to PLN 253.8 million in Q3 2024.
According to Rafał Brzoska, Founder and CEO of InPost Group, growth in the UK is being driven by its rapid expansion, logistics improvements and recent partnerships, including a new Locker-to-Door service with Yodel, the acquisition of Menzies and the launch of the Collect direct-to-locker service.
Overall, in Q3 2024, the InPost group increased volumes by 25% to 262.5 million items and revenues by 22.6% to PLN 2,535 million. Profits also improved significantly, with operating profit (EBIT) rising to PLN 413.7 million from PLN 331.5 million and net profit increasing slightly to PLN 256 million from PLN 250.4 million in Q3, 2023.
