Yodel enters consumer to consumer parcels market with launch of YodelDirect
The launch of YodelDirect means that consumers and small business owners are now able to arrange for a Yodel driver to collect one or more parcels from their home or office for delivery to friends, family or businesses across the UK.
It comes in response to consumer demand for direct access to the collection services of the parcel company, which delivers over 150 million parcels per year and has a relationship with 80 per cent of the UK's top retailers. Until now the service has only been available to businesses and been subject to a minimum annual parcel volume.
To celebrate the launch of YodelDirect, the company is renaming its four year sponsorship of the coveted Tour of Britain sprints jersey as the 'YodelDirect Sprints'.
Dick Stead, Executive Chairman of Yodel, said: "We are very excited to launch a direct consumer collection and delivery service in response to public demand. While many people, particularly online shoppers, may be familiar with receiving parcels via Yodel, this is the first time that they can directly access our service to send parcels themselves.
"The launch of YodelDirect opens up a whole new market and makes Yodel's services available not just to consumers wanting to send a birthday present, but also to online marketplace sellers, entrepreneurs and small businesses. It's a hassle-free alternative for busy people who don't have time to wait in a Post Office queue."
Yodel's simple pricing structure avoids the confusion of some competitors' services and allows senders of one or more parcels to benefit from a discount, which increases with the number of packages being collected at any one time.
Collections can be booked online, without the need to set up an account, at yodeldirect.co.uk. Senders follow a few simple steps and the website generates an address label and barcode, to be printed off and attached to the parcel. Orders placed before 10pm will be collected the next working day and the pick-up confirmed by email.
Services include next day and two day delivery, Northern Ireland and 'Highland and Islands' delivery services all of which are fully trackable, including proof of delivery and insurance up to the value of £20 per parcel as standard.