Home delivery for Thorn?
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
PARTS DELIVERIES direct to service engineers' homes are being considered by electrical giant Thorn EMI to improve efficiency and cut distribution costs. The company is sounding out parcels carriers about cost.
The move is indicative of a growing demand for deliveries to private addresses, according to Geoff Walker, deputy group transport co-ordinator.
He was speaking at a well-attended sales conference for small electrical appliance manufacturers held in London this month by Lex Wilkinson.
Mr Walker said the home delivery market provided an opportunity for small companies with self-employed drivers.
He criticised established parcels carriers for their unwillingness to deliver to private addresses. "We find ourselves negotiating with the Post Office knowing we really don't have anyone else."
Retail demand for consumer electronics indicated that small high street stores appeared to be making something of a comeback against major retailers.
Lex Wilkinson managing director Colin Millbanks said that his company was looking at home deliveries, but he was not very enthusiastic about the market at present. Carriers' customers are not prepared to pay an economic rate, he said, particularly on low value goods. How much would kettle makers be prepared to pay for home delivery? he asked.
The strongest demand for home delivery comes from mail order companies, who are constantly seeking ways to reduce the cost of deliveries. Littlewoods, one of the largest mail order companies, has recently sought traffic from other manufacturers to put on its delivery vans.
The scope for mail order is demonstrated by Grants of Dornoch, in the North of Scotland. It uses Royal Mail Datapost to deliver prime meats to private addresses, as an extension of its contract for deliveries to restaurants.
Donald Grant told CM that he supplied high quality beef, lamb and pork to Harrods and top rest a u ra nts, and had started supplying home addresses last October. He is "absolutely delighted" with demand. Typical consignments are between 10 and 20 lb, although 5 lb packs are sent, he said.