Market Trends

With large container ships unable to unload at Felixstowe, thousands of Christmas gifts are sailing into the sunset, warns ParcelHero. A Dunkirk-style flotilla of smaller ships from Europe might just save the day. The home delivery expert ParcelHero says the next two weeks are critical for retailers stocking their warehouses for Christmas, but a massive bottleneck at Felixstowe means container ships loaded with toys and gifts are now sailing away to EU ports. ParcelHero’s Head…

In today’s digital age, the demand for convenience has never been greater. Consumers can buy products and services online at the click of a button, with modern delivery solutions such as same-day delivery making it even more appealing and changing the way we shop based around convenience. The need for convenience The promise of something turning up on your doorstep on the same day is attractive to the consumer: it can make their life easier,…

But 48% are worried that gifts ordered from other countries will arrive too late Over half of online shoppers1 (55%) around the world reveal that they are open to the idea of buying gifts for Christmas, New Year, and other holidays from other countries, a new survey finds. However, nearly half of those questioned (48%)2 are concerned that cross-border gift purchases will not arrive in time. The research, commissioned by Logistyx Technologies, the leader in…

Today’s ONS Business Insights report paints a bleak picture, says the delivery expert ParcelHero. 12.5% of retailers say they have been unable to get key products and 20% of transport companies have suspended business. New UK trade figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are extremely concerning, says the home delivery expert ParcelHero. They reveal widespread shortages for retailers and tumbling profit margins for transport companies, as the Brexit-created driver shortage bites…

The Government is to combine the rigid and articulated HGV driving tests and farm out vital testing to third parties. This lowering of standards is a knee-jerk reaction to the driver shortage caused by Brexit, says ParcelHero. In an effort to get more truck drivers on the road, the Government has announced plans to merge the separate tests for driving rigid and articulated trucks, and axe reversing exercises and uncoupling and recoupling from the main…

It’s no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on many different industries and has caused multiple businesses to face difficult challenges. As we start to emerge from the other side, there are still some industries that are yet to return to normal proceedings – the logistics and shipping industry being one of them. With that said, some shipping businesses have been able to adapt their services to work through these challenges…

The end of Covid restrictions was supposed to boost July’s retail sales, but the spreading Delta variant drove anxious shoppers back into their homes. ParcelHero warned last month that two-thirds of shoppers did not want to see such a drastic end to protective measures. The home delivery expert ParcelHero says it warned the Government as early as 9 July that ‘Freedom Day’ plans to relax Covid measures would backfire. Now the latest Office for National…

Recipe box Gousto launches first of its kind food redistribution scheme with DPD and FareShare Initiative designed to scale with Gousto’s expansion, helping eliminate waste and feed those in need  In a first for the meal kit category, recipe box Gousto has launched a pioneering scheme with courier partner DPD, to combat food waste within the supply chain. The scheme sees DPD drivers facilitate the rerouting of any failed box deliveries to the surplus food…

Sales of subscription boxes soar as lockdown drives desire for convenient home deliveries of essential items Food and drink subscription boxes have soared in popularity in the wake of the pandemic and associated lockdowns in the UK. Over a quarter (26%) of UK shoppers are now signed up to a food and drink subscription box service where customers receive curated ingredients and recipes. Food and drink subscription boxes, as well recipe box subscription services, witnessed…

Covid has changed the way we work, prompting calls for a four-day working week. The e-commerce expert ParcelHero says that the resulting leisure time would result in consumers spending an extra £58bn on the High Street. It is calling on the Government to seize the moment to introduce permanent three-day weekends. The e-commerce expert ParcelHero is urging the Government to seriously consider switching to a four-day working week as soon as possible. This would give…