The courier franchise is ending the year with the future in mind as it puts the finishing touches on its first UK logistics service centre
The 6,000 sq ft site comes in response to the significant increase in demand for PACK & SEND services and offers a broader range of solutions than its retail service centre franchise locations. As the first of six logistics service centres that the team plan to open across the country within the next few years, PACK & SEND’s UK CEO Mike Ryan is thrilled to be nearing the end of the project.
He said: “We’ve spent the past 12 months finding the ideal site and fit-out is nearing completion. We’re pleased to say that this particular location also gives us the space to incorporate our head office too. Our franchise colleagues in Australia have six operational logistics service centres and due to the increase in demand to handle large high-volume shipments, we plan to roll out a similar hub from the south coast up to Scotland.”
The logistics service centre is one of two of PACK & SEND’s bricks and mortar franchise propositions and sits alongside its retail service centre franchise model. Typically 5,500 to 6,000 sq ft, they offer a broader range of customer solutions, including palletised storage, pick-and-pack fulfilment services, sea container consolidation and deconsolidation, providing services to the retail service centres when required.
“Our initial franchisee training that used to start at our Reading retail service centre will move to the new logistics service centre on Milford Road as of January. This move culminates a year of rapid growth for our network as our services were classed as essential during the pandemic’s lockdowns,” added Ryan.
The last six months of 2020 saw sales up by 37 per cent on the previous year and sales enquiries up 60 per cent. With such a platform to build on, 2021 is set to be a bumper year for the franchise network which made a name for itself with major corporates and small businesses alike during the challenges of this pandemic.