Germany's first DPD Store opens in Berlin: its innovative concept makes online shopping more sustainable and even more convenient

 

• First company-owned DPD Store with extensive additional services

• Recycling point offers free cardboard boxes for parcel shippers

• Simultaneous use as a micro-depot for deliveries by cargo bike

 

In Berlin's Friedrichshain district DPD Germany is opening a new chapter for mail order purchases and making online shopping more sustainable and even more convenient. Consumers located in the area can have their orders sent directly to the first DPD Store in Germany, try on and try out their purchases there in a relaxed atmosphere, and conveniently send off any returns on the spot right away. Cardboard boxes that are no longer needed are given a new lease of life by being passed on free of charge. The shop also functions as a micro-depot from which parcels are delivered to the neighbourhood by electric cargo bike.

 

"We have all come to appreciate the benefits of online shopping, but we also know the challenges - especially when it comes to taking delivery of parcels, returning goods and dealing with all the boxes and packaging, not to mention the delivery traffic in city centres. This is exactly where we come in with our DPD Store by creating a completely new brand and shopping experience. At the same time we are offering an innovative future concept for sustainable mail order operations,"

states Eric Malitzke, CEO of DPD Germany.

The DPD Store is clearly focused on providing a feel-good atmosphere and customer guidance: designed with lots of wood and natural materials, the bright and friendly interior invites visitors to linger and enjoy a cup of fair trade coffee at the DPD coffee bar. Optimally lit changing rooms with large mirrors are available for trying on items of clothing, while their design as a jungle or 3D infinity room provides the perfect backdrop for a selfie.

Returns are accepted on the spot directly by the DPD Store staff, as are used and re-usable boxes and packaging materials. These are given a second life at the "Verwert-Bar" recycling point. In line with the principle of re-using instead of recycling, they are passed on free of charge to customers who want to send a parcel of their own. The required parcel label can also be conveniently created and printed out at the self-service terminal.

 

Sustainable partnerships for online bookable storage units and culinary delights

The DPD Store focuses squarely on sustainable partnerships: the self-storage unit provider Storebox has rented part of the shop space and offers online bookable storage spaces of varying sizes. Either for a short period of time or permanently, anyone interested can use these to store items that take up too much space at home or are only needed on an occasional basis.

The culinary programme also focuses on sustainability: in addition to fair trade coffee the menu includes snacks in organic quality, including "rescued" food and popcorn.

 

Part of green city logistics

The DPD store in Friedrichshain also functions as a micro-depot and is therefore a component of green city logistics, which aims to reduce the volume of cars and delivery traffic in inner cities. A number of e-cargo bikes from the manufacturer ONO are stationed at the back of the store, where they are charged and loaded with parcels on the spot. When the micro-depot goes into operation, initially around 300 parcels per day will be delivered locally emission-free to customers who have not chosen to have their parcels delivered to the parcel shop area of the DPD Store.

With this self-operated store DPD Germany is launching a pilot project which will serve as a model for further shops of this kind: in the long term the concept is to be implemented throughout Germany.

 

The DPD Store is located at Frankfurter Allee 31, 10247 Berlin, and is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 - 20:00 hrs and on Saturdays from 08:00 - 14:00 hrs.

 

 

About DPD Germany

DPD Germany is part of DPDgroup, the largest international parcel delivery network in Europe. Throughout Germany DPD has 79 depots and 7,500 Pickup parcelshops. A workforce of 9,500 and 13,000 delivery drivers are in daily operation on behalf of the company’s customers. Every year the No. 2 on the German parcels market ships more than 400 million parcels – providing carbon-neutral transport operations at no additional cost to the customer. With a number of initiatives for sustainable parcel delivery DPD is demonstrating, particularly in city centres, how parcel shipping can be made environmentally friendly and emission-free at the local level.

Through innovative technology, local knowledge and dedicated customer care, DPD provides the best possible experience for both shippers and shoppers. DPD’s industry-leading Predict service is setting a new standard for keeping customers closely in touch with their delivery, with real time tracking of their delivery, a one-hour delivery window and a range of options for redirecting parcels. In recognition of this innovation DPD Germany received several awards like the Digital Transformation Award or the UX Design Award.

As part of DPDgroup, DPD Germany has access to over 70,000 Pickup points worldwide, and delivers to 230 countries and territories across the globe. DPDgroup’s 120,000 delivery experts work together to deliver more than 8.4 million parcels each day. The sole shareholder in DPD is GeoPost, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Le Groupe La Poste. GeoPost posted sales of €14,7 billion in the year 2021.