Royal Mail news and archive

UK post-Christmas returns higher this year

As British consumers returned to work last week after the festive break so did 1.51 billion pounds worth of unwanted items back to retailers, according to home delivery specialist Parcelhero. New data from Parcelhero reveals that post-Christmas returns on January 2 soared by 6.8 percent, compared to the same day last year, while Royal Mail...

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Post-Christmas returns: 1.41 billion pounds of items returning to retailers

Brits are expected to return their unwanted and ill-fitting Christmas presents this week, with 1.41 billion pounds worth of items expected to be returned to retailers following the festive season, according to ParcelHero. Royal Mail added that January 2, 2024, dubbed “take back Tuesday,” would see returns of online purchases increasing by 52...

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Royal Mail employees announce new strikes over pay dispute

Postal workers at Royal Mail have announced a further 19 strikes to take place in October and November over an ongoing dispute about pay and working conditions. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) warned that the strike action will have a “dramatic impact” and will take place over peak periods during the holiday build-up, including on Black...

Retail

Royal Mail to temporarily offer free Parcel Collect service

Royal Mail is to offer free parcel pick-ups from customers’ homes in the coming weeks across the UK. From now until 30 May, the company will collect up to five parcels a day for free, on top of postage, from consumers using its Parcel Collect service. The Parcel Collect service was launched back in October 2020 and usually includes a pick-up...

Retail

Royal Mail to trial Sunday parcel deliveries

Royal Mail is to launch a Sunday parcel delivery service for major retailers as the British postal service eyes a seven-day delivery week to cater to customer demand. In the coming weeks, a number of retail brands will trial the new service across the UK, while additional retailers are in talks to join the roll-out. The shift of shoppers to...

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UK returns expected to surge 63 percent on ‘Takeback Monday’

Returns of online purchases in the UK are expected to surge on Takeback Monday, the day that most Brits will return their unwanted and ill-fitting Christmas presents. According to a study commissioned by Royal Mail, returns will increase by 63 percent on the first working day of the year, compared to the average number of return parcels per day...

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Royal Mail to hire 33,000 Christmas workers to cope with surge in online shopping

A surge in online shopping and orders has seen the UK’s Royal Mail anticipate a need to hire 33,000 seasonal workers, an increase of 66 percent. The postal service typically employs between 15,000 and 23,000 extra staff between October and January, however temporary workers will be needed in sorting offices, delivery vans and data centres to...

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Returns jump in July as Brits send back hasty lockdown purchases

The Royal Mail has seen a 25 percent year-on-year increase in the amount of returns made in July as Brits sent back items they splashed out on during lockdown. When breaking it down by areas in the UK making the most returns, St Albans tops the list, followed by Watford, Kingston-upon-Thames, Ilford and South West London. By country, capitals...

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British postal union loses appeal to lift injunction blocking strikes

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have lost an appeal to lift an injunction blocking them from going on strike in the runup to Christmas and the general election. In October, members of the CWU overwhelmingly voted in favour of the strikes, with 97 percent of votes from a 76 percent turnout, following concerns about job security...

Fashion

Royal Mail wins high court injunction to halt Christmas postal strikes

The Royal Mail has won a legal battle to halt potential postal strikes in the run up to Christmas and the general election. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) overwhelmingly voted in favour of the strikes by 97 percent last month, following concerns about job security and employment terms. But the Royal Mail successfully argued for...

Fashion

T-shirts, tops and trainers drive UK online fashion spend

T-shirts, tops and trainers are the most commonly purchased clothing items when it comes to buying online, new research from Royal Mail reveals. A survey of over 502 consumers’ online shopping activity revealed that almost half (46 per cent) purchase t-shirts and tops, while trainers (72 per cent) are the most commonly purchased item of footwear...

Retail

Subscription box market set to reach one billion pounds by 2022

Brands like Stitch Fix, Rent the Runway, Le Tote, and even Amazon, with Amazon Prime Wardrobe, have shown in recent years how subscription services can work in the fashion industry. Now, a new report by Royal Mail suggests that the business model is going from strength to strength, and forecasts that the UK subscription box market will grow to...