Zalando and Poste Italiane have announced the introduction of in-store returns, allowing Zalando shoppers to take advantage of their omnichannel presence in Italy.
The move will see Zalando merchants offering their customers the ability to return their unwanted items to their nearest Poste Italiane store.
Zalando and Poste Italiane partnership will see Zalando customers returning their parcels to Italy’s largest postal, logistics and payment services group, Poste Italiane. Their physical coverage includes more than 12,000 certified Poste Italiane post offices and the network Punto Poste, consisting of over 3,000 tobacconists and affiliated stores and 350 lockers throughout the country.
Delivering on customers’ demands
The new returns strategy is designed to meet the Italian shoppers’ demands. Seven out of ten Italian online shoppers consider the ease of returns as a key factor for online shopping, says a study conducted by Netcomm.
Zalando have introduced a home pick-up option which sees couriers collecting shoppers’ returns from their preferred address. Zalando say that they’re continuing to look for solutions to reduce the barriers to online shopping and create a unique experience for their customers, adapting to their different and increasingly dynamic lifestyles. They say that the new service has already reached an average adoption rate of more than 50% in other countries, where Zalando offers the option.
Italy as a key market
Italy remains a key market for Zalando. The marketplace are continuously developing new services to stay on top of customers’ expectations. This includes Zalando’s introduction of two fulfilment centres in Italy, which allows them to deliver goods faster to Italian and Southern European customers.
