CitySprint, the UK’s largest privately owned SameDay Distribution company, has won a Best Business Award for ‘Best Innovation’ in relation to its Retail SameDay Courier service, which is currently changing the face of online retail by offering customers more control and flexibility over their deliveries. CitySprint’s unique national SameDay Delivery network can reach 80% of mainland UK within 60minutes (source: Crimson & Co.) offering retailers advanced, transparent and flexible home delivery options including evening delivery solutions.

The Best Business Awards aim to highlight and reward excellence across the private and public sectors. For the ‘Best Innovation’ category, the Best Business Award judges were looking for organisations that have either identified new products or services and successfully brought them to market, or adapted an existing product for a new market.

CitySprint was able to meet the critera for the ‘Best Innovation’ award because it has successfully adapted its traditional courier service offering for use in the retail sector.

CitySprint recognised the gap in the market for same day retail delivery and has invested considerable time and energy in the development of this solution which means it is the only courier partner able to offer such a comprehensive solution. CitySprint’s Retail solution enables retailers to offer their customers flexible and innovative home delivery solutions, including SameDay and evening deliveries, 7 days a week (including bank holidays), for deliveries in and around major conurbations throughout the UK. CitySprint launched the service with online retailer ASOS.com and is now working with a number of other retailers, including  House Of Fraser, MyWardrobe.com and also Aurora Fashions, with their brands such as Karen Millen and Coast, who are all keen to offer their customers this leading edge delivery choice.

Many other courier and logistics companies have attempted to offer such a service to the retail industry but have, for a number of reasons, failed. CitySprint has been able to offer such a solution for a variety of reasons including its unique infrastructure of 31 ServiceCentres across the UK, expansive fleet of over 1600 couriers nationwide, investment in leading edge technology and dedicated retail support team.

CitySprint believes that its UK SameDay reach is second to none.  Crimson & Co, the UK’s leading end-to-end supply chain consultancy, completed a complex analysis which has confirmed the following:

• 51.8% of the UK population is located within 30 minutes from CitySprint’s ServiceCentres

• 71.8% of the UK population is located within 45 minutes from CitySprint’s ServiceCentres

• 81.3% of the UK population is located within 60 minutes from CitySprint’s ServiceCentres

Commenting on the ‘Best Innovation’ award to CitySprint, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said: “CitySprint is changing the face of online retail by significantly improving the service to customers with faster, more efficient delivery.  The company has done more than most to bring online retail fully up to speed with traditional High Street shopping by offering a service, seven days a week including bank holidays, for deliveries in and around major towns and cities.  By establishing an extensive distribution network and use of an innovative tracking system, CitySprint has succeeded where many others have previously failed. The advances they have introduced are a great example of best innovation making a step change in service for customers.”

For more information about CitySprint’s retail services, visit www.citysprint.co.uk/retail