Press enquiries: Kerrie Colford, Group Communications & PR Manager
Phone: 01793 563516 Email: media@connectgroupplc.com
15 October 2014
Pass My Parcel will provide a speedy, efficient and flexible parcel service for consumers who want a quick and convenient way of collecting their parcel. This new service will see Smiths News distribute parcels on behalf of Amazon, to its consumers through a network of independent retailers operating as parcel shops.
The new venture sees Smiths News leverage its existing distribution and logistics expertise and provide a market-leading proposition unlike any other offering in the parcel market today. Initially operating as a ‘click and collect’ service, Pass My Parcel operates on a unique and innovative twice-daily distribution model to participating independent retail outlets, seven days a week, 364 days a year. This premium service allows
Amazon to unlock deliveries to its customers within 12-hours after placing an order, across the same day and next day delivery time frames.
With Pass My Parcel offering two time sensitive deliveries per day, (single wave on a Sundays), customers are offered a convenient and secure way to pick up their parcels and control over when and where they want to pick up their parcels.
Pass My Parcel goes live with Amazon as its launch client and, during Autumn 2014, will have up to 1,000 parcelshops, in the Pass My Parcel network, serviced from 12 Smiths News distribution centres.
Jonathan Bunting, Managing Director, Connect News & Media said:
“We are delighted with the progress we have made on our diversification strategy over the last 12 months.
We have worked closely with Amazon to create Pass My Parcel, and we are excited about the future potential of this business.”
“We believe that Pass My Parcel will also help our retail customers grow their own business by offering an important new service to the communities they serve.”
Retailers who would like more information on Pass My Parcel can call: 0845 1240255.
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About Connect Group PLC:
Connect Group PLC is a leading specialist distributor operating in large and diverse markets. The Group has three separate

divisions, connecting suppliers to customers in an efficient, knowledgeable and service oriented way:
Connect News & Media – encompassing: Smiths News, the UK’s largest news wholesaling business with an approximate 55% market share, distributing newspapers and magazines on behalf of all the major national publishers as well as a large number of regional publishers. Smiths News serves approximately 30,000 customers across England and Wales, supplying large general retailers as well as smaller independent newsagents; and Dawson Media Direct, an international media direct business supplying newspapers, magazines and inflight entertainment technology and content to over 80 airlines in 50 Countries.
Connect Books – combining a number of recognised brands in print and digital bookselling, including Bertrams, Dawson Books and Wordery. A leading distributor of physical and digital books, the division serves over 8,200 customers in approximately 100 countries, with over 200,000 in stock titles and access to over a further 7 million consumer and 20 million academic titles.
Connect Education & Care - a leading independent supplier of consumables through The Consortium and West Mercia Supplies with an approximate 5% market share. The division serves over 30,000 customers with an extensive range of over 40,000 products across a branded, own brand and value range, including stationery, arts and craft and cleaning.
For more information, visit: www.connectgroupplc.com
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