INTRODUCTION

With UK home shopping accounting for £35billion sales last year and currently growing between 3-4 times faster than retail sales.  It now represents over 13% of total retail expenditure.

Last year over 32 Million people had a Home Delivery and all predictions are that it will continue to grow as consumer trends change, and demands for higher levels of service are required.

The investment required on a local basis to deliver goods quickly to the home is enormous.  Such investment if replicated by e-tailers/retailers on an individual basis in all major towns/cities, to fulfil a 24-hour delivery service, is demanding and risky in a competitive marketplace. As many e-tailers/retailers are now finding out.

Limited time slots and delivery dates offered to consumers are not always flexible enough for the majority of households and can result in a large number of failed deliveries.

An opportunity has arisen for e-stop to provide convenient goods collection service by Internet users and retail shoppers that will overcome the high cost and inflexibility of current Home Deliveries. It will provide a drive–thru collection service with modern, efficient, and friendly centres located on prominent roadside locations.