Parcelhub launches print distribution service

Parcelhub has added a print distribution service to its offering, enabling printers, publishers, brand managers and advertising agencies to outsource all of their supply chain operations with the company.

It said the service, which was launched at the start of February, can be tailored for businesses that need to outsource storage, shipping and stock management of printed matter such as magazines, brochures, catalogues, POS and direct mail.

“Our range of new services include bulk print mailouts, picking and packing, reworking, warehousing, and printed matter fulfilment,” said Parcelhub managing director Mark Rosenberg.

“Our buying power as part of one of the UK’s biggest independent distribution groups gives us access to the widest range of courier services and the most competitive rates in the market.”

While existing Parcelhub staff will oversee the service, the company said it is experiencing growth and increasing its investment in account management, technology and customer services.

“We work hard to make sure we’re as responsive as possible; building relationships through dedicated account managers who provide one point of contact and understand the clients’ businesses and their needs as fully as possible,” said Rosenberg.

“We have a wealth of experience working with clients to meet their campaign and general distribution needs and we understand that things can shift and alter with very little notice.

“Because of the way we operate and the processes we have in place we are able to react to these changes swiftly, often with little or no impact on the delivery schedule.”

Parcelhub, which was acquired by Whistl last year, said the service is “very scalable” as its Nottingham site has 1,580sqm of space dedicated to fulfilment while the wider Whistl group has a further 33,500sqm of dedicated space. This is not empty space, however, and is run at maximum capacity during peak periods.

“We know how important it is to have a reliable and efficient printed matter distribution partner. Our expertise means that the client can take a back seat if they wish and leave us to manage everything from the completion of print to arrival with the end recipients,” said Rosenberg.

“After all, without a reliable dispatch service, any distribution can lose its desired effect and that has a direct impact on our clients’ bottom line.”

Parcelhub provides a multi-carrier shipping and e-commerce customer service offering for SME e-tailers who cannot access large scale discounts available to large volume mailers.

Last month the business introduced an integrated label option to enable retailers, brands and wholesalers to produce picking sheets, packing slips and shipping labels on a single piece of paper. This followed investment late last year in its first automated parcel sortation machine.

Whistl’s Parcelhub deal followed its purchase of Prism DM last July to become the second acquisition by the business since it underwent a management buyout in 2015 from PostNL, which retains a 17.5% shareholding.

Marlow-headquartered Whistl reported a turnover of just under £603m for 2017, up 1.9% on the previous year. The company’s Doordrop Media division recently launched Leafletdrop, a new self-service digital platform aimed at SMEs.