Sendle launches Print In-Store to aid small businesses

Sendle, a prominent courier service in Australia, has introduced a new feature called Print In-Store, aimed at making shipping more accessible. This development comes as part of the company's ongoing efforts to support small businesses and personal shippers by allowing them to print labels and organise returns at nearly 100 locations nationwide.

Laura Hill, Managing Director of Sendle Australia, said, "Micro-businesses and personal senders now make up a significant portion of the eCommerce market, and we know that many of them don't have access to a printer for shipping labels. Print In-Store is all about opening up and providing more options for small businesses and consumers, no matter where they are or what size they are, so that shipping is as simple and convenient as possible."

The new service is available across various metro and urban locations, including Zillmere in Queensland, Mt Annan in New South Wales, Glen Iris in Victoria, Port Adelaide, and Embleton in Western Australia. The feature is integrated with Sendle's existing network of HUBBED drop-off points.

Vestiaire Collective, a prominent platform for pre-owned fashion, has become the first partner to adopt the Print In-Store feature. The partnership is geared towards easing the entry barriers for individuals who wish to engage in the second-hand market but do not have access to printing facilities at home. The second-hand items economy in Australia is predicted to grow from its current valuation of over AUD $60 billion to approximately AUD $90 billion by the end of the decade.

Speaking on the partnership, Hill stated, "We're proud of our partnership with Vestiaire Collective, and our new Print In-Store feature will provide greater access to sustainable shipping solutions for their customers. As the C2C [consumer-to-consumer] marketplace continues to grow, we are providing more simple and seamless shipping experiences to help shoppers embrace the resale fashion market."

Hill also discussed the growing trend among small businesses to leverage multiple marketplaces for selling products. According to Sendle's mid-year SMB Health Check, a notable number of SMBs (small and medium-sized businesses) are utilising platforms such as eBay and Vestiaire Collective. These platforms have played a crucial role in enabling personal senders and micro-businesses to participate actively in the eCommerce sector.

The Print-in-Store process is straightforward. Senders need to book the order and select the "I'll drop it off" option. Upon confirmation, the parcel's tracking page will display a QR code, which can be used to print the shipping label at a designated HUBBED location. Staff at these locations will then affix the labels to the parcels. Users can check the availability of Print-in-Store through Sendle's drop-off map.

"Print In-Store is the latest example of how Sendle is listening to small business customers and rolling out shipping solutions they want and need. Following the trials, we've seen strong uptake among customers already and expect this to grow in the next 12 months," Hill concluded.