DPD Germany is piloting a self-operated DPD Store in Friedrichshain, Berlin that is to be a part micro-depot and customer pick-up/drop-off/try-on point. Up until now the delivery company has franchised out its operations to other companies such as convenience stores and grocery stores.

Customers will be able to try on clothes bought from e-commerce outlets and decide whether they will accept them at the store. If they don’t like them they can return them immediately.

At the same time, the DPD Store takes packaging cardboard from customers for recycling. Re-use is preferred so the store encourages customers sending parcels to use this cardboard for packaging.

“We have all come to appreciate the benefits of online shopping, but we also know the challenges – especially when it comes to taking delivery of parcels, returning goods and dealing with all the boxes and packaging, not to mention the delivery traffic in city centres. This is exactly where we come in with our DPD Store by creating a completely new brand and shopping experience. At the same time we are offering an innovative future concept for sustainable mail order operations,” states Eric Malitzke, CEO of DPD Germany.

At the same time the DPD Store in Berlin is a micro-depot with a number of e-cargo-bikes that are charged overnight at the store. Couriers operate out of the store, taking parcels on final mile delivery runs and also collecting parcels for delivery through the DPD Germany network. The aim is to help reduce the amount of traffic congestion in the area.

Should this model be a success, there are plans to expand the DPD Store chain across Germany.