TFG partners with Pargo to launch Collect in Store service

Cape Town, 13 June 2017 – In an effort to further democratise the online shopping landscape in South Africa, TFG (The Foschini Group) has partnered with Pargo, South Africa’s leading high tech logistics and fulfilment company, to introduce Collect In Store, a delivery method which gives their online shoppers the option to pick up their parcel at their most convenient TFG store within an 8-day collection period. TFG have conducted research into customer’s online shopping habits and have found that many South Africans are not permitted to receive personal deliveries at their place of work and do not have someone at home during working hours to receive a parcel. To overcome this barrier to online shopping, TFG has entered a partnership with Pargo and is testing Collect In Store in the Western Cape, enabling customers to choose to collect their tfg.co.za purchases at their nearest @home, Foschini, Markham, Sportscene or Totalsports store. Following the test period, TFG plans to expand the Collect In Store service nationally. Pargo provides purpose built software which is combined with their click-and-collect expertise to deliver a market-leading in-store experience at the TFG stores. Lars Veul and Derk Hoekert, directors and co-founders at Pargo say: “An increased number of retailers are offering click-and-collect as a more convenient delivery alternative to meet their customers’ demands.” They add: “Pargo provides the system driven processes and storage location systems to reduce parcel retrieval times while parcels are stored safely, both leading to a seamless customer experience. We have seen a significant increase of satisfied customers using our services in the last years and are excited about this opportunity with TFG”. Globally, in countries with an online shopping culture, online sales trade at approximately 5% of total retail sales, whereas in South Africa this figure is approximately 1%. TFG have been investigating how to increase online shopping sales by analysing the unique needs and challenges faced by South African shoppers. “The democratisation of online shopping is paramount and by not limiting South Africans to one type of delivery method, we are giving people that can’t currently shop online access to do so,” says Robyn Cooke, head of TFG e-ommerce. “People who are at work all day, don’t have someone at home to receive a parcel, and can’t have their shopping delivered to their work can now also access full ranges of products online and in the evenings when they are relaxed at home, or on the go during the daily commute. They can then collect their product from their nearest Markham or Totalsports, for example, during their lunch hour or on their way home.” Collect In Store is being tested in selected @home, Foschini, Markham, Sportscene and Totalsports stores in the Western Cape, before TFG expands the offering nationally.