At one time, their assortment consisted mostly of propane bottles, lottery tickets and mix-it-yourself candy.
And many probably also remember the time when you went to the kiosk to rent DVD movies and what goes with it.
But today, most customers come to Nærkøb in Nørresundby for something completely different.
Packages. In abundance.
Unlike before, when the store’s shelves were filled once a day, today several vans arrive during the day.
Because as online shopping grows, the need for parcel shops has grown.
And it has especially gained momentum with the rise of online platforms such as Zalando, Shein, Temu and Vinted, where favorable prices have unleashed consumers’ unbridled desire to buy like never before.
Kiosk owners such as Kim Sjørup and Anders Hesselvang benefit from this. For them, it is a crucial source of income.
But how good a business is it to run a parcel shop?
Kim Sjørup (left) and Anders Hesselvang (right) got to know each other through their previous work in the then AaB fan shop in Aalborg. Photo: Bo Lehm
Prerequisite for survival
A kiosk without packages has become a rare sight. And there is a reason for that.
Because according to Jesper Lundberg, kiosk owner and chairman of the Nærbutikkernes Nationalsforening, it has become a lifeline for the small businesses.
– You can say without blinking that over 50 percent of all kiosks are dependent on parcel shops. It is the most important income we have, he says.
They recognize that assessment at Nærkøb in Nørresundby.
– It is almost a prerequisite for running a kiosk today. There aren’t many who don’t also have a package shop, says co-owner Kim Sjørup.
The owners of Nærkøb in Nørresundby receive approximately four kroner for each package they deliver.
However, the number may vary depending on the package quantity, company and whether it is a return package.
Typically, these are tiered models, where the rate can rise to up to eight kroner per pack, after a certain amount has been exceeded, says Jesper Lundberg from the National Association of Small Shops.
It has been a good 12 years since Nærkøb in Nørresundby became a parcel shop. But back then it wasn’t a necessity at all.
Because in the beginning they only received from GLS, and on a good day five packages would come through the door. Today, the kiosk receives a total of up to 300 packages daily from four different companies.
– Before we had one shelf for parcels. Now we have twenty racks, says Kim Sjørup.
Up to 45 parcels from China alone enter local shops in Nørresundby every day. Photo: Bo Lehm
The increasing dependence on parcel shops is also evident with the delivery companies.
According to Lars Balsby, sales director at DAO, the company is currently associated with 1,500 staffed parcel shops, while that number was 1,300 in 2023 and just 1,100 the year before.
– And right now we just see a trend with more online shopping at both Danish and foreign websites, which is helping to increase volume, he says.
It’s not about the four kroner
Emerging platforms such as Temu and Shein, and the flow of consumption they bring, have come under heavy criticism for being subject to different terms than their European counterparts. And therefore accused of selling products which are both harmful to the environment and health – at rock bottom prices.
For the two kiosk owners Kim Sjørup and Anders Hesselvang, however, the most important thing is that the store can run around.
– We really don’t care where the package comes from. We just have to hand it over, says Kim Sjørup.
But as a delivery point, it’s not so much about the income itself from processing a package, but rather about getting customers into the store.
– It’s not the four kroner you can live on. It takes time to receive the package, scan it, put a number on it and then sort it on the shelves. And then there is the whole procedure when the customer picks it up, he elaborates.
– So we hope that they also buy something along the way, says Anders Hesselvang.
Because as soon as the last four digits of the package number are entered, the vital moments start while the package is picked up in the back room.
And if the temptation succumbs to impatience and there is a bag of chips or a chocolate bar on the counter when the clerk returns, it is a success.
According to Kim Sjørup, it is the “additional sales” that are decisive.
– If none of them also bought something along the way, there was no point in being a parcel shop.
2024-11-10 04:47:00
#packages #kiosk #survive #earn
The increase in package deliveries has transformed local kiosks into vital hubs for communities, suggesting a significant shift in consumer behavior. This trend, highlighted by Kim Sjørup and Jesper Lundberg, illustrates how kiosks have adapted to the growing demand for parcel services, with many relying on this income stream for survival.
At Nærkøb in Nørresundby, for example, the role of the parcel shop has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Initially reliant on only a few packages per day, the kiosk now processes up to 300 packages daily from various logistics companies. This adaptability underscores the changing retail landscape and the necessity for small businesses to innovate in response to market demands.
While the financial compensation for each package may seem modest — approximately four to eight kroner depending on the volume — the cumulative effect can substantially support a kiosk’s revenue. The figures shared by Jesper Lundberg emphasize the essential role that these package services play, with over 50% of kiosks now dependent on them to remain viable. As online shopping continues to grow, the reliance on local parcel shops looks set to increase further, suggesting that these businesses will need to continually adapt to meet consumer needs.
the survival of small kiosks is increasingly tied to their ability to act as parcel distribution points. This evolution reflects broader trends in consumer behavior and presents both challenges and opportunities for small business owners in the retail sector.