Clipper Logistics has signed a new contract with Shop Direct, operator of digital retail brands Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com, to provide returns management and pre-retail services.
The initial contract is for a term of five years and will commence on July 1, 2019 with the employment of approximately 400 Shop Direct personnel. Clipper will provide a comprehensive global returns management and pre-retail solution for Shop Direct, incorporating Clipper’s Boomerang and Technical Services Division value-added services.
The operation will range across 1,800 brands from fashion to housewares to electronics and will initially continue to be housed at the existing Shop Direct facility at Raven Mill premises near Oldham, Greater Manchester. The premises consist of 215,000 sq ft and will be leased to Clipper, and Shop Direct personnel based at the Raven Mill site will transfer to Clipper Logistics’ employment under TUPE. The Clipper operation at Raven Mill will become a multi-user returns and pre-retail support centre operating seven days a week. Clipper is planning to introduce other retail customers to the Raven Mill site.
Clipper Logistics will operate returns and pre-retail services on behalf of Shop Direct at the Raven Mill site until these activities migrate to Shop Direct’s new East Midlands fulfilment centre in 2021.
Further to that Clipper plans longer-term expansion of operations at Raven Mill. Additionally, a number of Shop Direct’s specialist returns management services will transfer to Clipper’s returns site at Swadlincote in Derbyshire, where Clipper will continue to provide Shop Direct with pre-retail and enhanced returns processing capabilities.
Source: Clipper Logistics
