Fashion apparel retail company Edgars, which the Retailability group recently acquired, is bolstering its online shopping services with a click-and-collect offer in partnership with Pargo, a last-mile delivery company.
Shoppers can now place online orders and choose to have their items delivered at one of the 100 Edgars stores that are listed on Pargo or picked up from one of the platform’s more than 3,000 pickup locations, all at a time that works for them and without having to rearrange their schedule or reschedule couriers as is usual with traditional delivery services. By allowing customers to select the day of delivery, the Pargo service puts shoppers back in control.
Edgars Strategic Change Following Acquisition
Two years ago, Edgars’ previous owner Edcon, moved to initiate business rescue proceedings following years of financial troubles. It made the drastic decision to reduce the size of the retail store drastically and to concentrate on establishing itself in regional malls rather than in every mall in other to reduce financial pressures, not long after the retail store was sold.
Since the Retailability group and the owners of Legit acquired Edgars in 2020, the retailer’s online delivery offering has undergone significant strategic change due to the drive.
The click-and-collect feature enables the retailer to reach customers in remote locations where delivery of goods can be difficult, such as rural areas and informal settlements.
Despite the considerable growth in the e-Commerce industry, the retailer claimed that providing delivery services in South Africa can be challenging.
Read Also : Ghanaian Fintech Fido Bags $30M To Expand Across Africa
Ecommerce head at Retailability, Richard Mclennan, mentioned, “Though e-Commerce is growing exponentially in South Africa, delivery can still be tricky for many, especially for those living in regional or outlying areas.”
“It is our aim to deliver on the convenience of online shopping by giving everyone an opportunity to easily get their order no matter where they are in the country. That is why a partnership with Pargo makes so much sense,” he added.
This is one of several key strategic moves the Retailability group has made since acquiring Edgars and seems promising to bring more quality brands to every customer in South Africa.
Partnering With Pargo To Offer Click-and-Connect
Pargo, founded in 2015 by Lars Veul and Derk Hoekert, has partnerships with TFG, Mr. Price, and Cape Union Mart in the retail sector.
In response to South Africa’s delivery challenges and a desire to simplify and improve customer convenience, the duo established the delivery service.
The CEO of Pargo, Veul, stated that “creating access is what we are all about.”
Read Also : Uber Empowers Kenyan Drivers With New Features
“When we first started, South Africans living in outlying areas or those with informal addresses had no feasible, reliable delivery option available to them when shopping online, but with Click & Collect, we’ve been able to solve this critical issue, and we are absolutely thrilled that Edgars has chosen our solution to reach those customers too,” Veul said.
For online retailers looking to diversify their fulfillment strategies with cutting-edge delivery services, Pargo has made some single-integration solutions possible thanks to its tech-focused brand and in-house development team.
About Edgars
Edgars is a Johannesburg-based chain of stores present all over Southern Africa. The department store was previously selling clothing, shoes, homeware & beauty and, under new leadership, has recently shifted its focus to mass-market fashion and beauty products.
The retailer boast of about 200 stores, with multiple locations in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana as well as in the capital cities of eSwatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, and Ghana when it was sold to Durban based, private fashion company Retailability in 2020.
Spanning over (7) decades of existence, the retailer is driven by a passion for both fashion and lifestyle and a clear purpose to make lives better through our Corporate Social Investment Initiatives. Edgar’s vision is to provide our customers an opportunity to experience and enjoy the complete Edgars lifestyle.
