The life of online shopping fans could be about to get a whole lot easier as Australia Post introduces a major change in one city to cater for their needs.
With the rise in e-commerce, Australia Post plans to trial change rooms in its stores so shoppers can try on their wares and return any items that don’t fit straight away – saving them from having to go home, see if they fit, and then return to the post office if they don’t.
The experiment is being rolled out in the NSW town of Orange, in the Central Tablelands, and if it’s a hit, could expand to other stores across Australia.
Australia Post Parcel, Post and e-commerce services executive general manager Gary Starr announced that the company was testing new concepts, after earlier this year the postal giant revealed it is headed for a financial loss for the first time in eight years.
That includes losing $189.7 million from its non-profitable letter sending arm.
“We’re testing a whole lot of new concepts,” Mr Starr told The Herald Sun.
Those concepts included the change room initiative as well as a small business showcase.
“For example, there’s a change room, so I can order online and have it delivered to that community hub post, try it on and if it’s great, I can take it home, if not, then I can hand it straight back over the counter and it goes back to the retailer and I can get my money back quicker,” Mr Starr said.
The community hub is also set to be a way to spruik the wares of local businesses.
“It gives them an offline opportunity that they just don’t have,” he said.
Australia Post is trying to switch its focus to champion small businesses.
A report released earlier this year said: “Post offices will have a distinct focus on supporting businesses, particularly local small businesses, by offering dedicated products and services and a new platform to sell their own products direct to consumers.”
In February, Australia Post warned in a half-yearly revenue update that the specific act of sending letters was wreaking an “unstoppable decline” on the business.
Australia Post Group’s revenue dropped down to $4.69 billion for the six months up to December 31, 2022.
While that sounds like a lot, that number actually saw a 2.4 per cent downturn compared to the same period the previous year.
And despite the staggering revenue, most of it went into operating costs, with Australia Post recording a $23.6 million profit before tax.
That’s down 88 per cent from the year before, when the company raked in profits of $199.8 million.
Australia Post hasn’t recorded a full financial year loss since 2015, but could post one this financial year.