UK independent parcel carrier Yodel has announced the opening of its first international office. The office, in Chengdu, China, has been opened to capitalise on the growing trend of UK consumers purchasing goods from Chinese sellers.

James Wang has been appointed chairman of Yodel China and will lead a team, building strategic partnerships with major logistics players to help smooth the process for both Chinese retailers and UK consumers.

The new office, strategically sited to benefit from China’s new Silk Road and Rail routes, as well as accessing the traditional South and East China channels, will significantly boost the efficiency of shipping goods to the UK from China. The current system consists of a complex network of retailers, online marketplaces and sub-contractors all trading independently.

Yodel’s new office will streamline the process through the establishment of strategic partnerships directly with China’s online marketplaces, consolidators and leading third-party logistics firms. Its location in Chengdu will ensure that Yodel supports clients across China including in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, which are key transport hubs for electronics merchants. As Yodel’s Hatfield sort centre is just 45 minutes from Heathrow, orders can be scanned and processed quickly once they enter the UK.   

James Wang, chairman of Yodel’s China office, commented: “UK consumers are increasingly buying from China through online marketplaces such as Alibaba, eBay, Amazon and Wish.com. Our new office in China, along with our dedicated team in the UK, will work with our clients to dramatically improve transit times and tracking events. Ultimately, this will boost the customer experience for UK buyers and make the delivery experience feel like it was shipped locally. This will support customer retention and increased order values in the future.

“I look forward to working closely with the UK team and our partners here in China to smooth the transit of goods and returns and help Chinese retailers make the most of the fantastic opportunity that the UK represents.”

Neil Ashworth, chief commercial officer, Yodel, commented: “China represents a huge opportunity for us. As our first overseas office it is an exciting development for both our Yodel and CollectPlus businesses. We now have the right people on the ground, who know the Chinese market, and how we can add value.

“It’s great news for both Chinese sellers and their customers here in the UK. Our Chinese partners will be able to tap into our network and infrastructure, while customers will benefit from faster, more efficient delivery of their orders, improved tracking and easier returns.”

The launch of Yodel’s Chinese office coincides with ‘Singles’ Day’, the growing Chinese shopping phenomenon held annually on 11th November. The day serves as an occasion for single men and women to celebrate their status and treat themselves to gifts in the run up to Christmas. Last year Chinese shoppers spent a record $25bn in the event and it is now four times bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the biggest shopping day in the US calendar.

Yodel recently surveyed around 7,000 UK customers through its Have Your Say feedback programme, which revealed a year-on-year growth in consumers interested in shopping for themselves on Singles’ Day, increasing from 54% in 2017 to 75% this year.