Press Releases

Parcel pick-up points have been an important part of the delivery network in the Czech Republic during the hectic pre-Christmas season. That their popularity is growing steeply year by year. This is also evidenced by data from the parcel carrier GLS. In December 2023, the number of parcels delivered to pick-up points increased by 136% compared to the same period in 2022, and by as much as 1567% to parcel machines. Overall, this is a threefold increase in the number of parcels transported to pick-up points during December 2023. Despite lower household consumption and a decline in the e-commerce segment, GLS transported one-fifth more parcels than before last Christmas, not only thanks to a wide range of pick-up points. The carrier plans to expand the number of its own parcel machines this year, at least double.

The international parcel carrier GLS is expanding its network of GLS ParcelBox vending machines with the new Solar series. The energy-optimised boxes are powered exclusively by solar panels, and GLS cooperated with the Czech manufacturing company Alfa3 on their development. In this way, GLS responds to the ever-growing popularity of parcel machines and the interest of customers in environmentally friendly parcel transport solutions. According to a survey from the spring of this year, every third Czech is currently actively using this form of parcel delivery.

Last week, the international shipping company GLS recorded almost double the number of parcels handled (91%) in connection with the Black Friday discount event compared to the beginning of November. This year's seasonal increase started earlier than last year, with a 22% increase at the beginning of the month. People are also more likely to pick up parcels directly at pick-up points and boxes, where the carrier has registered an even higher increase. GLS recommends ordering gifts from e-shops no later than 18 December. The carrier guarantees delivery by Christmas Eve if you take over the transport by Wednesday, December 20, 2023.

For thirteen years, the parcel carrier GLS has been the general partner of the traditional charity project Donate a Toy, which is organized by managers in wheelchairs from the Tango association.

All you have to do is click in the wish database and GLS couriers will arrange free transport of gifts for children in children's homes and clients of social care institutions.
Last year, GLS transported more than 6 tonnes of gifts with a total value of over CZK 6.1 million. Donors can register on the app.daruj-hracku.cz website and make not only themselves happy, but especially children and people with various disabilities at Christmas.

More than half of Czechs will buy all or most of their Christmas gifts exclusively in e-shops this year (53%). At the same time, they only start buying them in November (38%) and more than a third of people leave buying gifts even after the Black Friday sale or just a few days before Christmas. Czechs plan to spend up to CZK 5,000 (52%) on gifts. However, five percent of people will not buy gifts at all this year. These are the results of a survey conducted via the Instant Research application from Ipsos for the parcel carrier GLS.

The international parcel carrier GLS has a new CEO. Dr. Karl Pfaff has many years of experience in managing GLS's national subsidiaries in Germany and the Benelux. His goal is to continue to continuously improve the quality of services and ensure the growth of the GLS Group. With effect from 1 October 2023, he replaces Martin Seidenberg, who has become the CEO of the entire IDS plc (International Distributions Services) group, which includes both GLS and Royal Mail as subsidiaries.

The network of independent parcel pick-up points is becoming more and more popular every year. Almost half of Czechs (46%) have their packages sent there. On the other hand, interest in delivery to a domestic address is declining significantly. Compared to 2022, up to 13 percent. The main reason for using pick-up points is that they don't have to be tied to a courier (51%), save on shipping (25%) and it's more convenient for them (19%).

The Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Crafts of the Czech Republic (AMSP ČR), in cooperation with the international parcel carrier GLS, announces the fourth year of the eŽena competition. It is intended for female entrepreneurs in the field of e-commerce. Its goal is to support women in starting or developing their business. GLS will reward the four winning projects with a voucher for the e-Balík PROFI service worth a total of CZK 110,000 and advertising PR articles on the iDnes.cz portal. Projects can be submitted until August 31, 2023.

Czech e-shops are expanding to the Romanian market. According to internal data from the parcel carrier GLS, the number of clients who regularly deliver parcels to Romania has increased by 55% year-on-year. As a result, the airline introduced a new direct route between Jihlava and Sibiu and accelerated delivery to Romania by one day.

As part of this year's May call of the "Bike to Work" project, which has been organized by the AutoMat association for thirteen years, 739 tons of CO2 emissions were saved. More than 25,000 people from all over the country travelled by bike, on foot or at a trot for one month. Together, they covered 5.7 million kilometres. The general partner of the project this year was the international parcel carrier GLS, which distributed 3,500 starter packs to participants in CO2-neutral transport.