Shop Direct, operator of digital retail brands Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com, was awarded a five-year contract to Clipper Logistics to provide returns management and pre-retail services, starting in July.
Under the initial contract, operations will continue to be housed at Shop Direct’s 215,000 sq ft facility at Raven Mill near Oldham, which will be leased to Clipper. Operations will continue there until 2021 when they will migrate to Shop Direct’s new East Midlands fulfilment centre.
Following the transfer, Clipper will expand operations at Raven Mill and it will become a multi-user returns and pre-retail support centre operating seven days a week. Clipper plans to introduce other retail customers to the Raven Mill site.
Following 2021, a number of Shop Direct’s specialist returns management services will transfer to Clipper’s returns site at Swadlincote in Derbyshire.
Shop Direct will also make use of Clipper’s Boomerang and Technical Services Division value-added services as part of the contract.
Some 400 Shop Direct people will be employed. Personnel based at the Raven Mill site will transfer to Clipper Logistics’ employment under TUPE.
