Parcel lockers bring a more adaptive delivery model to Ann Summers
Ann Summers has introduced InPost Locker delivery for online orders, creating a more configurable final step between fulfilment and the customer. Shoppers can choose a locker location at checkout, select a 48-hour delivery service and collect the parcel when it fits their schedule.
The change illustrates how digital commerce is moving beyond a single home-delivery model. Customers living in shared accommodation, university residences or family homes may have practical or privacy reasons to avoid doorstep delivery. The same option can support gift purchases and people who prefer to retrieve orders themselves.
Distributed infrastructure, centralised convenience
InPost’s network contains more than 16,000 lockers, providing designated collection points rather than requiring a recipient to remain at home. Ann Summers customers will also be able to use the network for returns, giving the reverse-logistics process an out-of-home route.
This model does not eliminate home delivery. Instead, it adds a digitally selected alternative that can make fulfilment more resilient to differences in customer availability. The choice made at checkout connects the order-management process with the recipient’s preferred collection location, while consolidated delivery to lockers can reduce reliance on individual doorstep handovers.
InPost research found that nearly 60% of people in Britain experience stress related to deliveries. It also found that consumers spend an average of 3.2 hours per month waiting at home for parcels. Locker collection changes the operating assumption: the customer chooses when to complete the final handover rather than arranging their day around an estimated arrival.
Industry implications of out-of-home delivery
The partnership is notable because it applies this infrastructure to a retail category where discretion, convenience and personal control can influence the buying experience. Ann Summers has been operating for over 50 years, while InPost has built its proposition around changing how parcels are collected. The retailer’s background is outlined by Ann Summers.
Jon Nicholson, chief commercial officer at InPost UK, said customers increasingly expect choice across the whole shopping journey, including delivery. Maria Hollins, Ann Summers’ chief executive, said the locker service extends the company’s emphasis on empowerment and choice beyond the product purchase itself.
For industrial and retail operators, the development highlights a practical Industry 5.0 principle: technology can improve operational flexibility while leaving the customer in control. Parcel lockers, digital checkout integration and network-based returns together create a more adaptable fulfilment option without forcing every order into the same delivery pattern.
