The logistics startup Charry has partnered with eBay. The collaboration is intended to make it easier for Munich retailers to enter the eBay marketplace. The startup, also based in Munich, will handle the collection, packaging, and shipping of sold products.
Even though stores are now allowed to reopen, local retailers' sales are still far from their pre-crisis levels. Online retail can be an important second pillar here. This applies regardless of the coronavirus crisis; after all, brick-and-mortar retailers have been dealing with declining sales for years because many customers now prefer online shopping. To make it easier for retailers to enter the online retail market, eBay launched a Emergency aid program. Through this program, the marketplace helps small and medium-sized businesses increase their sales with an online store on eBay.
The collaboration with Charry now expands the program by enabling retailers to outsource logistics. The Munich startup In cooperation with the PVS Logistics Group, it handles the entire shipping process. Sold products are picked up unpackaged from the retailer and packed and shipped to the PVS Logistics logistics center. This eliminates the need for retailers to set up their own shipping structures. Shipping data can be transmitted to Charry via an interface. The service is initially only available in Munich.
Charry also offers a similar service with Zalando: Retailers can connect to this sales platform, allowing consumers to shop from them via Zalando. The Munich-based startup then handles shipping.
Charry for private customers
Private customers can also use Charry's service to send parcels. To do so, the consumer simply sends a photo of the item they wish to send to Charry via WhatsApp. A driver will then pick up the item at a time of their choosing and take it to the warehouse, where it will be packed. Shipping will then proceed as usual with well-known parcel service providers such as DPD, DHL, or UPS.
Charry has already won over several well-known business angels, including Brands4friends founder Nicolas Speeck, Andreas Jahnke, head of Lufthansa Consulting, and the Amber-Invest Group of management consultant Jens Torchalla.
