The unseasonably wet weather and the Olympics had a big impact on same day delivery orders in the retail sector this summer, according to data released by CitySprint.

The volume of same day retail delivery orders handled by CitySprint in June this year was up 10% on the average for April and May, and was 41% higher than the same period last year. CitySprint’s data also reveals that UK shoppers enjoy a pre-weekend splurge – over the summer, Friday was the most popular day for shoppers to opt for same day delivery.

Patrick Gallagher, CEO, CitySprint put the June spike down to consumers treating themselves to home delivery, as the wet weather put them off the high street.
He said, “Whilst delivery volumes fluctuate throughout the year, June was a particularly strong month for us, and I suspect that this had something to do with the weather. It was the wettest June on record – so it’s not surprising that so many shoppers chose to get their purchases delivered right to their door.”
He added, “Convenience is a big selling point for us, so we hope that shoppers that tried same day delivery for the first time this June will continue to use the service for all their online purchases in the future.”

The Olympics also had a big impact on same day retail delivery orders across the country, particularly in and around London. Nationally, CitySprint recorded a 15% drop in the volume of retail same day delivery orders during the Olympics, compared to the same period last year.

Gallagher added, “Across the board, retailers have reported an Olympic lull, as many consumers chose to watch the Games rather than going shopping. And it seems that this had a knock-on effect on the same day delivery market too. August is traditionally a slower month for retailers anyway, but now that the Olympics is over we’re looking forward to business getting back to normal.”