New Post Office format hits snag

Trials of a new Post Office Counters retail format have been delayed by nearly a year due to operational changes at the Post Office. The delay is unrelated to the review being carried out by investment bankers into the organisation’s structure.

The opening of at least two trial outlets using a concept by Marketplace Design, was planned for this month. It has now been put back until next April at the earliest, says Kevin Brown of the retail strategy unit at Post Office Counters. “It won’t happen until the next financial year,” he says.

The concept design for the outlets has been completed, with only detailed application elements left, says Marketplace chairman Bryan Brown.

The group was appointed to the project at the beginning of this year (DW 16 January). It has not been dropped from the project.

Locations for the trial outlets are likely to be decided later this year.

The delay is caused by new methods of customer-service delivery being considered by Post Office Counters. Holding back the design project will allow all the new elements to be trialled at once.