Penneys could be introducing click-and-collect soon

This could be interesting.

We all know Penneys won't be getting an online delivery system any time soon, but they aren't ruling out a click and collect service. As they revamp their website, the fashion chain are looking into the idea of adding click and collect services to their website. The store has said they are planning to launch a new website in the UK by the end of the month, as well as in it's other 13 markets by autumn time. While they turned down the idea of home delivery due to the extra cost, and with the growth of new stores in the US and Italy, the new system is in talks. Their aim is to better showcase their 10,000 products and provide customers with real time information on which products are available in each store for their more than 24 million active "engagers". "We're making the digital move forward in a very big way in both the UK and the rest of Europe. That will generate sales and profits for us," John Bason, finance director of Primark's owner, Associated British Foods, told Reuters. "Does this give us a capability to move further forward? Well let’s have a look at that," he said in an interview. "If there was an e-commerce opportunity for us, it will probably be more in the area of click-and-collect." Bason was adamant that home delivery was still off their agenda, saying you can't get the same value by having home delivery. Penneys was founded in Dublin in 1969 by Arthur Ryan, with the original store on Mary Street, but has since expanded to 402 stores globally under the Primark name, which was given due to JC Penney. In November, AB Foods revealed they planned to expand their stores to 530 over the next five years, but have said this is "not the end of the line" and they have a "long way to go" when it comes to "adding space". They are also planning to expand in the US, moving from 13 stores to around 60, including bringing some California.