Meadowhall in UK-first for e-tail pick-up, sees huge weekend queues

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
May 10, 2021

With a capacity weekend turnout and the introduction of a first-of-its-kind retail attraction, Meadowhall is in celebration mode.

The Sheffield supermall, owned by British Land, reached its Covid-safe limit for a second day at the weekend and saw visitors having to queue just to gain entry. 

Meanwhile, Meadowhall is launching what it says is a UK-first service that will enable shoppers to try on their online purchases on collection.

But first, it had seemed bad weather may have helped shopper numbers, sending thousands to the covered complex north of Sheffield city centre. It prompted mall bosses to warn people they would have to queue outside in the rain.

But the following day’s numbers matched this despite moderately warm temperatures and relatively dry conditions. Again, Meadowhall bosses had to delay shoppers' entry to allow sufficient social distancing.

The centre even messaged:”We are now at capacity today, so we are asking all arriving visitors to kindly queue in the designated area outside until it is safe for them to enter. Our car park marshalls are out advising all arriving cars of the current situation.

"Our stores are open until 5pm today, open again tomorrow from 10am to 9pm weekdays.”

And the added attraction? Meadowhall’s click, collect, and try-on service is being seen as an online game-changer. Customers can now pick up their orders at the shopping centre’s new Customer Service and Collection department, where they will be able to try on the clothes they've ordered in its special changing rooms.

The service, which will be available during the centre’s standard opening times, means shoppers can choose to send any unwanted items back instantly with free returns label printing and packaging.

Meadowhall has teamed up with Collect+ to offer the service, and daily deliveries will be made by online retailers including Amazon, ASOS and Boohoo’s PrettyLittleThing, according to The Star newspaper.

Meadowhall gift cards will also be on sale at the new department, where there are plans to open a personal styling experience later this year.

The unit, on the centre’s upper level, will also be the new home of Meadowhall’s customer services team.

Darren Pearce, centre director at Meadowhall, told the newspaper: “It’s all about bringing the benefits of offline shopping to online purchases. 

“We know that our visitors come here for a day out experience and, for fashion shoppers, a big part of the enjoyment is having the opportunity to find and try on new outfits with friends and family. 

“For me, that’s a key element of this new service, alongside the convenience and ease it brings to collecting and returning online purchases”.