Connect by Hertz and B&Q Sign Agreement to put Customers in the Driving Seat for Home Delivery
By Hertz, PRNEWednesday, April 13, 2011
Connect by Hertz to Supply 137 Vans to Major UK Home Improvement and Garden Retailer for Customer Van Hire
LONDON, April 14, 2011 - The Hertz Corporation (www.hertz.com/) (NYSE:HTZ) announced that
Connect by Hertz, the global car sharing club of Hertz, has signed a three
year agreement with the UK's leading home improvement and garden centre
retailer, B&Q, to bring short term, self-drive van rental to customers. After
a successful 23 week pilot across seven stores, Connect by Hertz vans will be
rolled out to 137 B&Q stores across the UK from today. A demonstration of the
van hire service is available on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqcy_EGHI2o.
Mark P. Frissora, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Hertz, said:
"Our agreement with B&Q has made the shopping experience even easier for
customers. With a Connect by Hertz van, customers can shop with ease in the
knowledge that they can take their large purchases directly home with them
there and then, rather than worrying about fitting large items into their car
or sitting at home waiting for deliveries. This agreement marks a new era in
home delivery, and is just one example of how short term rentals are
revolutionising the way we move - demonstrating the possibilities Connect by
Hertz can have for consumers, businesses and partners."
The new agreement will give B&Q customers the option to rent a Connect by
Hertz van from the store's car park, enabling them to take large purchases
home, immediately after payment. Customers will no longer need to worry about
squeezing large fixtures and fittings into their own cars, or stay at home to
wait for deliveries. With dual branded Connect by Hertz / B&Q vans stationed
in the store's car parks across the country, customers can shop with the
utmost freedom, and not feel restricted by the size of the purchases they
make.
Priced at just GBP14 an hour, customers can load their shopping into a
LWB Ford Transit Van and take their latest purchases straight home with them.
The price covers insurance, tax, congestion charges and 20 miles of fuel.
Using the service is seamless; customers simply sign up to Connect by Hertz
by using an instant enrolment pack available from the store. Alternatively,
customers can enrol calling UK telephone number +44-207-365-4199 from today,
or online at www.diy.com/connectbyhertz from April 14th.
Once on the road, the customer has full access to the Connect by Hertz
member care centre, which can assist customers in case of any questions. If a
customer finds that a journey is taking longer than anticipated, the rental
period can be extended using a touch pad fitted inside each vehicle.
Katherine Paterson, B&Q's Marketing Director, highlighted: "Our agreement
with Connect by Hertz is an example of our dedication to improving customer
service at every possible touch point. By partnering with Connect by Hertz,
we are offering customers a simple and convenient way to take their larger
purchases home. With Connect by Hertz's enhanced technology offerings such
keyless entry to the vans, combined with its solid reputation for
reliability, this agreement will greatly enhance the shopping experience. We
have had hugely positive feedback from customers following the pilot, and are
very excited to be adding this service to our stores."
To hire a van, customers need to be 21 years and over, have a driving
license and valid debit or credit card, and register to be a member of
Connect by Hertz. Membership allows customers global access to a fleet of
1,000 cars and vans bookable by the hour.
Alicia Mistry, Tel: +44(0)20-7611-3574, Alicia.Mistry at ketchum.com
Tags: April 14, Hertz, London, United Kingdom