Postmates Will Start Delivering Products for Beauty, Apparel, and Home Goods Retailers

Los Angeles residents can get their Haunting of Bly Manor marathon starter pack delivered all at once via Postmates’s virtual storefronts, which launched yesterday.

How it works: Just like ordering midnight mozz sticks, but with 50 brands ranging from beauty (Le Labo) to home goods (Parachute) under a new “Shop” tab.

• Participating merchants can choose which in-store items to list on the app and whether to offer delivery or contactless curbside pickup.
• The feature will expand outside of LA in early 2021.

Postmates isn’t the first food delivery service to partner with a retailer, and it won’t be the last. Packages shipped from warehouses will be delayed during this holiday season as e-comm surges, but delivery apps outpace even Amazon. Plus, another microfulfillment option could help retailers move inventory out of stores lacking foot traffic.

My reminders: Any retailer that joins a same-day store delivery service needs to ensure 1) their staff receives flexible training to pick and pack orders while managing in-store visits and 2) there’s enough inventory to satisfy online and offline shoppers.