DHL Debuts Retail Store

DHL Express opened a new 1,500-square-foot ServicePoint retail store in Southern Florida. The facility is the first exclusive DHL-branded retail store in the United States. The international shipping service plans to open additional stores in other U.S. locations as international trade rebounds.

"For years, Miami has been the up-and-coming gateway city to Latin America as well as an important hub for DHL," says Richard Saavedra, vice president and general manager with DHL Express U.S. "And now, as pandemic stay-at-home orders expire and businesses reopen, we are seeing an increase in the volume of international shipments coming through the Miami-Dade area.

"We are excited to support local businesses as they re-emerge from COVID-19-related shutdowns," Saavedra adds.

In response to social distancing restrictions, DHL is piloting new safety measures at the new store. These include a call-ahead service in which labels and packaging are prepared before customers arrive to reduce wait time in the lobby, as well as curbside pickup of DHL shipments.

The new store offers both a staff-assisted and self-service kiosk, as well as supplies such as bubble wrap, packing tape, and boxes. DHL plans to open its second location in Chicago during the summer of 2020.

In addition to the new company-owned stores, more than 7,100 independently owned partner stores operate in the United States, offering DHL Express international express shipping services as well as services for other brands.