Hermes, a sister company of Crate & Barrel, has confirmed its attendance at the Shop.org annual summit from September 30 to October 2nd in Chicago. As a full-service provider of multichannel solutions for retailers and brands, Hermes has recently established itself as a leading provider of end-to-end services in e-commerce. The enterprise is part of the Otto Group, the second-largest retailer in the world behind Amazon.

Hermes Fulfilment has won MUJI as a new client. Hamburg based logistics services provider is to handle the storage, distribution and returns management of all items for sale in the online store of the German subsidiary of Japanese retailer MUJI. Hermes Fulfilment will also provide call centre and customer relationship management services.

Hermes, a sister company of Crate & Barrel, has confirmed its attendance at the IRCE from June 4 to 7 in Chicago. As a full-service provider of multichannel solutions for retailers and brands, Hermes has recently established itself as a leading provider of end-to-end services in e-commerce. The enterprise is part of the Otto Group that employs 50,000 people worldwide and is the second-largest retailer in the world behind Amazon.

For the ninth year in succession, Hermes posted a positive business year in 2012. The enterprise's 12 Group companies rendering retail-related and logistics services worldwide grew overall revenue by 7 percent year on year to 1,928 million euros compared to 1,800 million euros in the prior year. With over 452 million consignments shipped in Europe and a 7.5 percent growth in parcel volumes, Hermes continues to participate in the boom in e-commerce. In 2013, new sites are planned in the EU, Asia and the USA. In addition, the current financial year will see the enterprise set up a Supervisory Board.

Hermes Fulfilment GmbH has strengthened its management team. Frank Marquard (51) has been responsible for the operational management of the Hamburg-based distance selling services provider since 1 April 2013. He will be supporting Dieter Urbanke who has been CEO of the company since it was founded in 2006. Dieter Urbanke is responsible for sales and marketing, finance and controlling, planning and performance, HR and corporate communications.

Hermes Fulfilment GmbH has been presented with the Logistics Innovation Award of the Association of German Engineers (VDI). The Hamburg-based distance selling services provider was recognised for its outstanding returns management system that moves returned goods, especially fashion items, back through the supply chain quickly and cost effectively. At the centre of this process is the company’s automated returns warehouse in Haldensleben (Saxony-Anhalt/Germany) which significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to get a returned item from returns arrival back into the stock available for sale. VDI was particularly impressed by the level of automation and the system’s maintenance concept.

Hermes, one of Europe's leading trading and logistics providers, is continuing its international expansion. The company is stepping up its campaign to strengthen its position in key markets and gain proximity to customers and clients. As part of its efforts, company-wide sales positions have been established in key e-commerce strongholds such as the USA, France and the Benelux countries. The aim is to bolster both international acquisitions and the reach of the Hermes brand. A pivotal forum for this is the 'One to One' e-commerce congress in Monaco from 20-21 March, where Hermes will be presenting is global service portfolio.

The Otto Group processes over 125 million deliveries annually for its customers through the Group’s own logistics service provider, Hermes. About 40 per cent of this is delivered as parcels. Now, the internationally active retail and service group has optimised the size of its boxes: this reduces the transport volume in the delivery of goods ordered from companies in the Otto Group by more than 500 truckloads per year. The benefit for the environment and efficiency means that some 170 tonnes of CO2 emissions can be eliminated.

Numerous guests from the worlds of business and politics gathered in Hamburg yesterday for the second Hermes Future Forum. Entitled "The Coherence of Markets - Sustainable Global Economics in a Context of Worldwide Changed", distinguished speakers discussed developments in world economics and their impact on companies and the retailing industry. Besides football icon Franz Beckenbauer and US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, distinguished guests included author and economist Prof Jeremy Rifkin, Chinese economist Dr Olin Liu and Ralf Kleber, CEO of Amazon Germany.

German logistics specialists Hermes will become the new official premium partner for the country's football Bundesliga with effect from 1 January 2013. When the 2012/13 restarts after the winter break, all players in the country's top two tiers of football will wear the company's logo on the left arm of their shirts. In addition, Hermes will transport the championship trophy and be responsible for ensuring to it reaches its destination in time to honour the newly-crowned champions on the last day of the season. For the Bundesliga's new partner this also includes taking the championship trophy on a 'Trophy Tour' of major German cities, presenting it to all fans before the end of the season.