Did you know picking up your parcel from one of our lockers is the single biggest sustainable difference you can make to your online shopping? At OOHPod we love to bring you fresh ideas and new ways to make your online shopping deliveries easy, greener and as flexible as your busy life demands. 

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Blog Home | A Blog On All Things Parcel Locker & Last Mile | OOHPod - Self Service Parcel Lockers Ireland

Press Release from LK Communications on behalf of Lidl Northern Ireland.

New OOHPods in place at Lidl Northern Ireland stores across the region offer shoppers the convenience of picking up their online purchases at same time as their weekly shop.

Lidl Northern Ireland has joined forces with an innovative ‘out of home’ self-service parcel locker provider to make its parcel lockers available to customers across the region, offering them the convenience of picking up or returning their online purchases, at the same time as their regular shop.

The strategic partnership with parcel locker company OOHPod, is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, and will see Lidl roll out the lockers to stores across the region in the months ahead, simplifying online shopping for customers.

The lockers are open 24/7, providing shoppers with added peace of mind by offering the option to have their purchases dropped safely and securely ‘out of home’ to avoid the risk of missed deliveries.

Avril O’Hehir, Chief Administration Officer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said;

“We’re pleased to be the first-to-market retailer with this innovative service offered by OOHPod. With simplicity and convenience at the heart of both our business models, OOHPod’s parcel lockers will offer safe storage at the point of delivery across our local store network, making Lidl Northern Ireland a one-stop shop for all of your shopping needs"

“We are committed to building sustainable relationships with market leaders across industries that will have a positive impact, and we’re excited with what this new development will bring in the years to come.” - Avril O’Hehir

OOHPod is the brainchild of parcel delivery specialist John Tuohy, who launched the service in the Republic of Ireland in 2021, in a bid to provide shoppers with more flexibility in how they receive their online goods.

Customers using the OOHPod service can have their parcels delivered by any online store or carrier to their favourite Lidl Northern Ireland store where OOHPod self-service lockers are available. Major courier UPS is fully integrated with OOHPod allowing customers to pick up and drop off UPS parcels by selecting the service through the UPS website.

“OOHPod parcel lockers are designed with convenience and security in mind, and unlike other providers, our open network model means consumers can shop anywhere and have their parcels delivered straight to an OOHPod locker, no matter who the delivery provider is.

“We are delighted to have partnered with Lidl Northern Ireland to bring the OOHPod service to stores across the region and to offer customers more choice with a seamless click and collect service."

“Picking up a parcel from one of our parcel lockers at Lidl Northern Ireland means their package is kept safe until they are ready to pick it up – and can do their weekly grocery shop at the same time.” - John Tuohy

OOHPod parcel lockers are currently in place at Lidl Northern Ireland stores in Castlereagh, Newtownards, Shore Road Belfast and Lisburn, with additional lockers being rolled out at further sites across the region.

With a number of payment options to choose from, customers can opt to “pay as you go” by registering a payment method and only pay each time a parcel arrives.  For regular customers there are two discounted subscription bundles available. For just £7.50 per month Standard Subscription, customers can have three uses of a locker for a 48-hour period each time.  A £17 per month Premium Monthly subscription gives 10 uses of a locker per month of 48 hours each time per use.

To register for the service or find more information please visit www.oohpod.com

Lidl Northern Ireland solves problem of missed deliveries in new partnership with OOHPod Parcel Lockers.

Blog | Press Release - Lidl Northern Ireland Joins Forces with OOHPod  | OOHPod - Your Out Of Home Flexible Address

Lidl Northern Ireland solves problem of missed deliveries in new partnership with  OOHPod Parcel Lockers

Press Release - Lidl Northern Ireland Joins Forces with OOHPod

Interview content transcribed with consent from CEP-Research.
Full online article available here.

Irish parcel locker firm OOHPod has ambitious plans to expand its carrier-neutral solutions outside of its home markets of Northern Ireland and Ireland and into the UK, Europe and beyond, founder and CEO John Tuohy told CEP-Research exclusively following news that UPS will close down his former company Parcel Motel at the end of this month. 

OOHPod offers parcel lockers which are open to all carriers, consumers and merchants to use. The company was founded in late 2021 and today has 30 live locations in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with plans to add an additional 80 throughout 2023. 

“We have already reached an agreement with Lidl in Ireland and Northern Ireland to place parcel lockers at all its stores,” explained Tuohy 

“We are also looking to expand into mainland UK, and we’ve registered our trademark worldwide. We have already had several international enquiries from around Europe and from Latin America. We are progressing these now.” 

Tuohy highlighted how the closure of Parcel Motel at the end of this month could offer OOHPod several growth opportunities. “The closure of Parcel Motel and subsequent removal of its lockers means that there will be several available sites that are already prepared for a parcel locker,” he explained. “We are hopeful that we can quickly backfill the Parcel Motel locations with OOHPods.” 

Tuohy founded Parcel Motel in 2012 as part of the Nightline Logistics Group. The brand grew to be hugely popular in Ireland, with lockers located at supermarkets, 24-hour shops and petrol stations across the country. In 2017 UPS acquired Nightline and Parcel Motel in a deal which was reportedly worth €30 million. 

Although the Parcel Motel brand was much loved in Ireland, Tuohy was not surprised by UPS’s decision to close the network at the end of this month. “The parcel machines are around 10 years old now,” he said. “UPS needed to make a decision on whether to continue investing in the network and buy new lockers, or to look at alternatives.” 

One of those alternatives, according to Tuohy, is outsourcing. “A key trend in the parcel delivery sector currently is to outsource assets,” he commented. “I believe UPS is looking to move to an asset light model for its out-of-home (OOH) delivery solutions. It is very expensive to expand a privately-owned, exclusive use parcel locker network like Parcel Motel.” 

Although some carriers have made big investments in privately-owned locker networks, such as those in the Nordics, the Baltics and in Germany, Tuohy believes that the parcels market will move toward a carrier-neutral approach in the future, one which OOHPod is specifically designed to serve. 

"The fact that the OOHPods are open for all to use is what is attracting the international enquiries” - John Tuohy

“I believe that the fact that the OOHPods are open for all to use is what is attracting the international enquiries,” Tuohy noted. “Retail stores can use them for click and collect orders, for example. Or big carriers like UPS can use them for deliveries, and local people, such as those selling on C2C platforms like Vinted and Depop, can drop off and collect parcels in a low cost and low emission way.” 

UPS is already using OOHPods in Northern Ireland as part of its Access Point network. “We only went live with that in December,” said Tuohy. “We expect that relationship to expand into Ireland when they open Access Point as part of their service there.” 

As the lockers are carrier-agnostic, couriers don’t “sign up” to use them. Instead, consumers and small businesses register online and include a payment method. They then receive an eight digital OOH ID. When ordering something online for delivery, users simple enter their name, their OOH ID and the address of their chosen OOHPod location. Once the order has gone through, the consumer then receives an access code which they enter to collect the parcel at the locker. 

“It doesn’t require IT integration and takes about 30 seconds to place a parcel or collect a parcel at the locker,” Tuohy added. “It just requires cooperation from the couriers. They just come along and key in the OOH ID and place the parcels in the lockers.” 

Tuohy noted that couriers have been “really cooperative” so far. “An Post couriers, for example, have been using the lockers with no issues at all,” he added. 

The carrier-agnostic nature of the OOHPods also means that the cost of development can be shared, according to Tuohy. “We have two approaches when it comes to the locations for the lockers,” he said. “The first is public locations, such as petrol stations, transport hubs and convenience stores. 

“The second is private locations, such as privately-owned residential developments, particularly apartment buildings, which is a strong area of interest for us. In these locations, the owners of the private residential developments are paying for the parcel lockers as a benefit for their resident. This really helps with the capital investment costs,” Tuohy added. 

He also noted that as the OOHPods use a standardised system for set up and operations, unlike other locker solutions on the market, the cost of installation is low. “The lockers and how they work are the same regardless of whether they are located in an apartment building or at a petrol station,” Tuohy concluded. 

Irish parcel locker firm OOHPod has ambitious plans to expand its carrier-neutral solutions outside of its home markets of Northern Ireland and Ireland and into the UK, Europe and beyond. Read the full interview with CEP-Research here.

Blog | OOHPod founder unveils big growth ambitions  | OOHPod - Your Out Of Home Flexible Address

In this interview, John Tuohy exclusively tells CEP-Research about the upcoming closure of his former company, Parcel Motel

Interview – OOHPod founder unveils big growth ambitions 

In this article, we will explain how to use your OOHPod Northern Ireland Virtual Address and how UK returns work. We'll also give you our insider tips on some of the best UK sites that deliver to Northern Ireland!

For a list of our smart locker locations in Northern Ireland, head over to our Locations page, or find out more about the Services at Jonesborough on our dedicated ParcelShop page.


We all know that having a delivery address just over the border is SO handy! But why exactly do I need one?

It gives you access to all your favourite stores, such as Debenhams, EBay UK, John Lewis and TKMaxx

Items purchased from mainland UK to Northern Ireland are not subject to import taxes

Our ParcelShop in Jonesborough is only 50 minutes from Dublin Airport

You can save on hefty delivery costs by shipping to Northern Ireland instead of the Republic of Ireland

You can make savings by buying in GBP instead of EUR as some sites offer cheaper pricing in GBP

It's a great Parcel Motel alternative, but just remember .. we don't transfer items between lockers




It's very easy to use a virtual address. Once you've signed up to OOHPod, you'll receive your very own OOH ID®. This OOH ID, along with your name and the address of the locker in Northern Ireland, makes up your Virtual Address. When shopping online, enter your address in this format:

Your Name,
OOH ID,
OOHPod Locker,
1 Finegans Road,
Jonesborough,
BT35 8YY


You can use any parcel locker on our network, you can try out different locations depending on whether you are shopping in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. Just remember to include your name, your OOH ID and the correct address.


When your parcel arrives at one of our Northern Ireland locations, you'll receive a text message (SMS) with 6 character Access Code.
You must travel to the locker your parcel was shipped to, we do not provide an onward forwarding service. 

We will store your parcel for 48 hours. After this time has passed, you will have another usage added to your account, and you will receive a new access code.

When you arrive at the locker, choose 'Pick Up' on the screen and enter your access code. The locker door will pop open, and you can take out your parcel.

If you want to try on your new clothes, before you take them home, our Jonesborough store has a has a glitzy fitting room where you can do just that!




If you’re not happy with a purchase, our staff will help you return your parcel in accordance with retailers options. If it’s a Yodel or UPS  shipment, we can process your return on the spot in our store. If it’s another carrier, we can help you find the best method to return your parcel without any hassle.


Sending parcels from Ireland to the UK can be costly and slow. Because the OOHPod Store is located in the UK, you can send parcels to mainland UK as a domestic journey.  We’re a Collect+ and UPS agent which means you can send a fully tracked parcel for the UK with Yodel from as little as £2.91 or with UPS starting from £6.96.  And don’t worry, we’ll print the label in store for you.


Now you know how easy it all is, read on to discover some of the fantastic UK stores that deliver to Northern Ireland.

10 UK stores for shopping and gifting inspiration


John Lewis 
The many departments mean that there is something for everyone under the one roof! Designer fashion, all the latest tech, and even gorgeous homewares. Fast delivery to Northern Ireland available. Shop John Lewis



Debenhams
A lot of us might immediately think of beauty and cosmetics when we think of Debenhams, however they also have both women’s and men’s fashion from lots of our favourite brands, as well as a fantastic gifting section. Debenhams no longer deliver to the Republic of Ireland, so a perfect use for your NI Virtual Address. Shop Debenhams.



JD Williams
JD Williams also have a wide range of departments, and often have excellent sales. They offer payment plans and a delivery saver option which includes Northern Ireland if you are a frequent shopper. Shop JD Williams



Amazon
Amazon is, of course, now the go to for almost anything you could need online. While Brexit and additional charges have made it slightly more difficult to shop on Amazon, our services mean that you can comfortably shop without any worries. You will also be able to purchase products that would not normally ship to the Republic of Ireland. Shop Amazon UK



Etsy
If you are looking for a more personalised gift for your loved one, Etsy is the perfect option. Featuring one of a kind products from creative sellers who are passionate about what they do, you will be sure to find something for everyone; no matter their interest. While there are Irish sellers on the site, our service will allow you to avail of a wider range of sellers, making it even easier to find the perfect gift. Shop Etsy UK



The Range
If you are wanting to give your home a refresh, then The Range is a must. They have everything you could possibly dream of for all your seasonal needs, and while they do have physical stores here in the Republic of Ireland, you you can also shop online from the comfort of your own home. Shop The Range



Marks & Spencers
For value and quality for the whole family, Marks & Spencers is a great choice. Their UK store has an even wider variety than their Irish online store and it works out a little bit cheaper than the Euro prices. You heard it here first, shop and save with this and you can thank us! Shop M&S UK



eBay
The original and newly revamped marketplace, eBay is having something of a revival. The trends towards sustainable purchases and the circular economy are giving it a new lease of life. Shop from your home and send to one of our UK locations to get great value and boost your eco-credentials. Shop eBay UK



TKMaxx
The home of the bargain, TKMaxx UK ship to Northern Ireland and offer low cost delivery over £100. If you want to purchase larger homeware items from here or any other UK store, don't forget we offer oversize in Jonesborough and other NI locations. Check our locations page for all the details. Shop TK Maxx UK



Argos
Argos is a great option for furniture, outdoors, electronics and toys. They also sell on behalf of Habitat, another great UK retailer of homeware. With the recent news of Argos stores closing in the Republic of Ireland, you can continue shopping with this great retailer with your NI Virtual Address. And like above, you can send larger items to any of our locations offering oversize. Shop Argos UK

We're sure there are many more great UK stores offering delivery and choice to Irish customers north and south of the border. Do you use any other sites regularly? Send us a message on our social channels or email us at hello@oohpod.com with any comments or ideas! 

Since Brexit, shopping on many UK websites can be tricky. Some don’t even ship to Ireland, and others incur hefty customs import fees on arrival. 

Since Brexit, shopping on many UK websites can be tricky. Some don’t even ship to Ireland, and others incur hefty customs import fees on arrival. Read on for details on how Virtual Addresses work, along with our pick of some great UK Shopping sites.

How to Use Your Northern Ireland Virtual Address

Having successfully run Parcel Motel for 10 years, Orla Sheils, the now COO of OOHPod, knows a thing or two about online shopping.  

In fact, she’s a self-confessed Shopaholic and professes to conduct 90% of ALL her shopping online.  So who better to ask for advice on Christmas shopping. Orla's tips will help you to save money, source hard-to-get items and take some of the headaches out of the silly season.  

In no particular order, here are her top 10 tips for shopping this Christmas

Save by shopping outside the dot IE   
If you’re looking for a particular item, make sure to check prices sites in other countries. If you’re an OOHPod subscriber, remember that you can save on average 30% on UK sites compared to Irish sites, when you use an OOHPod Northern Ireland location as your virtual address. For example, items on the Marks & Spencer uk site for £100 are €140 on the Irish site. Using one of the OOHPod border locations in Northern Ireland as your address, you can also get access to brands like Debenhams, John Lewis and JD Williams, not to mention save €€€ on Customs fees.  If the item you want is not available in Ireland, throw the search net wider and see if you can source it elsewhere. 



Keep surprises away from the house
Nothing spoils Christmas like a delivery driver arriving at your home with a box that gives away what’s inside and ruins a Christmas surprise.  Keep your gifts away from your home by having your parcels delivered to an OOHPod locker! Allowing you to collect at your own convenience and make a plan to hide parcels away from prying little eyes! 



Keep an eye on currency exchange rates 
If you’re buying from the UK, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the current exchange rate. Events across the water recently have led to significant currency fluctuations that brought Sterling to an all-time low, meaning you get more bang for your Euro on UK sites and vice versa if Sterling is strong. 



Never forget to include your OOH ID in your address
Just like your PMID with Parcel Motel, your OOH ID is how we identify your parcel. If a parcel is sent without an OOH ID, it may be delayed or placed on hold. Our operations staff or the courier may not be able to identify it. 



Consider pre-loved items as gifts
In today’s world, where sustainability is so important, it makes sense to try to source pre-loved items. Some of these so called “second-hand” items are unused, some with tags on, and can be bagged at a fraction of the RRP.  Sites like EBay and Vinted can offer some rare gems and may just be the answer to the dilemma of what to get that person who already has everything! Get access to Ebay UK and Vinted by using one of OOHPod’s border locations as your UK virtual address. 



Pay for your Christmas shopping with funds generated on Vinted
This year, thanks to my OOHPod UK virtual address, I’ll be paying for my gifts with the funds I made from selling unwanted clothes on Vinted. With 8 million UK users, Vinted, which hasn’t launched in Ireland yet, is taking the UK by storm.



Use OOHPods fitting room to try on clothes
Did you know, there is rather nice fitting room at OOHPod in Jonesborough?  There, you can try on clothes and make a decision to keep or return while you’re on the spot. No need to come back again with returns. 



Check the returns policy before you buy
Most retailers, especially in the UK, offer easy and mostly free return options.  However, it is still important to check these options before you buy. Some have time limits (usually 30 days) and some items are not suitable for return or exchange (like earrings or lingerie).  The OOHPod Store in Jonesborough is a Collect+ and UPS Access Point location and we can take returns for any retailers with these options. 



Sending gifts to the UK
It can be very expensive to send parcels from Ireland to the UK with postage prices starting at €21.00. As an OOHPod subscriber, you will have access to all the services we offer from our shop in Jonesborough and you can send parcels to the UK from as little as £2.79. 



Allow extra transit time 
This may sound obvious, but during November and December, parcel volumes can quadruple and this can cause delays with most carriers, something which is out of the retailers’ control.  Make sure you add extra days to the transit times stated on the retailers’ website to allow enough time for your parcel to arrive  and use the tracking number provided by the retailer to keep an eye on its      progress. 

So, with all those great tips in mind, what are you waiting for? Sign up to one of our great value plans today.

Having successfully run Parcel Motel for 10 years, Orla Sheils, the now COO of OOHPod, knows a thing or two about online shopping. Here are her Top 10 Tips for Shopping with OOHPod this Christmas

Blog | How to Shop with OOHPod this Christmas | OOHPod - Your Out Of Home Flexible Address

Top shopping tips from our very own Orla Sheils. She's a self-confessed Shopaholic, former Managing Director of Parcel Motel, and now COO of OOHPod. 

Our Top Tips for Christmas Shopping with OOHPod

While there’s no faulting the classic chocolate calendar, we have to say we’re enjoying the recent advent calendar revival. The classic Christmas tradition has evolved from simple cardboard boxes to gorgeously designed, ornate displays, filled with everything from luxurious makeup to fun toys. 

Advent calendars also make gifting super easy; what better gift is there than something that you can continue opening for an entire month? Talk about the gift that keeps on giving! 

All of these advent calendars offer great UK shipping rates, simply order to one of our OOHPod lockers in Northern Ireland to make big savings this Christmas.

Read on to discover 10 of our favourite calendars for the season ahead, with something to suit every member of the family.

Use the web to cut delivery costs and save a packet

- Martin Lewis, MoneySavingExpert founder & BBC Journalist

Charlotte Tilbury - Charlotte’s Diamond Chest of Beauty Stars 
The ultimate gift for the makeup lover in your life. CT’s 2022 calendar features 12 drawers filled with some of their most-loved products. Unlike other makeup advents calendars, this one contains several full sized products, alongside some miniature versions, meaning you’ll more than get your money’s worth!
Shop here: Charlotte's Diamond Chest of Beauty Stars



Lego Advent Calendars
For the younger ones (or just the young at heart) there’s no better way to build the Christmas spirit by giving them a new toy to open every day for the month of December. And for an extra personal touch, you can choose a set based on their favourite film! Harry Potter fans can spend Christmas at Hogwarts while building scenes from each of the 8 films, while Star Wars fans can play out popular stories with their favourite characters. 
Shop here: Lego Advent Calendars



The White Stuff - Beauty Advent Calendar 
Enjoy a little indulgence in the run up to Christmas with the White Stuff’s 2022 calendar, packed with 25 seasonal scents and wellness treats. The calendar features 2 gorgeous full-sized candles, as well as irresistible fragrances and bath & body minis. As a bonus, the calendar packaging features a stunning winter scene that can double as a decoration for your home!
Shop here: Beauty Advent Calendar



BrewDog - Craft Beer Advent Calendar
For any craft beer enthusiasts, BrewDog have come up with the perfect gift. 24 cans, as well as a unique glass to enjoy them in. If you want to cheat a little and find out daexactly what you’re getting, they have a list of all the flavours included on their website. Even better, the packaging is 100% sustainable!
Shop here: Craft Beer Advent Calendar



John Lewis & Partners - Beauty Advent Calendar
John Lewis really know how to do Christmas! We all look forward to their fantastic Christmas ad each year, and now we can also look forward to 25 beauty gifts worth over £770. The calendar features full sized products from brands such as MAC, Charlotte Tilbury and Olaplex, as well as deluxe-sized products from many other favourites. 
Shop here: Beauty Advent Calendar



The Rose Press Garden - Flower Seed Advent Calendar
Something a little different, this gorgeously designed calendar contains 24 packets of flower seeds which will bloom into different varieties of flowers. For any beginners, info cards are also provided on how best to grow and care for your flowers. The calendar is sent in recyclable and compostable packaging, making it a great sustainable option for this years calendar. 
Shop here: Flower Seed Calendar



Playmobil - Aqua Advent Calendar: Bathtime Fun
Make bathtime a breeze with this Playmobil advent calendar, jam-packed with 24 fun bath toys. Your little one will look forward to bathtime as each toy is revealed, with fun friends like Baby Shark included. 
Shop here: Aqua Advent Calendar - Bathtime Fun



Drinks by The Dram - The World Whisky Advent Calendar
Retailing at £149 and with free shipping to UK destinations, Drinks by The Dram has a great selection of alcohol-inspired Advent Calendars. The The World Whisky Advent Calendar promises to send you 'globetrotting around the world to sip on the finest whiskies. Get it before it sells out!
Shop here: The World Whisky Advent Calendar



LOOKFANTASTIC - Mankind Advent 2022 (Worth over £428)
Looking for quality self-care products for the man in your life? This fabulous Advent calendar goes on Pre-order on November 11th, so grab it before it's gone. With FREE UK delivery over £25, this is a great gift idea for those guys who are big on grooming. 
Shop here: Mankind Advent Calendar 2022



Pooch & Mutt - Dog Advent Calendar
Don't forget your Pooch this Christmas. This healthy treat filled calendar will surely keep your dog happy on the lead up to Christmas. If you spend £39.99 you'll qualify for free delivery, so throw in some essentials and get this one delivered to a parcel locker of your choice.
Shop here: Pooch & Mutt Dog Advent Calendar

So there you have it - a round up of some of our favourite advent calendars for the coming season. Now you just need the willpower to not open it all on December 1st!

And as always, don't forget to include your name, your OOH ID and the address of the parcel locker when you are checking out online. If you have any questions on how to use our lockers for online shopping, pop us a question here.

Save on postage costs and order to your OOHPod Virtual Address this Christmas. Take your pick of these fabulous Advent Calendars for Everyone in the Family

Blog | Top 10 Advent Calendars for Everyone in the Family in 2022 | OOHPod - Your Out Of Home Flexible Address

Save big on postage and order these fabulous Advent Calendars to your OOHPod Virtual Address this Christmas

Top 10 Advent Calendars for Everyone in the Family

Published: March 13, 2022. Download the article here.

"For me, in-person communication is the best way to achieve business goals"

John Tuohy, a veteran of the parcel business and founder of delivery service OOHPod, shares his relief at the return of in-person meetings and his admiration for the courage and leadership of the president of Ukraine.

I always had an interest in entrepreneurship, so I spent two years completing a "start your own business" course in the 1980s with Anco, which was the predecessor to Fás, the state training agency that is now called Solas.

I've been running my own businesses since 1992, and prior to that I held a senior management role at FedEx when I was in my early 20s. Back then my goals were simply to be as successful as I could be and to learn and grow from my experience on that journey.

While those goals are still hugely important to me, I quickly learned that with success and growth comes huge responsibility. You have a team working with you and that adds another layer of motivation to make sure the business succeeds, to keep them in employment, make sure they are happy, and help them meet their own individual responsibilities.

My mentors and people that I've admired over the years would be successful business leaders in Ireland and internationally. Lord Karan Bilimoria, the founder and chair of Cobra Beer, is a good example given his success in his business and the work he does for society generally.

Then there are Irish retail heroes like the late Feargal Quinn, the Dunne family and Joe Barrett and Bob Etchingham at Applegreen. They have run successful Irish businesses in what are probably the most fiercely competitive sectors, ones that are usually dominated by huge global brands.

Leading by example is the best way to create the right impression in the workplace. If you want an atmosphere of mutual respect and collegiality, it can be achieved by practising what you preach. Listening and being respectful of other people's views work, while poorly communicating your business objectives doesn't.

If you're keen to progress in an organisation, perhaps from one management role into a more senior one, be sure to prepare your successor. Ensure that you have identified the person on your team who is likely to replace you. Give them the reins and empower them from time to time. Test this when you go on holiday, so that you can be confident your number two has things covered.

Business really shouldn't be about politics and egos, but they tend to get in the way sometimes, especially in larger organisations. Everyone will have experienced situations where their ideas or suggestions are either not listened to or taken by others who then claim credit for them. This creates friction and can affect relationships between co-workers. Communication and due credit is key to ensuring that every contribution is valued and attributed accordingly.

My last job interview was in the 1980s. I remember having to go into Arnott's to open a store credit account so that I could buy a business suit, which I then paid in monthly instalments. At the time, lots of people did this.

Countless times over the years I've interviewed candidates who have not done any kind of research about the company, the sector or even the role they had applied for. My advice to interviewees is to give your best impression, be confident, always prepare in advance and do thorough research.

In a company, everyone should under-stand what is expected of them, but at the same time people need to be informed on how they are performing in a regular, structured way. If someone does a good job, employers should let them know. Performance reviews can sometimes be too focused on weaknesses and failure rather than successes and strengths.

It's important to ensure that poor performers, unreasonable personalities or people who just don't fit in are dealt with quickly. Hopefully their performance improves and attitudes are corrected quickly. If that's not possible or doesn't happen, then they should be removed from the team or business altogether.

Poor performers left unchecked impact on morale and can bring good performers down, or worse, drive good people out of a business. Jack Welch wrote about this in his first book From the Gut.  It's an excellent read that I'd recommend to any business leader.

After two years of working from home, it's so good to be back in a working environment with colleagues. For me, in-person communication is the best way to achieve business goals.

 It's so important to be open and honest in our business dealings and to ensure the highest levels of integrity.

Despite the excellent technology and tools that we have for remote working, it's just not the same. A mixture of both can be very successful. Spontaneity can be powerful in team meetings when it comes to new ideas and innovation, and that can be difficult to achieve over a planned Teams call.

Networking in business is essential. LinkedIn is such an amazing way to network online but events like trade shows and business functions are so important to meet like-minded people and gain new insights and ideas. Meeting people allows you build a better rapport than you would do on a phone call, so I'm really looking forward to getting back out there and shaking hands again.

As the old saying goes, "we only get one chance to make a first impression". It's so important to be open and honest in our business dealings and to ensure the highest levels of integrity.  From that foundation, great and lasting relationships flow.

Right now, I can't think of anyone I admire more than president Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. He is the epitome of courage and leadership for the people of Ukraine in the most appalling and terrifying circumstances. He could easily have left the country to govern remotely. He chose to stay and lead by example.

John Tuohy, a veteran of the parcel business and founder of delivery service OOHPod, shares his relief at the return of in-person meetings and his admiration for the courage and leadership of the president of Ukraine. 

Blog | This Working Life with John Tuohy, Business Post | OOHPod - Self Service Parcel Lockers Ireland

John Tuohy, with his new business OOHPod features in Business Post

Published: Sunday February 13 2022, 12.01am GMT, The Sunday Times.

John Tuohy, the former boss of the courier companies Nightline and Parcel Motel, isn’t afraid of a logistical challenge. For his 50th birthday he organised how to get from his Malahide home to the Mad Cool music festival in Madrid on his motorbike, setting off five days before friends who opted to fly instead.

He had bought a BMW R 1200 GS bike in his forties when he was going through “a midlife crisis,” and after passing his test travelled across Europe on it, choosing to stay in cheap hostels along the way.

Cost isn’t an issue for Tuohy, especially since selling Nightline and Parcel Motel to UPS for €30 million in 2017 and taking his 40 per cent cut. Instead, he likes to embrace the “camaraderie on the road” while making sure that his vehicle is always visible from his window.

Tuohy is preparing for his latest challenge — the launch of an Irish parcel locker company called OOHPod. It’s a venture he has been planning for some time. Since selling out of Parcel Motel in 2017 he has acted as a consultant to parcel locker companies throughout Europe. He felt that it was now time to get back on the bike, as it were.

With OOHPod he aims to place “out of home” lockers in 1,000 locations across the island of Ireland by 2025. To achieve it, Tuohy has bolstered his team, bringing in Orla Sheils, who formerly headed Parcel Motel, as chief operating officer. Patrick Crean, formerly of Bank of Ireland and Channel 4 in London, has joined as chief technology officer.

This week 91 lockers will open to the public in Jonesborough, Co Armagh, a new facility strategically placed to cater to online shoppers on both sides of the border.

"Our new facility will appeal to people from Drogheda, Dundalk and Monaghan, targeting 25,000 households. We think it will be convenient for people to pop in there when they are doing cross-border shopping and order online to avoid delays.”

A rented retail unit has been fitted with changing rooms to cater to shoppers that might want to return their items on the spot. Tuohy says that 30 per cent of all items bought online are returned.

He says there is a place on the Irish market for OOHPod and the company won’t be in direct competition with Parcel Motel — which allows only UPS couriers to use its lockers.

“This is open and agnostic infrastructure and UPS, just like any of the other couriers, are welcome to use our parcel lockers.”

His backers believe there is room, too. With the help of Declan Magee and Mike Perrick, who are both formerly of Elkstone Ventures, the Artane native has raised €3 million in seed funding. Grant Thornton also helped.

Tuohy has put €1 million of his own money into the company and secured €1.5 million from investors behind JMC Van Trans, an Irish logistics company, while the remaining €500,000 has come from private investors. He plans to raise a further €3 million from banks to pay for the cost of the lockers themselves.

He has plenty of contacts built up from his 30 years of working in the courier business, which started when he drove with FedEx Ireland after leaving school in 1989. While he worked his way up to management by the age of 20 there, he opted to leave when the company downsized its European business in 1992.

With IR£10,000 (€12,700) pooled between him and his friend Dave Field, who also opted to leave the courier, the duo set up Nightline from the spare room of the new house Tuohy had just bought in Castleknock. While he liked being his own boss 1990s Ireland was a “grim” place and his options were either to emigrate or try to do his own thing. “We would have had to go to London to look for jobs; there wasn’t a whole lot going on here at the time” says John.

Nightline became a niche shipping company for Irish manufacturers. “We were just focused on international shipping, and it was very specialised,” Tuohy says, adding that the company worked to get parts for its clients quickly and make a good name for itself.

When manufacturing started to decline in Ireland Tuohy started to grow the domestic courier business. In the early Noughties it was “simple” to run with many deliveries taking place between businesses, he says.

As the company handled shipments of high-value goods including tobacco and mobile phones, Tuohy installed a panic room in his home and his family underwent security training. “It was very The Man from U.N.C.L.E stuff,” he says. The advice was for him and his family to remain as private as possible and stay away from social media sites — something Tuohy has kept to this day, opting not to name his family members.

By 2008 the ecommerce market was beginning to grow and Tuohy decided the company needed to enter the residential market or get left behind. He says Ireland’s online customers bought mostly from UK retailers so he opened an office there and watched as the business doubled in size by 2012.

It was a “high volume, low margin” business — and one that came under more pressure to lower prices during the recession when clients were doing poorly. It also fluctuated hugely from season to season. Tuohy started to think outside the box. He started to look at parcel lockers as a delivery option that could be more profitable.

In 2010 he saw that parcel lockers were taking off in the Nordic region and eastern European countries. Through trade shows he began to network and forged one valuable contact, Rafał Brzoska, who operates Poland’s InPost, a parcel locker company that floated on the Amsterdam stock exchange for €9.5 billion last year. Brzoska called Tuohy one day to say he had 100 spare machines that he could buy. 

“Back then these machines cost €25,000 to €30,000 a pop, so we needed about €3 million and no Irish bank was going to lend to us that in 2012,” Tuohy says.

After explaining the situation Tuohy got a follow-up phone call a few days later from the Polish chief executive to say a loan could be secured from a Polish bank.

Tuohy says that Parcel Motel, founded in 2012, was profitable as a standalone business. “It got a lot of mentions internationally as a good example of a parcel locker rollout and when we brought it to Ireland, many people thought it was a franchise because the branding was so strong.”

With the sale of Nightline in 2017 Parcel Motel was sold to UPS. Tuohy says that at the time of the sale the company was facing Brexit, and while it had grown substantially and had revenues of more than €50 million a lot of money would have to be spent to ensure the courier could keep afloat.

He said that the company had been built on a lot of debt, having never taken on any outside investment, apart from small sums given by family and friends at the very beginning. “We weren’t getting the right advice on equity investment, and we were thinking in the old-school ways that equity was blood,” he says.

If he had known that three years later the world would be faced with a pandemic, and the ecommerce market would boom, he says he probably would have held on to the business.

“I wouldn’t have sold, but you have to take decisions based on the circumstances that you are in at that time.”

For now, Tuohy’s focus is solely on OOHPod, By the end of this year he plans to install OOHPod’s lockers across 50 locations around Dublin. He has already signed APCOA Parking Ireland and Parkrite as clients, and is at present surveying ten car parks.

Tuohy is also in talks with Dublin Bus to install lockers near bus stops in suburban areas around the city and employers, who would like lockers installed in offices. He is also exploring other avenues, such as refrigerated lockers that will allow him to form partnerships with grocery stores, and placing lockers at service stations throughout the country.

When it comes to timing, Tuohy thinks OOHPod’s is perfect — launching with people returning to the office and hybrid working set to become a reality. Consumers will no longer be sitting at home waiting for their deliveries by the door.

Couriers will be facing a logistical nightmare in the coming months, and Tuohy argues that parcel lockers will become more convenient. Long-term, he has big ambitions for the company and is already plotting to enter the European parcel locker market and consolidate an industry that is fragmented through the acquisition of start-ups.

It sounds like the BMW bike road trips might be put on the back burner for a while.

VITAL STATISTICS
 Age: 54
 Family: Wife, teenage son and daughter at university
 Home: Malahide
 Education: Chanel Catholic College, Coolock; diploma at London School of Economics
 Favourite film: The Founder
 Favourite book: Jupiter’s Travels, by Ted Simon

WORKING DAY
 I start off the day with exercise and do a bit of work from my home office. I drop my son to school and then go to the office after 9 o’clock. I’m usually in the office until 6pm. We have a showroom so my day is spent talking to a lot of clients.

DOWNTIME
When I left Nightline I was very overweight so I lost 20 kilos through cycling. I make sure to cycle or do a 5km walk. I love music and I have tried to learn the guitar. I’ve also done some Spanish classes and can order a dish in Spanish now. I have my touring bike and love travelling on it.

A recent article from The Times with OOHPod CEO, John Tuohy. John Tuohy is launching his new business in Armagh and has plans to expand across the rest of Ireland and into Europe. A look at his past experiences and plans for his new parcel locker business, "OOHPod".

Blog | The Entrepreneur that wants to capitalise on ecommerce growth and cross-border shopping | OOHPod - Self Service Parcel Lockers Ireland

'The Times' interview with OOHPod CEO, John Tuohy

Capitalising on Ecommerce Growth and Cross Border Shopping

The role of micro businesses in the Irish economy in terms of innovation, employment and growth should not be underestimated. In Ireland micro-businesses with 1-9 employees comprise over 90 per cent of all businesses. Research conducted by Cork University Business School demonstrates that ambition plays an important role in ensuring businesses achieve their full potential. The report suggests that micro-businesses in Ireland compare well internationally with respect to introducing new or improved products and services.

To compete with big online brands like Amazon and eBay, smaller retailers are building their own online shop fronts, looking for alternatives in product delivery and pickup solutions all while trying to cut costs.  It’s a big ask. How, then, can your small business compete with these online giants? The good news is you don't have to. 

Agile structures and quick decision making are key advantages for many micro and small businesses. In fact, levels of innovation in Irish micro-businesses are higher than those in the UK and USA. This is particularly valuable when it’s time to get innovative to satisfy your customer needs. Chances are most of your customers are located within 10 kilometres of your small business. This means getting creative with click and collect solutions, while saving on delivery costs, has never made more sense.

Currently, many businesses are still relying on the major parcel couriers to make their deliveries, even though this is costly and does not give them as much control over that important final customer experience as they may like. However, the future for alternative solutions for click and collect looks bright. More and more local businesses just like you, are looking to intelligent, contactless parcel lockers to combat the costly last-mile – all while making it faster, safer and more accessible to the consumer.

For the customer, driving to you may not be quite as convenient as home delivery, but studies have shown that offering customers choice can improve the overall customer experience. As well as putting a focus on building a top-notch e-commerce journey or creating a seamless social media transaction, providing a smooth click and collect experience with a clearly designated pickup location will demonstrate that your business is organised and efficient.

A digital locker system can have considerable benefits for your small businesses because it is a smart, contactless, secure and efficient way to offer collection services for your customers. It is convenient for your consumer who can pick up the goods in their own time and it helps your business to organise and store online orders. The best news is that this solution works for any size of business, whether you have an e-commerce website or not. It works particularly well for businesses working from their own home who would prefer to have customers pick up orders from a neutral location.

With smart parcel lockers, retailers have a unique opportunity to turn the current home delivery model on its head: promote free locker pickup and make it easy for customers to pick up their goods at a time that suits them. This significantly decreases shipping expenses and could possibly reduce packaging costs too - savings that could be reflected in prices.

A recent article from OOHPod states “retailers will increasingly rely on innovation to make shopping more of an experience whether that’s in person or online, while consumers will make their grocery retail choice based on convenience and other beneficial experiences brought about by innovation in this space.” In simple terms, many retailers are craving new ideas to help them stand out from the crowd. A locker subscription with OOHPod could be the answer they’ve been looking for.

If you’d like to find out more about using OOHPod lockers for your business contact us on any of our social platforms or through hello@oohpod.com about becoming an OOH Business. OOHPod, your out of home delivery station, coming soon.

You don't need to be a big business to offer click & collect. Find out how parcel lockers are changing the game for small businesses.

Blog | Click & Collect Solution for Small Businesses | OOHPod - Self Service Parcel Lockers Ireland

Click & Collect Solution for Small Businesses

It’s undeniable that how we buy food has evolved since the pandemic pushed us to be more creative in our daily routines. COVID has nudged even the small corner shop retailer to find a way to iron out the creases in their home delivery and click and collect offers. The new demands from consumers do not seem to abate as restrictions lift. They have become accustomed to better choice and quality service – an experience they’ve now come to expect. The future of retail is giving the customer options that fit into their new “normal” way of life.

For everyone, in every walk of life, food shopping is a necessity, and the proliferation of brands makes it difficult to differentiate one from the other. To gain market share and encourage customer loyalty, retailers have begun to compete on customer experience rather than product selection or price. Retailers will increasingly rely on innovation to make shopping more of an experience whether that’s in person or online while consumers will make their grocery retail choice based on convenience and other beneficial experiences brought about by innovation in this space. Many retailers are craving new ideas to help them stand out from the crowd.  


New technology is creating opportunities for retailers to offer better experiences and compete in different ways. Refrigerated lockers are one of those emergent technologies that will be part of everyday life in the near future but for now, retailers with these lockers have first mover advantage. As digital natives move more into adulthood, buying houses and having children of their own, a digital solution for weekly grocery shopping is expected. But do retailers really want to get into a delivery / logistics business? Many would argue no and find refrigerated lockers to be the best hybrid solution for digital savvy, self-serve shoppers.

“In the new world where contactless and click and collect have become the norm, technology is helping retailers all over the world to keep up with these trends.  OOHPod will be the first smart locker solution in Ireland to bring refrigerated pods to Irish grocery retailers, helping them to provide an experience that customers have come to appreciate.” - John Tuohy, CEO, OOHPod

While refrigeration makes perfect sense for perishable items, food shopping is not their only use.  Pharmaceutical and medicinal products or flowers are other such examples that could use refrigeration for temporary or out of hours storage.

As a retailer one of the questions, you might battle with is when is the right time to engage with locker providers? Online food shopping is booming since the pandemic but still only in its infancy.  We believe online shopping with pick up and delivery services will grow over the next 5 years.  As technology supporting online grocery shopping matures, we expect the volume of online orders will grow and mature with it.  If you’re a retailer looking to get ahead of the curve, right now is the best time to have a conversation with a locker provider.

Four benefits of refrigerated lockers for grocery retailers

Exceptional Customer Experience

Using refrigerated lockers make for a seamless process making your shopping experience both quicker and contact free. When a customer has ordered online and is picking up their order that has been stored in a locker the experience couldn’t be easier. Go to the locker, enter your personal code, go to the open locker door, and collect your groceries. It really is as simple and as seamless as that. As workplaces begin to open, failed deliveries will become more common place, a costly and unnecessary inconvenience.  A refrigerated locker allows consumers to pick up their groceries at a time convenient to them – another great experience. 



Customer Choice and Satisfaction

In a lot of cases a retailer will outsource the delivery to a third party and in such cases lose an element of control over the customer experience. It is important for retailers to ensure end customer satisfaction to reinforce strong relationships with their e-tailer consumers. With a refrigerated locker solution, customers can choose to shop with their closest or most convenient retailer, whether it is the one nearest to their home, office or on their commute. Offering customers access to a locker will deliver the level of service savvy consumers have come to expect. Not only do lockers offer customer choice, but they also bring a seamless experience to the fore using an electronic log of activity and freeing up retail employees.



Competitive Advantage

As stated previously, retailers with the foresight to identify refrigerated lockers as a potential key differentiator and choose to adopt this new technology will have first mover advantage in the Irish market. Having a seamless click and collect strategy for your ecommerce consumers will offer a competitive advantage and will help for forge stronger relationships with customers.



A Greener Solution

Promoting locker pick up as a greener solution will reduce the demand for home deliveries. Not only is this a more cost-effective solution for retailers it is better for the environment too. The reduction in carbon emissions as a direct result of locker promotion could form part of a large retailer’s sustainable agenda.

If you would like to talk to us about a refrigerated locker for your business contact us on any of our social platforms or through hello@oohpod.com about becoming an OOHPod retailer.   OOHPod, your out of home delivery station, coming soon.

Refrigerated lockers open up new click & collect possibilities for grocery retailers. Find out more about refrigerated lockers from OOHPod.

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