Just in time for the holiday shopping season, a familiar Internet brand name has added parts of Kentucky to its growing move into the multibillion-dollar overnight package delivery business.
BL_DEC_GoogExpress-300x162.jpg
BL_DEC_GoogExpress
Google Express is the global Internet search/services/everything-in-between giant’s relatively new push into major rival Amazon’s dominant area of sales and shipping.
“We’re very excited to be further expanding our efforts – making it easy for over 50 million people in the Midwest to get things they need from stores they love – delivered overnight,” Brian Elliott, general manager for Google Express, said in a statement. “Our goal with Google Express is to off er a great shopping experience and connect people with their favorite stores.”
The service was introduced in Kentucky Oct. 20 and so far only includes the Lexington, Louisville and Radcliff markets. Cincinnati also went live the same day.
Shoppers can sign up for an unlimited delivery service membership for $95 per year or $10 per month. Or they can get a la carte delivery for $4.99 per store. Google Express also offers a three-month free trial for new members.
Among the 16 stores listed on the Google Express website for the Midwest territory are Kohl’s, Costco, Staples, Toys R Us, Walgreens, PetSmart, and Barnes and Noble. Customers can place an order to get goods from any of the partner stores, either online or with a smartphone app.
A service map of Kentucky provided by Google Express shows potential deliveries available as far north as Cincinnati, as far south as Berea, as far east as Morehead and as far west as Henderson.
Elliott said Kentucky is a key part of Google’s Midwest service model.
Google Express began operations in 2013 on the West Coast and expanded to the East Coast a year later. It currently serves 33 markets nationwide.
“In the Midwest, we first started with service in Chicago and have since expanded out from there,” said Reid Vineis, a spokesman for Google Express.
Vineis said the service appeals to many people’s shopping instincts.
“Customers should be happy about this because we know that people love having their favorite products from their favorite stores delivered to them,” he said. “And through this service they can get those products delivered to their door basically the next day.”
The service aims to compete with Amazon — the largest Internet-based U.S. retailer, which has a longtime presence in the Kentucky with numerous fulfi llment centers, including a major hub in Lexington.
Google Express does not operate fulfillment centers, instead arranging for the individual store partners to package the item for delivery.
“We work with a number of vendors to power the shopping and delivery platform,” said Vineis. “At this time, we will not have Google Express-specific couriers in Kentucky. It will be handled through local delivery vendors.”
The Midwest division of Google Express operates out of Chicago. There are no plans at the moment to hire any upper-level Google Express employees in Kentucky.