EXEL STARTS FULFILLMENT SERVICE

EXEL STARTS FULFILLMENT SERVICE       Exel, in Columbus Ohio, said Thursday it has begun Exel Direct, a new business-to-consumer fulfillment and home delivery service for items too large to be shipped by such carriers as FedEx or UPS.
      The former Merchants Home Delivery Service has been operating in North America since 1970 and has been part of Exel since 1984.
      Bruce Edwards, Exel’s executive vice president, said that Exel’s research had shown that retailers, e-tailers and manufacturers wanted to begin selling via the Internet but lacked back-end fulfillment and delivery expertise.
   In addition to home delivery and fulfillment, Exel Direct's services will include installation, set-up and removal of old merchandise.
   Dedicated service customers in the United States include JCPenney, Circuit City, Levitz, Wickes Furniture and Carson Pirie Scott, Exel Direct said.