Same-day startup Deliv acquires fellow crowdsourced delivery provider

The crowdsourced last-mile delivery specialist Deliv has purchased New York City-based Zipments, its second such acquisition, according to a statement from the company.    The independent contractor model is nothing new in the freight shipping business, but so-called crowdsourcing or the “on-demand,” “gig” economy is exploding.
   In the latest example of the expansion of the gig economy, self-described crowdsourced last-mile logistics company Deliv has acquired New York City same-day delivery specialist Zipments, according to a statement from the company. Menlo Park, Calif.-based Deliv recently launched in New York City and expects the deal, its second such acquisition, to provide the company with a strong foothold in the massive market.
   The company made a similar deal earlier this year to acquire WeDeliver to accelerate its expansion into the Chicago market, and founder and CEO Daphne Carmeli reportedly told online news outlet TechCrunch Deliv would be open to similar deals in the future.
   Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Zipments did recently raise a $2.25 million in seed funding led by FirstMark Capital and Huron River Ventures, according to TechCrunch. The Zipments team, including founder and CEO Garrick Pohl, will be joining Deliv.
   Similar to the now well-known crowdsourced taxi companies like Uber and Lyft, Deliv and Zipments use regular people to deliver packages on a flexible, “on-demand” schedule.
   Deliv has contracts with for same-day delivery and returns for retailers like Best Buy, EXPRESS, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Pottery Barn, and Williams-Sonoma, as well as thousands of local merchants and e-commerce companies. The goal is to provide customers with a seamless shopping and delivery experience. The company currently operates in 17 markets, and with the acquisition of Zipments, Deliv now provides same-day service for nearly 4,000 clients nationwide.
   Zipments, which comes with a ready-built network of delivery drivers, has existing customer relationships with brands such as DVF, Ted Baker, and Trina Turk, on-demand companies such as Casper, Handy, and Plated, local merchants such as B&H, Murray’s Cheese and Epicerie Boulud, as well as large corporate clients.
   “Zipments has established itself as the leader of same-day delivery in New York City, and the team has done a magnificent job building up its profitable business in this prime and complex market,” Carmeli said of the acquisition. “When you consider that one of the keys to our business is route density, joining forces enhances operational efficiencies. We also share a similar philosophy, similar business model, and similar clients, so Zipments is a great match for us on multiple levels.”
   “Deliv is the de facto leader in same-day delivery for omni-channel retailers and has one of the largest same-day delivery footprints in the nation,” added Pohl. “We’re thrilled to join such a great team to further disrupt last mile logistics in retail.”