When you say sustainability, you say Dille & Kamille. Since 1974, they have been doing it just a little differently: no plastic bags, but instead made of canvas. No disposable products, but sustainable materials. Not just consuming, but recycling. It is therefore not surprising that Dille & Kamille is one of the most sustainable retail chains in the Netherlands. This goes beyond just the products they sell. Behind the scenes, the Dutch retail chain is doing everything it can to realize its philosophy, for example in their shipping process.  

The first, middle, and last mile are designed with one goal in mind: to make transportation as sustainable as possible, to burden our planet as little as possible. For example, based on the customer’s location, the size, and the weight of the package, they always select the most sustainable shipping method. And they do this with the help of our Shipping Intelligence Platform. How exactly does that process work? E-commerce manager Maykel Willemsen explains everything about it in this interview. 

Prefer to go to the store

As an e-commerce manager, Maykel is responsible for Dille & Kamille's online sales. But secretly, he much prefers it when people come to the store. He explains: “Our concept is not just about the items we sell, but also about the experience. What you smell, see, feel, and hear – that is something we cannot replicate online.  

Additionally, it is often more sustainable when people come to us. Of course, not if you have to take the car specifically for it, but certainly if you live nearby and can come by bike. It is fine to use our webshop to check if we sell a product, but in the checkout, we do encourage you to pick it up in the store via click & collect.”  

Not for the money

Does this approach always generate the most money? “No. But that is not what it is about. Of course – we are and will remain a commercial company, but we were founded on a sustainability ideal. Profitability is important, but equally important is our philosophy,” says Maykel. For example, he abolished free shipping.  

“We mainly want to make people aware of the fact that they should not consume thoughtlessly. It is fine to order something, but wherever possible, try to bundle your products. We encourage this by having standard shipping costs – this way, people will first check if they have truly added everything they need. This costs us revenue, but it aligns with our sustainability ideal.”