EuroParcs opens unmanned park shops

EuroParcs opens unmanned stores in Dutch parks

Guests can pay in the stores at self-checkout tills

Lochem, June 5, 2023 - EuroParcs will open a total of ten unmanned stores in holiday parks in the Netherlands by the end of this year. Visitors will be able to buy everyday essentials in the stores and pay at a self-checkout. EuroParcs is the first holiday park operator in the Netherlands to offer this concept on a national level. For the unmanned park stores, EuroParcs is working together with Omise, which belongs to the investment company Florisand Investments, which in turn is part of the Sanders Retail Groep. Sanders Retail Groep is a real estate developer and is also the largest HEMA franchisee in the Netherlands. EuroParcs CEO Wouter Vos and Floris Sanders, Managing Director of Sanders Retail Groep, recently signed a cooperation agreement at EuroParcs De Achterhoek.

EuroParcs has launched a pilot project with unmanned stores in two parks in 2022: EuroParcs Ruinen and EuroParcs Achterhoek. The stores provide holiday park guests with the most important daily necessities and are at least 35 square meters in size. The two unmanned stores were so well received that EuroParcs decided to expand the concept further.

Exceptional services for guests

"The stores are tailor-made for EuroParcs," says Ellen Verburg, Commercial Concept Manager at EuroParcs. "In parks without restaurants, we open a store where guests can do their daily grocery shopping quickly and easily. In parks with dining options, there will be a variant where the range is similar to what you increasingly see at petrol stations. This mainly involves breakfast products such as fresh sandwiches, small meals, snacks, a range of drinks, hot and cold drinks and non-food.
Wouter Vos sees many advantages in working with unmanned stores. "This concept is an excellent example of how technology can help to provide our customers with an even better service. The stores offer extra convenience and it is a nice advantage that no staff is needed to operate the stores."

Local goods and complementary products

The unmanned park store is located near the reception so that someone is always available to answer questions during reception opening hours. Omise takes care of deliveries to the stores and draws guests' attention to them. The stores are equipped with technology in the form of narrowcasting and electronic shelf labels. "Ninety percent of the range in the EuroParcs is the same everywhere. We fill the remaining ten percent mainly with local goods and products. Or we offer swimming equipment, for example, if there is an outdoor pool or lake in the park," says Floris Sanders.

According to Verburg, more parks will open self-service stores in the future. "We are always looking for solutions to better serve our guests. The unmanned stores are an ideal solution, as they take the pressure off park staff and we can offer our guests an additional service. The concept, with a limited range of products consisting mainly of food and drink, is ideal for slightly smaller parks that do not have extensive catering facilities or an existing supermarket. The unmanned stores can develop into a place where visitors can not only shop, but also have a good cup of coffee or grill their panini.

SUP board rental via app

Verburg expects that in the future, concepts will be offered more frequently that require little or no staff in order to offer guests the best service. "In some parks, guests can already rent a SUP board via an app and a code that allows them to take the SUP board out of a locker," he says. In terms of fun and entertainment, there are also some activities that only require an app."

Verburg further states: "These concepts offer a lot of possibilities. At the same time, we think it's important that our guests stay in contact with the staff and feel that there is always someone there to answer questions and help when needed."

About EuroParcs

EuroParcs Group is an international company headquartered in Apeldoorn and soon in Amersfoort. The company focuses on the development of vacation parks, the sale of vacation homes to individuals and business investors and their rental throughout the year. EuroParcs offers a range of vacation parks in popular locations in several European countries. The company aims to offer original, innovative vacation parks and concepts for all target groups and is working to achieve international ambitions. Some 65 parks in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria are now part of the EuroParcs Group.

About Omise

Omise is an unmanned 24/7 retail concept at high-traffic locations in hotels, offices and leisure facilities. The concept is completely unstaffed. Omise operates the stores and takes care of purchasing, category management, sales, logistics and store maintenance. To this end, a platform with check-out, narrowcasting and electronic shelf labels is used. The intelligent, data-driven stores ensure a high level of customer activation, a positive shopping experience and increased sales.