More near-instant e-commerce delivery

It’s been a few years since we wrote about quick-delivery e-commerce companies MaxDelivery, Lickety Ship and Zifty, but recently we came across a new contender in the field. Launched last December, London-based Shutl also gives online shoppers a way to get their goods delivered almost immediately. Users of Shutl can choose to receive their order within 90 minutes of purchase, or they can select a one-hour delivery window at any point in the future, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Shutl integrates directly into the ordering systems of its retail partners—which currently include Argos, Start London and Laithwaites Wine—and shows up simply as a branded delivery option. When customers opt to use Shutl, it sends a courier to collect their purchases from the store and then delivers it within the chosen timeframe; customers can even track their deliveries in real time on a GPS-enabled map. Pricing for Shutl delivery starts at GBP 4.95. Since its launch, Shutl has focused on the London area, but it plans to roll out across the rest of the UK in the coming months, with international expansion after that. One to partner with in your neck of the instant-gratification woods? (Related: Sears combines online shopping with curbside pickup — Emergency wardrobe service for hotel guests — Amazon.com’s local express delivery.)