The complete guide to white glove delivery

White glove delivery is now a £55 billion ($75 billion ) industry, with no signs of slowing growth. But what exactly is this high-end delivery service? When should you use it? And what are its challenges and benefits?

What is white glove delivery?

White glove delivery is a premium delivery service that transports items with extreme care and attention to detail. It takes delivery beyond the doorstep, and includes scheduled delivery slots, real-time tracking, room of choice, setup, and the removal of packaging.

White glove delivery is the delivery method of choice for:

High-value items that are sentimental or expensive
Fragile items that need careful handling
Bulky goods that require more than one courier
Deliveries with custom requirements, such as medical devices

Why is it called white glove delivery?

Historically, butlers, waiters, and handlers of fine art wore white gloves to protect the objects they touched and maintain a pristine appearance.

While modern white glove delivery doesn’t involve any glove wearing, the term is synonymous with the same level of care, expertise, and professionalism associated with those traditional roles.

How does white glove delivery work?

Generally, white glove delivery involves the following steps:

Online booking and quotation

Use our online platform to get instant quotes and book your white glove delivery.

Specialised collection & delivery instructions

We carefully load and secure your items according to your specific instructions, using specialised equipment when needed to prevent damage during transit.

Dedicated delivery

Your items are transported in dedicated vehicles, often with special features like padding, temperature control, or unique handling capabilities.

Expert handling

Our network of trained professionals expertly handle the delivery, unloading, and placement of your items in your preferred location.

Installation and product placement

If required, our team can assemble and install items according to manufacturer guidelines or your specifications.

Packaging removal

We remove all packaging materials and debris, disposing of them properly to leave the delivery area clean and tidy.

Consignee notifications

Using our real-time driver app, your customers receive expected delivery windows that they can track in real-time.

Benefits of white glove delivery

White glove logistics delivers miles more value, including:

Reduced damage risk

Specialist handling, packaging, and transportation techniques minimise the risk of damage to fragile, sensitive, or high-value items during transit.

Vehicle fleet

With access to a diverse fleet of vehicles – from small vans to articulated lorries – you can deliver anything with complete confidence.

Professional installation and setup

No more faffing with assembly, installation, and waste removal – with white glove delivery, the experts do it for you.

Enhanced customer experience

Precise delivery windows and personalisation are no longer nice-to-haves; they come as standard.

Real-time tracking

You and your customers get complete visibility of the journey through real-time tracking and updates – adding transparency and removing uncertainty.

Fully customisable

Got tricky requirements? From temperature control to complex installation, white glove delivery can handle it all.

Expertise and reliability

White glove delivery teams are highly trained and experienced, providing a level of expertise and reliability that standard shipping services simply can’t match.

Time savings

By handling every aspect of delivery from start to finish, white glove services save you valuable time and effort.

Specialised items need specialised delivery. Experience the white glove difference.

Challenges of white glove delivery

While white glove delivery offers numerous benefits, there are some challenges to consider:

Higher costs

The specialised handling, equipment, and labour involved in white glove services make it more expensive than standard delivery, but you get what you pay for.

Complexity

White glove logistics like scheduling, planning routes, and manoeuvring high-value or fragile goods requires more time and attention than standard delivery.

White glove delivery use cases

Home goods account for 35-40% of the white glove delivery market, and if you’ve ever tried to move a sofa yourself, you’ll understand why. White glove delivery is pivotal for navigating items like washing machines and furniture upstairs or through tight doorways.

White glove delivery is crucial to life sciences. Temperature-controlled vehicles transport sensitive and highly regulated items, such as vaccines, biological samples, and other medical and pharmaceutical products.

medical pots within a cooled delivery box

Third-party logistics (3PL) providers rely on white glove delivery to meet the specialised needs of their clients. This can include the transportation of high-value or oversized items, such as industrial equipment, artwork, or antiques.

artwork wrapped in protection for transporting

Hospitals and clinics use white-glove carriers to transport MRI machines, CT scanners, and complex medical equipment. Proper unpacking and installation by trained personnel is crucial for safety.

man delivering pharmaceutical box to person

White glove delivery ensures heavy and oversized items make it to construction sites safely and keep projects on schedule.

construction worker opening delivery crate

Electronics and IT equipment are expensive and delicate. White glove delivery ensures items are carefully transported and set up, minimising the risk of damage.

box with a technical device protected with foam padding

The aerospace industry uses white glove delivery to transport sensitive parts like engines and satellites, plus ADR courier services to safely handle hazardous materials.

White glove delivery with Firstpoint Logistics

Sending something special? Put your delivery in hands you can trust.

Personalised service

From careful handling and packaging to professional installation and setup, we tailor our white glove service to your requirements.

Specialised equipment

Our extensive fleet includes purpose-built vehicles and equipment designed to handle even the most challenging deliveries.

You name it, we deliver it

Time-critical delivery? No sweat. 60 minutes is all it takes for us to collect your consignment. Just tell us where and when, and we’ll have it on the road in no time.

Anytime, any place

Our deliveries aren’t limited to office hours. Choose flexible scheduling options – including after-hours and weekend delivery.

Global coverage, local expertise

No matter where your shipments need to go, we’ve got you covered. Our extensive network of white glove delivery partners spans over 220 countries worldwide.

Dedicated support

Our dedicated support team is available around the clock to answer your questions, provide updates, and ensure a smooth delivery experience.

When ordinary won’t do, choose white glove delivery.

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FAQs

White glove delivery differs from standard delivery by offering a highly personalised experience focused on care and precision. While standard delivery transports items, white glove delivery includes meticulous handling, unpacking, and installation of high-value and delicate goods.
Any item that demands meticulous attention and secure handling. This includes high-value, delicate, or complex items, such as luxury goods, legal documents, and oversized items.
Yes. Our trained professionals will handle your items with care and place them exactly where you need them – whether it’s within a single room or across multiple levels of a building.
Yes. It includes unpacking, assembly, setup, and the removal of packaging materials.