Penguin Pick-Up
Penguin Pick-Up is a Canadian neighborhood package network offering self-service 24-hour lockers and partner parcel shops for package pickup, returns, and multi-courier shipping, serving individual consumers, retail partner hosts, and e-commerce merchants across Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersConcord, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Penguin Pick-Up does
Penguin Pick-Up is a Canadian neighborhood package network operating self-service 24-hour locker facilities and a partner-hosted parcel shop network for package collection, shipping, and returns. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, structured as a private limited partnership (Penguin Pick-Up Limited Partnership, by its general partner Penguin Pick-Up G.P. Inc.). Founder Mitchell Goldhar is publicly identified as Owner & Founder. Core products include locker-based parcel storage in three standardized compartment sizes, a 30-day subscription service, a multi-courier returns aggregation service, and a single-counter shipping rate comparison offering. The technical platform comprises a mobile app for account management and real-time notifications, a 'Share Code' system authorizing third-party pickup, a Smart Locker system with automated drop-and-collect workflows, and backend integrations with Stripe for payments, Google Maps Platform for location services, and social-login providers for onboarding.
The business model is multi-stream. Revenue derives from monthly subscription fees, per-use storage charges of $3.99 per 48-hour period (with first 2 days included for subscribers), flat commissions paid to Partner Shop retail hosts on each parcel handled, and transactional shipping margins from the multi-courier rate comparison counter. GTM is predominantly product-led and digital-first: subscription sign-ups and account management occur through the app and website, while physical distribution is built via the Partner Shop program, which recruits retail stores with no hardware or setup fees. The company serves three customer segments: individual Canadian consumers (primary), retail partner shops hosting lockers (secondary), and e-commerce businesses seeking returns and shipping access (secondary).
Distribution relies on partnerships with major Canadian couriers including Purolator, DHL Express Canada, FedEx, UPS, Canada Post, Canpar, ICS Courier, Nationex, and Pickpack, as well as retail hosts such as Walmart, IKEA, and London Drugs. Penguin Pick-Up does not own delivery capacity; it monetizes the physical access layer between couriers and end consumers. The publicly disclosed management team is limited to Fernando C. Vescio as SVP, Human Resources and Corporate Services, with a SmartCentres email domain suggesting alignment with SmartCentres REIT. The company operates solely in Canada with no disclosed international footprint, maintains 11-50 employees, and has no disclosed venture funding rounds or public listing.
Penguin Pick-Up firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Penguin Pick-Up
- Legal name
- Penguin Pick-Up Limited Partnership, by its general partner, Penguin Pick-Up G.P. Inc.
- Website
- https://penguinpickup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Penguin Pick-Up is a Canadian neighborhood package network offering self-service 24-hour lockers and partner parcel shops for package pickup, returns, and multi-courier shipping, serving individual consumers, retail partner hosts, and e-commerce merchants across Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Penguin Pick-Up industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Parcel Pickup and Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921), Couriers and Messengers (492)
- SIC
- Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carrier-Owned Parcel Locker Networks (TLAAAMAA)
Keywords
Where Penguin Pick-Up is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Concord
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Penguin Pick-Up business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Subscription Fees: Monthly subscription service providing 30-day subscription periods with included storage for first 2 days per parcel. Subscribers pay recurring monthly fees for access to locker and parcel shop network.
- Usage-Based Storage Fees: Per-use customers pay $3.99 per 2-day period (48 hours) for package storage. For subscribers, first 2 days are included; additional periods cost $3.99 each. Fees accumulate until package pickup or abandonment at Day 15.
- Partner Shop Commission: Retail stores that become Partner Shops earn flat commission on every parcel pickup and drop-off. No hardware costs or setup fees required for partners.
- Shipping Services: Customers can ship packages using rates from multiple courier partners, with Penguin Pick-Up serving as a shipping counter location
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-as-you-go storage |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly subscription with included storage |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Penguin Pick-Up product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Penguin Pick-Up operates a Canadian package collection and shipping network combining self-service 24-hour lockers with partner-hosted parcel shops. Subscribers receive parcels from multiple couriers at a single convenient location, with the first two days of storage included in the monthly subscription and additional storage billed at $3.99 per two-day period. The company also offers multi-courier returns drop-off and a shipping counter where customers can compare rates from carriers such as Purolator, FedEx, DHL, UPS, and Canada Post.
Product overview
Penguin Pick-Up is a Canadian neighborhood package network offering a unified platform combining locker-based and parcel shop-based collection services. The core offering consists of self-service 24-hour lockers and third-party hosted parcel shops where subscribers can collect, ship, and return packages. The ecosystem includes a 30-day Subscription Service for ongoing access with flexible tiers, a Returns Service allowing multi-courier drop-offs at single locations, and a Shipping Service for comparing rates across courier partners. Lockers are available in three standard sizes (small, medium, and large) to accommodate parcels of varying dimensions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Penguin Pickup Locker Service
Quantifiable outcome
- Secure package storage preventing porch theft
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Penguin Pick-Up
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Penguin Pick-Up technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Penguin Pick-Up partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PurolatorcorePurolator is a major Canadian courier partner enabling package pickup, drop-off, and returns services through Penguin Pick-Up locations. The partnership helps grow access points for Canadians and enables a one-stop solution for returns, shipping and pickups. Penguin Pick-Up is featured as a trusted partner brand on the website.
- DHL Express CanadacoreDHL Express Canada partners with Penguin Pick-Up for access points and package services. DHL values Penguin Pick-Up's innovative mindset and collaborative approach, describing them as an exceptional partner. DHL logo appears on the partner brands section.
- FedExcoreFedEx is a courier partner integrated into the Penguin Pick-Up network, allowing customers to receive and return FedEx packages at convenient locker and parcel shop locations. FedEx logo appears on the trusted partner brands section.
- UPScoreUPS is integrated into the Penguin Pick-Up network as a courier partner. Customers can receive UPS packages at locker locations and access UPS return services. UPS logo appears on the trusted partner brands section.
- Canada PostcoreCanada Post is a courier partner enabling package delivery and returns through Penguin Pick-Up locations. The partnership expands delivery options for Canadians. Canada Post logo appears on the trusted partner brands section.
- CanparminorCanpar is a courier partner integrated into the Penguin Pick-Up network. Canpar logo appears on the trusted partner brands section.
- ICS CourierminorICS Courier is a courier partner integrated into the Penguin Pick-Up network. ICS Courier logo appears on the trusted partner brands section.
- NationexminorNationex is a courier partner integrated into the Penguin Pick-Up network. Nationex logo appears on the trusted partner brands section.
- PickpackminorPickpack is a courier partner integrated into the Penguin Pick-Up network. Pickpack logo appears on the trusted partner brands section.
- WalmartminorWalmart is listed as a trusted brand partner. The nature of the partnership appears to involve Penguin Pick-Up services being available at or near Walmart locations.
- IKEAminorIKEA is listed as a trusted brand partner, suggesting Penguin Pick-Up services are available at IKEA locations or through an IKEA partnership.
- London DrugsminorLondon Drugs is listed as a trusted brand partner, suggesting Penguin Pick-Up lockers or parcel shops are available at London Drugs locations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Penguin Pick-Up competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Bringg: Bringg is a last-mile delivery orchestration platform connecting retailers, couriers, and pickup/drop-off points. Overlaps with Penguin Pick-Up in last-mile network management and multi-carrier orchestration for e-commerce delivery.
Direct peers
- Luxer One: Luxer One provides package locker systems to apartment buildings, retail centers, and corporate campuses across North America. Closely comparable in target customer (residential/retail) and lock-and-go package collection model.
- InPost: InPost is the leading global parcel locker network operating across Europe with expanding presence in North America. Directly comparable to Penguin Pick-Up as a PUDO/parcel locker aggregator serving e-commerce parcel pickup needs.
- Parcel Pending (Quadient): Parcel Pending, acquired by Quadient, provides smart locker solutions for residential, retail, and commercial properties in North America. Direct competitor in the parcel locker-as-a-service category serving multi-family and retail customers.
- Packcity: Packcity operates an extensive network of connected parcel lockers in retail and transit locations across Europe. Comparable in operating model (urban retail/transport parcel lockers with multi-carrier support) to Penguin Pick-Up's locker network.
Others
- Narvar: Narvar is a post-purchase customer experience platform with strength in returns management. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but the companies converge in the multi-carrier returns aggregation use case.
- BufferBox: BufferBox was a Canadian parcel locker startup acquired by Google in 2012, later rebranded as Google BufferBox and subsequently shut down. Closely comparable historical Canadian peer whose failure illustrates the difficulty of scaling parcel lockers as a standalone business.
Broad incumbents
- Purolator Pickup Points: Purolator maintains its own network of retail pickup points (convenience stores and partner shops) across Canada. While Penguin Pick-Up is also a Purolator access-point partner, Purolator's direct retail network remains a comparable competitor.
- Canada Post FlexDelivery: Canada Post operates the FlexDelivery service allowing Canadians to have parcels delivered to postal outlets for free pickup. As the national postal operator with the broadest physical presence, it is the dominant incumbent in Canadian pickup-point delivery.
- Amazon Hub & Amazon Counter: Amazon Hub Locker and Amazon Counter run a vast network of pickup points primarily for Amazon parcels but increasingly third-party. Represents a major incumbent competitor with deep capital and parcel volume density.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Penguin Pick-Up social profiles
Digital presencePenguin Pick-Up financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Penguin Pick-Up leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Penguin Pick-Up funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Penguin Pick-Up M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Penguin Pick-Up
What does Penguin Pick-Up do?
Penguin Pick-Up operates a Canadian package collection and shipping network combining self-service 24-hour lockers with partner-hosted parcel shops. Subscribers receive parcels from multiple couriers at a single convenient location, with the first two days of storage included in the monthly subscription and additional storage billed at $3.99 per two-day period. The company also offers multi-courier returns drop-off and a shipping counter where customers can compare rates from carriers such as Purolator, FedEx, DHL, UPS, and Canada Post.
Is Penguin Pick-Up a public or private company?
Penguin Pick-Up is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Penguin Pick-Up founded?
Penguin Pick-Up was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Penguin Pick-Up based?
Penguin Pick-Up is headquartered in Concord, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Penguin Pick-Up make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Fees are the primary driver. The others are usage-Based Storage Fees, partner Shop Commission and shipping Services.
Who are Penguin Pick-Up's main competitors?
Bringg is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Luxer One, InPost, Parcel Pending (Quadient) and Packcity. Others are Narvar and BufferBox. Broad incumbents are Purolator Pickup Points, Canada Post FlexDelivery and Amazon Hub & Amazon Counter.
Does Penguin Pick-Up have an API?
No public API is recorded for Penguin Pick-Up.
What industry is Penguin Pick-Up in?
Penguin Pick-Up's product category is Parcel Pickup and Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAAAMAA, Carrier-Owned Parcel Locker Networks. Its NAICS code is 4921 and its SIC code is 4210.