Global-Z Enhances Central & Eastern European Address Hygiene for Direct Marketers

Global-Z International, a bureau specializing in the data processing of international mailing addresses for global direct marketers, announced today the addition of Poland to their data processing service designed to help mailers initiate and maintain better direct mail communication with new and existing customers in Central & Eastern Europe, in general, and Poland specifically.

“We have seen a recent and growing demand for postal data processing for Central & Eastern European countries, such as Poland.” noted Sasha Garder, President at Global-Z. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in Poland has been strong and steady with its entry into the EU in 2004. Including planned incorporation of the Euro as its official currency scheduled for January 2012 (replacing the current official currency; Zloty), opportunities for Poland ‘s citizens, its neighboring EU members, and for direct marketers looking to add fuel to Poland ‘s economic engine, Garder added “Global-Z has seen growing demand for quality postal data hygiene. Working closely with Poczta Polska [ Poland ‘s official postal authority] we are now able to provide the high caliber of address standardization, correction and verification demanded by quality-, cost-conscious direct marketers. We continue to hear growing market interest focusing on Central and Eastern Europe.”

Garder noted that “our clients looking to enter new international markets often ask us for our experience and advice well before we ever begin working with their country-specific address data. We advise they look at Poland ‘s relatively impressive economic statistics in the region, coupled with a solid market awareness before entering any new international market.” In 2006 Poland ‘s GDP growth of 5.3 pct (vs. 3.2 pct in the US ) was fueled in large part by rising private consumption. Poland ‘s consumer price inflation (1.3 pct in 2006) was amongst the lowest in the EU. Business-to-business direct marketers catering to the computer, consumer electronics, and automobile component production industries may realize significant opportunity with foreign investment exceeding USD 10 billion in 2006 alone. Challenges which limit the private sector’s potential include an inefficient commercial court system, bureaucratic red tape and persistent corruption (source: The World Factbook, www.cia.gov).

Turkey and Croatia , also in negotiations for EU membership, will also get a close look from abroad from many perspectives– including that of direct marketers. Turkey is a country for which Global-Z provides direct marketers with postal address verification, correction and standardization at the street, city and post code levels of resolution. Additionally, this same level of Global-Z address resolution is available to mailers looking toward Hungary . Garder concluded, “As the EU expands its member states, direct marketers’ growing interest in these regions of opportunity will no doubt expand Global-Z’s Central and Eastern European response to market demand.”