The advertising recession appears to have bypassed direct mail, which had a boom year last year, according to ACNielsen MailTrack. Direct mail activity grew by 30 per cent in 2001, which is over and above a 25 per cent expansion of ACNielsen’s household panel, which now totals 800.
Read MoreConsignia should abandon plans to close thousands of urban post offices and allow them more time to develop new income streams, the Liberal Democrats urged today.
Many post office branches are already struggling for profitability and are threatened with losing a further 40% of their income when the Government starts to pay benefits directly into bank accounts in two years’ time.
The Liberal Democrats believe that up to 3,000 of the 8,500 urban branches could close in a programme which will cost the Government GBP 180 million in compensation payments.
Transport and construction company the Malcolm Group has vowed to increase logistics operations as its customers cut down on transport suppliers.
Jim Clarke, MD of the group’s logistics division, told IFW: “The business is moving on from being merely a straight road transport provider. We are going to become more and more involved in customers’ supply chains.”
UK industry underestimates the growth potential in the Portuguese market, according to Peter Cross, director of freight forwarder Arends International, based in the Merseyside town of Newton-le-Willows.
“It is an up and coming country, but still tends to be looked upon as the poor relation when compared with neighbouring Spain.
“Sadly, Portugal misses out, because Spain is the larger market of the two.
Read MoreThe death knell sounded for Channel Tunnel rail freight last week as stowaways continued to cause havoc, prompting a leading integrator on the route to reveal plans to redirect cargo via Benelux ports.
Read MoreCabinet approval Friday of part of a package of bills on postal service deregulation has heightened concerns among post offices in underpopulated areas about the possibility that they might suffer in fierce competition with the private sector.
The package of four bills is designed to allow private firms to offer mail services and establish a new public corporation to take over the existing postal services: mail, postal savings and life insurance.
Consignia has added Post Office foreign exchange services to the list of businesses it intends to out-source as part of a Pounds 1.2bn cost-saving plan. The group, which is losing Pounds 1.5m a day, has struck a deal with First Rate Enterprises, a subsidiary of Bank of Ireland.
Read MoreUK Ministers will come under pressure this week to seek fresh talks with the US aimed at liberalising air services across the Atlantic.
Several government departments, most importantly the Treasury, the Department of Transport, and the Department of Trade and Industry disagree, however, on the best way to approach Washington over an issue that has long soured relations.
Officials have failed to reconcile differing views within the government. It is expected that Tony Blair will be forced to intervene to seek a compromise, triggering another round of heavy lobbying by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.
