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Postcards make a comeback as holidaymakers nostalgic for traditional messages (UK)

Posted by | Jul 17, 2008 | |

The humble postcard is making a comeback, according to figures which suggest the texting generation has not abandoned the art of writing completely.

The glory days of the picture postcard was in post-war Britain.

Years after their demise was predicted, postcards are landing on British doormats in greater numbers than ever before.

The rise has been driven by nostalgia as holidaymakers return to sending traditional messages.

According to Royal Mail, 135 million post cards were delivered last year, an increase of 30 million compared to 2003.

Museums and other attractions have started to sell postcards in far greater numbers, according to a spokesman at the Royal Mail, explaining why so many more cards were being sent.

The increasing number of foreign holidays and short breaks has also helped to spark the renaissance of the humble 6 inch by 4 inch card.

The revival of the postcard goes some way to offsetting the slow demise of the stamped letter.

The Royal Mail, two months ago, admitted it handled three million fewer stamped letters each day.

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Amazon, others to suck up holiday shipping costs

Posted by | Jul 17, 2008 | |

Online retailers cannot afford to raise shipping prices. The high cost of fuel is hurting the wallets of American consumers and businesses alike, but online retailer Amazon.com Inc and others will likely forgo shipping price increases on its discount programs this upcoming holiday shopping season for fear of alienating hard-pressed shoppers in the weak economy.

Long-term contracts with shippers may insulate Amazon and some others, even as companies small and large scramble to find other costs to cut. Margins could suffer more as time goes on, but the biggest companies could watch smaller rivals fade away as the move to online shopping continues to accelerate.

Avoiding shipping price hikes may appear foolhardy — after all, the cost of diesel fuel has risen 154 percent in the last year. But companies such as Amazon and Overstock.com Inc rely on low or free shipping to stoke business in good times — so any rise in bad times could be a major problem.

Free shipping is a major competitive advantage for Amazon, which has already been lowering prices to stave off rivals, said Forrester analyst Sucharita Mulpuru.

U.S. carriers like United Parcel Service Inc, FedEx Corp and the U.S. Postal Service have been raising prices due to higher fuel costs.

But Amazon and some brick-and-mortar companies with major online businesses say they’ve largely been able to insulate themselves by being more efficient elsewhere in their businesses, whether through better distribution or less waste.

Overstock will not raise its blanket USD 2.95 shipping price on a full order, and fuel increases have not affected the company’s profit margins, Chief Executive Patrick Byrne said.

Large online shippers have bargaining leverage over transport carriers when it comes to contracts, Amazon and Overstock said.

However, smaller online retailers that aren’t as nimble as Amazon will be struggling this holiday with higher fuel costs and be forced to raise shipping prices.

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FedEx Corp. Reports fourth quarter and full year earnings

Posted by | Jul 17, 2008 | |

FedEx Corp. (reported a loss of USD 0.78 per share for the fourth quarter ended May 31, compared to earnings of USD 1.96 per diluted share a year ago. The quarter’s results include the previously announced charge of USD 891 million (USD 696 million, net of tax, or USD 2.22 per diluted share) related predominately to one-time, non-cash asset impairment charges. These charges were associated with the decision to minimize the use of the Kinko’s trade name and a reduction in the value of the goodwill resulting from the Kinko’s acquisition. Last year’s fourth quarter included a USD 0.06 per diluted share net benefit from a settlement with Airbus related to the A380 aircraft order cancellation. Excluding these items, earnings were USD 1.45 per diluted share in the fourth quarter compared to USD 1.90 per diluted share a year ago.

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Postal department ropes in Ogilvy & Mather (India)

Posted by | Jul 17, 2008 | |

The Department of Post has stepped into a high gear for a total revamp of its image. It has partnered with Ogilvy and Mather (O&M) to help design a new logo and new uniforms to keep up with its new image.

This project christened “Project Arrow” has been launched to initially upgrade 500 post offices, across 10 circles, mostly in rural areas, by the end of this calendar year.

Under the project, 500 post offices will receive a makeover, to represent the standardisation of quality. The department of posts has developed standardised and consistent interior and exterior blueprints for 500 post offices and will install uniform modular furniture across the post offices.

All the mails and parcels will henceforth be tracked till the time they are not delivered to the desired destination. “The first phase of this project covering 50 post offices will be flagged off on the 15th of August.

The rest of the 450 will be completed by the end of December,” said Scindia. “After gauging the success of this pilot project, we hope to implement this in the rest of the post offices across the country,” he added. At present, there are over 1,55,000 post offices, of which 26,000 are department post offices.

The minister also pointed out that over 500 postal employees have undergone training to provide the best service to customers.

Specialised training package for these 500 post offices have been designed and training has been initiated. Meanwhile, all the post offices under the project will be broadband-enabled, for technological upgrade of these post offices.

However, only over 20 per cent of the total mailing comprises personal mailing, which has been affected by the increased teledensity in the country and decreasing call rates by mobile phone operators. The increased usage of emails has also affected the personal mailing segment of the postal department.

Though the minister did not comment on the funds invested in Project Arrow, he said the funds were accounted for in the Budget and have been invested through internal accruals.

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FedEx Corp. Reports fourth quarter and full year earnings

Posted by | Jul 16, 2008 | |

FedEx Corp. reported a loss of USD 0.78 per share for the fourth quarter ended May 31, compared to earnings of USD 1.96 per diluted share a year ago. The quarter’s results include the previously announced charge of USD 891 million (USD 696 million, net of tax, or USD 2.22 per diluted share) related predominately to one-time, non-cash asset impairment charges. These charges were associated with the decision to minimize the use of the Kinko’s trade name and a reduction in the value of the goodwill resulting from the Kinko’s acquisition. Last year’s fourth quarter included a USD 0.06 per diluted share net benefit from a settlement with Airbus related to the A380 aircraft order cancellation. Excluding these items, earnings were USD 1.45 per diluted share in the fourth quarter compared to USD 1.90 per diluted share a year ago.
Full Year Results
FedEx Corp. reported the following consolidated results for the full year:
• Revenue of USD 38.0 billion, up 8 pct from USD 35.2 billion the previous year
• Operating income of USD 2.08 billion, down 37 pct from USD 3.28 billion last year
• Net income of USD 1.13 billion, down 44 pct from last year’s USD 2.02 billion
• Earnings per share of USD 3.60, down 44 pct from USD 6.48 per share a year ago
Capital spending for fiscal 2008 was USD 2.9 billion. Fiscal 2007 results also included costs associated with upfront compensation and benefits under the new pilot labor contract at FedEx Express, which reduced second quarter earnings by approximately USD 0.25 per diluted share. Excluding the above items, earnings were USD 5.83 per diluted share for the year compared to USD 6.67 per diluted share a year ago.

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The government may consider privatization or listing of Estonian Post

Posted by | Jul 16, 2008 | |

Meelis Atonen, member of the supervisory board of Eesti Post, told Eesti Päevaleht that the government is well aware of the need that the company needs an international investor since next year the Estonian postal market will be fully liberalised and it could lose its lucrative business.

Atonen did not wish to name any potential buyers. Also Ahti Kallaste, member of the company’s board, did not wish to specify who could be the potential investor and said that the decisions about the company’s future will be made in the middle of August.

The company’s board is also actively considering a plan to list its shares on the Tallinn Stock Exchange.

Eesti Post has recently announced that it plans to sell the building of its former postal office in Tallinn.

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DHL rolls out safety courses for the logistics sector (UK)

Posted by | Jul 16, 2008 | |

DHL Exel Supply Chain has created a series of courses to help companies in the UK improve their health and safety records and reduce costs.

The course includes 30 practical and desk-based modules on first aid, manual handling, fire safety and driving techniques, and has also been designed to help trainers improve their skills and provide a more effective way of teaching.

It was initially developed for the company’s Patient Transport Services business, but after receiving a Gold Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents DHL decided to make the programme more widely available.

The company also has plans to roll out the initiative in other countries once it is established in the UK.

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Awards for city's TNT branch

Posted by | Jul 16, 2008 | |

The Edinburgh operation of business-to-business express delivery giant TNT has picked up two top honours at an international awards ceremony.

The company branch at Turnhouse Road picked up two trophies at the annual IFW Freighting Industry Awards, winning the Express Operator of the Year and Customer Care categories.

The Express Operator category was voted for by customers, while TNT’s winning Customer Care submission outlined 16 new customer-led initiatives the firm had put in place in the past year.

Edinburgh Depot general manager Ailsa Webb said: “This is a real coup for the business. We have won many honours in the past but this is the first time we have won two awards that are so clearly linked to our customers.”

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