Author: Archive

DHL welcomes visit of local MP Mike Penning to site

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

DHL was delighted to welcome local MP Mike Penning to its Hemel Hempstead site. On his visit, Mike aimed to find out how the company coped following the devastating explosion at the Buncefield oil storage depot in 2005. After having campaigned strongly on the Buncefield issue, Mike was interested to hear about the ‘can-do’ attitude of employees at the DHL site and the teamwork involved in ensuring business carried on as usual in spite of difficulties caused by the disaster.

Mike met and talked to local staff and heard about the DHL operation in Hemel Hempstead, which equates to 28 vehicles, the pick-up of 1,250 packages and 1,400 shipments per day. Mike was interested in finding out about the wide area covered by the service centre.

Reflecting DHL’s position as a local business, employing local people and providing a vital service for the local economy, DHL is always keen to develop strong relationships with local parliamentarians in order to understand the community better but also to brief MPs on relevant issues related to the company and its operations within their constituencies.

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C. H. Robinson Worldwide Names New Board Member

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (“C.H. Robinson”) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected a new director, Steve Polacek. Polacek, 47, is chief administrative officer and chief financial officer of Opus Corporation, a real estate development company specializing in office, industrial, retail, multifamily, government and institutional development. Polacek has served as CAO and CFO since 2005 and is responsible for overseeing the company’s activities in the areas of accounting, human resources, legal, and information technology.

Prior to joining Opus, Polacek was a partner in the Minneapolis office of Deloitte & Touche LLP. He also worked for Arthur Anderson LLP for 20 years, serving as managing partner of the Minneapolis office from 1995 to 2002. Polacek holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

With this appointment, the C.H. Robinson Board of Directors is comprised of nine directors, eight of whom are independent.

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Germany's Merkel plans to eliminate Deutsche Post's tax advantage

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to strip Deutsche Post AG of a tax advantage in order to appease the postal company’s competitors that deem the tax break unfair, Handelsblatt reported, citing government sources.

Under current fiscal rules, Deutsche Post’s basic postal services are exempt of the 19 pct value-added tax while comparable services provided by rivals are not, even after Deutsche Post’s monopoly on delivering letters expires at the end of the year, the paper said.

Merkel, backed by leaders of her party’s parliamentary group, wants to level that difference to allay anger over a minimum wage agreement for the postal services industry that logistics companies say puts them at a disadvantage against the dominant Deutsche Post, the paper reported, citing the sources.

Lawmaker are discussing whether the entire industry should be granted the tax break or whether the sales tax should be levied on Deutsche Post’s services,

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UPS Thailand growth slows due to sluggish economy

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

After relishing double-digit growth for the past two years, UPS Thailand is likely to experience slower growth in deliveries this year due to political uncertainty, sluggish economy and stronger baht, according to assistant marketing manager Phongchayut Ladavalya.

Thailand’s delivery business has been stagnant during the year as the stronger baht and economic slowdown have hurt exporters, which are UPS’s major customers.

Although the electronics industry continued to grow, some small and medium-sized enterprises have closed. The outlook for garments and jewellery also remains unpredictable.

During 2005-06, UPS Thailand’s delivery volume rose by more than 15 pct after rising 20 pct in 2004-05. Among Asia-Pacific countries, Thailand ranked no higher than sixth behind China, India, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

Thailand’s delivery market will not grow significantly this year, he said, as many players create stiff competition.

UPS believes its strengths include speed and the ability to handle sensitive cargoes.
UPS’s general niche market also include deliveries of hazardous goods such as chemicals that commercial airlines typically refuse to handle, and medical items including blood samples or cells that need special services like storage with temperature control.

Mr Phongchayut said competition in the courier business was focused on three areas: services, technology and networking. Services cover speed and guarantee a specific time instead of just a delivery date. UPS offers services known as time definite-express plus, or guaranteed delivery before 8:30-9 am, before noon and or before 5 pm.

Meanwhile, technology will help customers reduce costs and save time. These include a tracking system through call centres, short messaging services and a website that can be integrated into a customer’s back-end system.

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TNT Indonesia expands facilities to cater growing market demands

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

The economic potential of Indonesia has encouraged TNT, Amsterdam-based international express operator, to further its commitment in the country. With the growing demand of customers, recently TNT inaugurates its new office located in the heart of South Jakarta business district, Jl. Antasari Raya, Cilandak and deployed 40 additional Mobile Workers. These facilities are part of TNT’s continued investment in Indonesia and TNT’s aggressive expansion in Southeast Asia region to achieve 10 to 15 percent revenue growth for 2007.

The new premise is a four-stories building, supported with on-line system connected to TNT’s network capabilities in technology. It will provide services to existing TNT’s customers based in Southern Jakarta, which are mainly oil and mining companies for heavyweight shipments services. With the new office, TNT looks forward to seize more business opportunities and enlarge its market share in express industry.

Previously, TNT has established offices in Kelapa Gading, Karawaci, Taman Soewarna Cengkareng, Cibitung, and CBD Sudirman, which covers key business centers in Jabodetabek with prominent customers from manufacturing, telecommunications, oil and mining, and life sciences.

Adjacent to the new office opening, TNT also distributes around 40 Mobile Worker units throughout its offices in Indonesia, which complements the existing 95 units in operations. Mobile Worker is a wireless hand held devices supported with scanner, which enables Ground Service Agents/couriers to receive new job allocations as well as send and receive consignment pick up and delivery information through one device in real-time manner.

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Improved Postal Service Address Labels Now Available

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

The U.S. Postal Service is offering more visible, more durable address marking labels that can help letter carriers and emergency personnel more easily find addresses.
Manufactured by U.S. Stamp and Sign of Cookeville, TN, the premium address marking labels are available at OfficeMax supply stores and can be put anywhere ordinary labels can — on porch posts, front doors or mailboxes.
The three-inch-high reflective stickers are laminated with a durable surface which resists fading, scratching and weathering, while the reflective material makes numbers and letters easier to read.
Premium address marking labels are some of the many products licensed by the Postal Service, which include apparel, fashion accessories, packaging and shipping products, toys and games.
“Our licensing program provides additional opportunities to reach customers and to attract new ones,” said Vice President of Product Development Nick Barranca. “The Postal Service is one of the most recognizable and respected brands in the country, and we’re proud to place our name on such a fine product ” he added.

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Crozier breaks cover on Royal Mail strike

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

The news that we may be in for weeks or even months more disruption to the postal service is not only a serious matter for businesses all over the country, it is also meat and drink to the Royal Mail’s increasingly aggressive rivals. A simple fact of modern commercial life – one which seems to have totally escaped the notice of the striking posties – is that every hour of disruption further weakens the Royal Mail’s already shaky prospects for long term recovery.

In an interview with Royal Mail’s Chief Excutive Adam Crozier, the stark revelation that the Royal Mail’s rivals are 40 pct more efficient and pay their staff 25 pct less that was the real take home message.
Unless its entire workforce wakes up to the reality of what those numbers actually mean, and to the fact that Royal Mail is no longer a state monopoly but has to earn its living these days like the rest of us, then none of them – from the sorting office to the boardroom – deserves to keep their jobs.

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UPS Survey: American businesses missing global opportunities

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

Most of America’s small- and mid-sized businesses have failed to explore the significant growth opportunities offered by an increasingly global economy. Indeed, a new survey conducted for UPS shows 67 percent of the nation’s small-to-mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) are still chaining themselves to the U.S. economy.

The inaugural UPS Business Monitor United States, a survey of 600 business decision-makers conducted by the marketing insight firm TNS, found that only 33 percent reported participating in any cross-border trade. Of those, 15 percent are importers and nine percent exporters. Nine percent do both.

“The survey shows that many American SMEs haven’t gone global yet,” said David Abney, chief operating officer of UPS. “And if they don’t take part in trade, they stand to lose their competitive edge in a business environment that continues to transcend international borders. For example, McKinsey** estimates that nearly 1 billion new consumers are expected to enter the global marketplace over the next decade as a result of economic growth in emerging markets, creating a significant opportunity for American small businesses.”

Survey respondents cite many reasons for not engaging in international trade, including a perception that it is too risky, a lack of knowledge about international markets, unfamiliarity with customs regulations and disinterest in expanding business beyond U.S. borders.

Among businesses that either import or export, 45 percent perceive global trade as a benefit while 18 percent see it as a disadvantage. Slightly more than half – 52 percent – say global expansion will help them remain competitive or create an opportunity to increase profits. One out of every four believes that global expansion could lead to competition that will cut into profits.

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