Author: Archive

DHL will go ‘All the way’ in its new India push

Posted by | Feb 11, 2007 | |

DHL, the international express and logistics brand, has big-beam plans for the new-tiger markets of India and the Asia-Pacific Rim. Part and parcel of these ambitions is its new Asia-Pacific-specific ad campaign that the company will be unwrapping soon here, with the tag line: “All the way”. This replaces their ad sign-off: “No one knows Asia-Pacific like we do.”

The three TV spots called “CEO,” “Patience” and “Waiting” are created by Ogilvy & Mather, Singapore, and aims to deliver three edges for the DHL brand: easy to deal with, knowing and rewarding DHL customers, and innovative products and services.

Read More

Royal Mail offers free For Dummies® book on UK direct mail

Posted by | Feb 11, 2007 | |

The Royal Mail is offering free copies of “Direct Mail For Dummies®” which “provides the practical help and techniques you need to make mailshots work for you and your business”.

The 132-page book – it isn’t simply a PDF – includes tips and techniques for direct mail success, and is aimed at those with little or no experience of direct mail.

The title covers planning, execution and management of a successful mailshot. Appropriately for the Royal Mail, “it explains why direct mail is so successful and shows you how it can benefit your company in terms of customer relationships and your bottom line.”

While it is not directed at the charity sector, its content is likely to be just as relevant to charity staff as those at for-profit organisations.

To receive a free copy you simply need to register your contact details with the Royal Mail.

Read More

Chronopost to use French tobacconists as delivery points

Posted by | Feb 9, 2007 | |

La Poste parcels subsidiary Chronopost is to use a network of 3,000 French tobacconists as delivery and pick-up points for customers ordering online.

The new ‘Chrono Relais’ service is a payable option for clients who will not be at home to receive packages during the day and find a nearby tobacconist more convenient than visiting the post office. Tobacconists are also open longer hours.

Clients will also be able to drop-off parcels at the tobacco outlets, to be picked up later by Chronopost, and pay for sending them.

Read More

UK Post office closure proposals update

Posted by | Feb 9, 2007 | |

Postwatch, the watchdog for postal services, urges customers to have their say on the future of the post office network by responding to the government’s consultation, due to close on 8th
March.

The government is proposing to close up to 2,500 post offices throughout the UK, establish new minimum access criteria to maintain a national network, put in place 500 ‘outreach’ services such as mobile post offices, and continue to fund the rural network to 2011. These proposed changes seek to address the network’s current difficulties, with 90 percent of rural branches failing to make a profit, revenue from government transactions falling by GBP 68 million last year, and overall financial losses for the network expected to rise from GBP 111 million to GBP 200 million this year.

Commenting on the consultation, Millie Banerjee, Chair of Postwatch, said:
“The government’s proposals signal a massive change for the post office network, and anyone who uses these services should take an interest in the consultation.

“Postwatch has been urging the government to take action to address the current problems and to put in place a sustainable way of meeting customers’ post office needs. We therefore welcome the opportunity the consultation gives to contribute our thoughts on the appropriate next steps.

Read More

ComReg approves 15% rise in cost of Irish standard letter postage to 55 cent

Posted by | Feb 9, 2007 | |

The Irish Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has today, following a public consultation, concurred with An Post’s application for an interim increase in the price of the basic stamp from 1st March next.
ComReg is the National Regulatory Authority for the postal sector in Ireland and its prior approval is required for postal rate changes in the reserved area. While prices for domestic standard letters (up to 50g) will now be 55c, prices for mail in the 50-100g category (for example, a typical large letter) will fall from 60c to 55c. In addition, business customers using An Post’s Ceadúnas (Permit) services or meter franking machines will receive a discount of 1c per item, thereby paying no more than 54c for a basic letter.
According to ComReg, An Post outlined in its application that it has absorbed significant cost increases including wage increases of 18.9% under National Wage Agreements, since August 2003, when the price of posting a basic letter was last increased. These cost increases are clearly significant given the nature of the postal service. Other companies have been faced with similar cost increases, and as a result consumer prices generally have increased by almost 11% over the period August 2003 to December 2006. An Post estimates that its price proposals will increase postage costs by slightly less than consumer prices generally.

Read More

Royal Mail profits plummet 86%

Posted by | Feb 9, 2007 | |

UK postal provider Royal Mail has reported an 86% drop in first half profits following a massive increase in its pension deficit. The troubled group has said it is now hoping to close its final salary pension scheme to new employees in a bid to stem any further growth of the current GBP6.6 billion deficit.
Profits during the period between April and September 2006 dropped to GBP22 million, compared to GBP159 million during the same period a year earlier.

The pension deficit increased by GBP1 billion, as servicing costs grew from GBP280 million to GBP730 million during the last year. The postal operator currently employs around 190,000 workers, 167,000 of which pay into the pension scheme.

Chief executive Adam Crozier said the costs incurred by servicing the pension fund has led to a drop in competitiveness of the company, which means it will now be forced to raise the cost of its products and services to fund the scheme.

To ensure the problem does not worsen, Royal Mail has chosen to start a six month consultation period to decide whether to replace the current scheme for new staff.

Read More

USPS reports first quarter results

Posted by | Feb 9, 2007 | |

USPS reported a Fiscal Year 2007 first quarter loss of USD2.7 billion due to the accelerated funding of retiree health benefits mandated by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act signed into law on Dec. 20, 2006. The law requires the Postal Service to substantially fund its share of these benefits by 2017. Operationally, the Postal Service would have otherwise achieved a net income of USD1.2 billion, in line with its first quarter financial plan.

Revenue for the first quarter (ending December 31, 2006) was USD19.7 billion, an increase of 6.4 percent over the first quarter last year. This increase was driven by a 2.3 percent increase in mail volume. Standard mail volume grew by 4.9 percent. First-Class Mail volume for the quarter was virtually flat in relation to the first quarter the previous year.

Total Factor Productivity (TFP) increased by 1.9 percent over the first quarter of last year-the highest in the last eight quarters. TFP measures the relationship between workload and resource usage. The first quarter gain in productivity was driven by larger than expected growth in revenue and volume.

The new postal law eliminates the escrow previously required under Public Law 108-18 and reduces USPS payments into the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The USD3 billion in cash – that the Postal Service placed in a federally mandated escrow account in FY 2006 – is now designated to fund retiree health benefits. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) dictate the USD3 billion be reported as an expense in the quarter in which the law was enacted.

Read More

Post Danmark withdraws from Morgendistribution Danmark

Posted by | Feb 8, 2007 | |

Post Danmark has today decided to sell its shares in Morgendistribution Danmark A/S. The 49 per cent of the shares, which are held by Post Danmark, will be sold to 365 Media Scandinavia A/S, who thus will become the sole owner.

Last year, Post Danmark committed itself to establishing Morgendistribution Danmark because of the opening of an entirely new market for household distribution of free newspapers etc. early in the morning.

– We must now conclude that our expectations for this market cannot be fulfilled. This is due, among other things, to the restrictions that the competition authorities have put into their approval of the cooperation and that de facto make us a passive investor. The conditions in question will eliminate the strategic prospects of the cooperation and not make it possible for Post Danmark to contribute with know-how or otherwise, says Helge Israelsen, CEO.

Post Danmark estimates to have lost approximately DKK 10 million as a result of its involvement in Morgendistribution Danmark.

For more information: Helge Israelsen, CEO, tel. +45 33 75 40 00.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

Have you noticed a decrease of non-EU inbound parcel volumes since the implementation of the new €3 charge?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!


View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


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.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest