Tag: Europe

Postwatch’s evidence to the Independent Review of the Postal Market

Posted by | May 19, 2008 | |

Postwatch, the watchdog for postal services, has today submitted to the Independent Review Panel answers to forty questions principally relating to the provision of the universal postal service (UPS). Postwatch also submitted and published the research it commissioned about the value of the universal service to customers.

Millie Banerjee, CBE, Chair of Postwatch said: “Postwatch is doing all it can to help the Independent Review Panel come forward with recommendations that overtly take account of customer needs. Postwatch is a keen supporter of a sustainable universal postal service which meets the needs of senders and receivers. We are acutely aware that declining mail volumes and the recent announcement by the Royal Mail that the UPS has become loss making give customers real cause for concern about the future of the service they value.”

Postwatch’s research is wide ranging and assesses; whether the current universal service fulfils customer needs and expectations, the sustainability of the universal service in the light of market changes; and alternative mechanisms for funding the universal service.

A summary of the research into the User needs of the Universal Service is attached at the end of this release. The main points from the customer perspective being:
• Next day delivery, reliability (in terms of published performance target being met) and deliveries to the door are valued;
• The frequency of collections should be included in the UPS but no strong preference for more than 5 days a week;
• Strong support for one price goes everywhere postage and recognition that current postage prices are affordable; and
• Homes but not all businesses value 6 deliveries a week.

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DHL Russia to launch cargo flights from St. Petersburg to Helsinki

Posted by | May 19, 2008 | |

DHL plans to launch regular cargo flights this month from St. Petersburg to Helsinki in cooperation with an undisclosed St. Petersburg-based operator under its planned $250 million investment in the country by 2010, Russian media reported.
The Antonov AN-26, a twin-engined light turboprop transport aircraft originally made in Ukraine, will effect 5 cargo flights a week. By 2010, the company expects to increase the number of domestic flights to seven. The freighter has the capacity to transport about 5 tons of cargo and expected to fly 2-3 tons per flight initially. If the launch of the new cargo flights turns out to be profitable, DHL might buy AN-26 from the Russian partner. The value of the freighter is estimated to about €500,000, Adrian Marley, managing director of DHL Russia, said in a statement.

DHL has been operating in Russia since 1984. The company has more than 130 offices and agencies and a fleet of more than 550 vehicles in the country.

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Romanian Fan Courier records sales increase of 59pct in Q1 2008

Posted by | May 19, 2008 | |

Fan Courier recorded a turnover of EUR 9.87 million in the first quarter of 2008, up by 59pct from the same period last year. The fast growing courier service targets a 30-35pct increase in turnover to EUR 45 million and plans investments of EUR 9 million in 2008. The amount of EUR 5 million will be invested in the launch of new headquarters while some investment is planned for staff training and IT.

The main problems Fan Courier is facing on the market are the poor infrastructure and the lack of staff training, the company’s representatives said. In 2007, Fan Courier posted a turnover of EUR 33.2 million. The company’s main competitor on the Romanian courier market is Cargus, a company recently bought by DHL.

The Romanian express and parcels market boomed last year and it has seen several acquisitions in the first half of 2008. Next to the takeover of Cargus by DHL, UPS has also entered the market by acquiring Trans Courier Service. Acquisitions are expected to continue as domestic firms aim at attracting strategic investors. Smaller companies such as Sprint Courier, Concorde Courier, Alo Courier, Nemo Expres and Roexpres are likely to be next takeover targets for foreign companies such as Austrian Post which is reported to be interested in entering the market.

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Royal Mail and Vialuna launch dialogue mail to help businesses develop deeper customer relationships

Posted by | May 19, 2008 | |

Royal Mail is continuing to support the direct marketing industry in an increasingly competitive advertising landscape by launching “Dialogue Mail”, an innovative customer relationship management solution combining traditional direct mail with digital media.

In partnership with dialogue marketing specialists, Vialuna, Royal Mail now offers an integrated solution that will enable brands to have more in-depth and engaging conversations with prospects or existing customers.

Dialogue Mail capitalises on the power of direct mail to drive customers online. Recent Royal Mail research revealed that over half (55 per cent) of consumers prefer to be contacted by a combination of DM and online and that integrating digital advertising with direct mail campaigns can increase customer spend by almost 25 per cent.

The Dialogue Mail journey begins with an intrigue-based mailshot designed to pique recipients’ interest and direct them online. Vialuna’s technology creates personalised URLs, meaning the campaign is individually tailored to each customer. The interactive microsites can be designed to allow customers to share their preferences, request specific products or information and fundamentally direct their overall customer journey.

Crucially, all interaction is captured allowing the brand to learn more about individual’s behaviour and shape future communications to make them more relevant. Vialuna’s Dialog Engine tracks campaign responses and delivers lead alerts directly to sales teams in real-time.

Dialogue Mail is the latest concept in a series of innovative direct mail solutions from Royal Mail designed to help businesses win customers, build loyalty and enhance their brand through the post. The CRM-focused proposition complements Personalised Integrated Media and Sensory Mail, both launched last year, to make direct communications more engaging.

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Retail E-Commerce and the Economy

Posted by | May 19, 2008 | |

The US Department of Commerce released retail e-commerce sales data last Thursday. Online sales grew by only 13.4% during Q1 2008 over Q1 2007.

That is quite a drop-off from recent e-commerce growth rates. For instance, in 2007 total e-commerce sales grew by 19.8% over 2006.

“This shows that the economic slowdown is having more of an effect than people suspected,” said Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at eMarketer. “It’s accelerating existing trends.”

Mr. Grau said that retail e-commerce sales growth would have slowed even without any concern about the economy. Since 2003, the real engine of e-commerce growth has come from increased sales to existing online buyers rather than new buyers.

E-commerce sales growth is still higher than overall retail sales growth, which has been 6% at most over the past five to six years. In contrast, retail e-commerce sales growth has been about 25% or more during the same time.

One reason for slowed overall retail sales growth is that existing online buyers are doing more of their buying on the Internet instead of in stores, according to USC Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future data. The organization reported that not only did large percentages of consumers say their online buying led to decreased offline buying, but that the number is growing.

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