Tag: Royal Mail

Post Office (UK) to launch new Christmas Club

Posted by | Nov 15, 2007 | |

The Post Office today announced plans to launch a new Christmas Club offering customers a secure and convenient way to save for Christmas 2008, with additional membership rewards that will increase their spending power.

The Post Office Christmas Club will fill a gap identified by HM Treasury’s Review of Christmas Saving Schemes by Brian Pomeroy, Chairman of the Financial Inclusion Taskforce, in March this year carried out in the wake of the Farepak collapse.

All funds deposited in the Post Office Christmas Club will be governed by strict E-money regulations and held in a protected account under the control of Bank of Ireland. The funds will only be accessible to Club members.

The scheme will be available at all Post Office branches from January 2008. Customers will be issued with a Christmas Club card which they can use to make deposits over the counter. The minimum single deposit will be GBP 5, and the maximum individual payment GBP 500, up to a total of GBP 1,000 savings per card per annum.

Funds will be locked away until 1 November 2008, when the Christmas Club card can be used as a pre-paid debit card with retailers signed up to the scheme or exchanged for gift vouchers at Post Office branches.* The Post Office has negotiated partnerships with around 200 retailers so far, covering grocery, wine merchants, fashion, travel and leisure, health and beauty companies. Top names include Argos, Boots, Debenhams, Halfords, House of Fraser, Peacocks, Sainsbury’s, Thorntons, Woolworths and WHSmith.

Christmas Club members will be able to benefit from further rewards as the Post Office negotiates discounts and bonuses with retailers. These deals will be announced from January and throughout 2008, and will provide significant benefits compared to current rates available from High Street savings accounts.

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Catalogue browsing boosts online shopping spend (UK)

Posted by | Nov 14, 2007 | |

Shoppers who browse a catalogue before making purchases online spend on average 25 per cent more than those who do not, new research revealed today.

Royal Mail’s Home Shopping Tracker Study 2007 revealed that on average online shoppers spend GBP 1,221 every year. But this figure jumps to GBP 1,526 for online shoppers who consult catalogues before making an internet purchase.

The study also revealed that catalogues received through the post have a stronger influence than those picked up in store. Four out of ten (39 per cent) of online shoppers browse for at least one purchase from a posted catalogue compared with 24 per cent who said they use catalogues they picked up in a store.

The research, unveiled after IMRG* predicted online sales in the run up to Christmas this year would increase 42 per cent to GBP 13.8 billion, also revealed that:

– In the past year, 47 per cent of online shoppers consulted a paper catalogue prior to an online purchase
– 61 per cent of consumers now shop from home – the highest ever recorded level, representing a 15 per cent growth since 2006
– Over 70 per cent of home shoppers say that they recycle their catalogues
– An average online shopper now purchases over 27 times a year, up 12 per cent from 2006
– 1 in 5 online shoppers are now over the age of 55 – that is double the number of two years ago

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Business Post Group plc Interim Results 2007/08

Posted by | Nov 14, 2007 | |

Business Post Group plc Interim Results 2007/08

Group revenues up 9% to £167m (2006: £153m)
Group revenues excluding Federal Express up 15%
UK Mail Revenues up 59% to £60m (2006: £37m)
Profit before tax (before exceptionals) up 50% to £4.8m (2006: £3.2m)
Profit before tax up 182% to £4.8m (2006: £1.7m)
Interim dividend of 6.4p per share (2006: 6.4p)

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Consumers bank on the post rather than online for managing finances

Posted by | Nov 13, 2007 | |

A new survey investigating the attitudes of UK consumers towards their finances has revealed that nine out of ten people (88 per cent) prefer to receive physical copies of bank statements through the letterbox rather than relying only on online banking.

The research, undertaken by the Henley Centre in conjunction with Royal Mail, has also revealed that when it comes to safe delivery of confidential information, seven out of ten (70 per cent) people trust the post more than email. In a time when consumer concerns about identity theft and the level of personal information held by organisations are running high, the issue of trust and security is a key factor when it comes to communicating confidential financial information.

The survey, “Beyond the Gate: Making a Statement,” provides an insight into household financial organisation and the role of the post in the changing media environment.

Despite the rise in internet banking, even those who do manage their finances online still rely on their posted bank statements to check their finances, with 68 per cent of internet bankers preferring to receive banking details through the door. The study also shows that the most common activity of online bankers is for checking balances with 86 per cent using websites to keep track of their spending.

Two thirds (67 per cent) of respondents say it is easier to read and understand details from a statement than a computer screen. It appears the posted statement plays a role more complex than information provision, as less than a quarter of consumers have printed out details of their financial status from the internet.

Other interesting statistics from the research include:
– 77 per cent like to receive details marketing new financial products and services through the post
– When researching new financial services, 15 per cent prefer to receive information through the post – almost as many as seek details from price comparison websites (16 per cent).

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Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office® Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for Sussex

Posted by | Nov 13, 2007 | |

Post Office Ltd today opened a six week local public consultation on its Area Plan for Sussex. In line with the criteria and factors set by the Government in its response document, DTI The Post Office Network, Government Response to Public Consultation May 2007 the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office® services through a network of 234 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 49 existing branches.

Under the proposals more than 99pct of the area’s population will either see no change to their nearest branch, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

Post Office Ltd is proposing to establish two new outreach services in the Sussex area, which would use innovative ways to continue to provide Post Office® services – particularly in smaller communities – where the existing branch is proposed for closure.
Possible types of outreach service in the Sussex area could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within third party premises for restricted hours each week, or a partner service within the premises of a local partner (such as a pub landlord).

The Government has already undertaken a 12 week national consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK wide network of Post Office® branches by up to 2500 from its current level of over 14000 while continuing to provide funding (subject to state aid EU clearance) to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government.

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