Tag: Royal Mail

Royal Mail is overhauling its interactive agency roster in a bid to improve its communication with customers. The new strategy follows an increase in competition from new postal service providers.

Proximity London was handed the bulk of the postal giant’s interactive work in 2003, but its three-year contract has now come to an end. It is not clear if the agency is intending to repitch for the business.

Omnicom-owned Proximity was appointed to replace Ogilvy Interactive following a pitch, and was given a brief to oversee the postal operator’s digital strategy, online advertising, e-marketing and a redesign of royalmail.com.

It recently launched its first foray into interactive TV as part of a #10m blitz to introduce “pricing in proportion”, which bases postage cost on size and shape as well as weight (MW July 6). But it is not clear if it plans to develop any further interactive services.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail confirms the organisation is reviewing the business and plans to appoint a roster of agencies. She says: “We are looking for a number of agencies that will enable us to make the best use of digital media for our customers.”

Royal Mail has come under increasing pressure from new entrants, such as TNT Post, DHL Global Mail and UK Mail, after the deregulation of the sector at the beginning of the year.

Meanwhile, Royal Mail has announced a new roster of agencies to handle tactical design work across all of its internal and external communications. Home, Meteorite, Open Agency, Start Creative, True North and Rufus Leonard have all been appointed.

The Communication Workers Union has accepted a pay deal with Royal Mail, in which postal workers pay will rise by 3.9% this year and provide the opportunity for further deals in the future.

The deal means that the threat of industrial action is withdrawn, and the direct marketing industry escapes costly disruptions.

As part of the deal, the current cap on door-drops will be lifted, therefore protecting jobs and improving pay.

Ray Ellis, acting deputy-general secretary of CWU, said: “We have secured a platform that ensures the union is fully involved in shaping the future of our members. This includes moving forward on our pay ambition of catching, matching and overtaking average basic pay.

It also means that we are well positioned to deal with the change in the business in a way that ensures our ideas will be key to shaping our members’ future the way they want it to work.”

The agreement provides a 2.9% increase, guarantees a further 1% from efficiency savings and no compulsory redundancies. It also confirms the opportunity for further pay rises through efficiency savings.

UK tourists will be returning with more than just a suntan this year, according to the Post Office®, which estimates that GBP920 million in leftover holiday cash will be brought home.

Many people are not doing anything with their leftover foreign cash, with 33 million (87.4 per cent) admitting to leaving it in the sock drawer or biscuit tin.

And we are bringing back more holiday pocket money than ever – an average of GBP27.78 per person, which is almost two thirds (63 per cent) more than in 2004 (GBP17.35).

Kevin McAdam, Head of Travel Services at the Post Office®, said: “It’s easy to stash your leftover foreign notes and coins in a drawer when you get home from your travels and forget about it. But with one in five of us claiming to bring back GBP50 or more, it’s shocking to discover that so much money is being wasted.”

The Post Office® found that people fail to change back their foreign cash because they simply forget about it (seven per cent). And a quarter (25.6 per cent) don’t think they have enough to make changing it back to pounds worthwhile, despite nearly one in five (18.9 per cent) bringing home the equivalent of GBP50 or more.

Gary Hockey-Morley, Marketing Director for Abbey’s Insurance and Asset Management division, has been appointed Marketing Director of the Post Office, it was announced today.

Reporting to Alan Cook, the Post Office’s Managing Director, Mr Hockey-Morley will take up the appointment at the end of October.

“I’m delighted Gary is joining the Post Office,” said Mr Cook. “He has a proven track record in marketing and brand development – key skills crucial for the Post Office as it competes in a market where its customers have a growing choice.

“Gary will manage all of the Post Office’s marketing activities. He will, in effect, be the customer’s representative in the decisions the Post Office takes about its offering in the market.”

Mr Cook added: “Simon Carter, who has been holding the top marketing post in the Post Office on an acting basis, has decided to leave the Post Office. I am grateful for his contribution and wish him all the best for the future.”

Mr Hockey-Morley said: “I’m very much looking forward to working for the Post Office to ensure it competes effectively while continuing to play a key role in serving communities across the UK.”