Postal giant Consignia’s new £9.5 million call centre in Stoke-on-Trent is set to go live for calls today. The centre, in Forge Lane, Etruria Valley, which will handle calls from Royal Mail customers, has created 250 jobs initially, although another 200 are expected to follow once the site is operating to its full capacity in September.
Read MoreConsignia is planning to launch an online DIY direct mail service for the small business market, which it claims cannot afford to employ a direct marketing agency.
Royal Mail denies the move brings it into conflict with direct marketing agencies, maintaining that the UK’s 2.8 million small businesses are not being reached by the agency market.
A tender has been released by Consignia, asking for an agency to develop the Web-based service, provisionally called DM online, that will allow businesses to design campaigns and download them.
UK online retail sales are now growing at 10 times the rate of traditional retail. However, with this confidence comes a desire and an impatience to have goods delivered on the customer’s terms, not the e-tailer’s. This means that the number of ways in which merchants fulfil demand must increase accordingly, adding a new layer of complexity to the process. One of the fastest growing sectors addressing this issue is the drop- box market. These secure delivery boxes allow goods to be delivered at any time, for consumers to pick up at their convenience.
Read MorePOSTCOMM denied last night a proposed consultation exercise on deliveries in geographically remote areas will ease pressure on the Royal Mail to maintain deliveries across the North.
A spokesman confirmed the intention is to seek as wide a reaction as possible to a review of existing exemptions from the requirement for daily collections and deliveries under the Universal Obligation.
He spoke out following the release of a list of existing exemptions, such as deliveries to 60 homes in the Scoraig Peninsula in Loch Broom, via the community boat which only sails on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
RURAL postmen could sell stamps and collect mail from doorsteps under radical plans being drawn up by the Government.
Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt wants to offer extra services in isolated parts of Britain in a bid to breathe life into the ailing Post Office.
Other plans include opening post offices in village pubs and mobile offices travelling to small villages every week.
Ministers are also considering whether postmen could collect and deliver cash to homes.
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