Tag: UK

Royal Mail announced the launch of DM Online, a new first of its kind service for smaller businesses. The service enables users to undertake the whole process of developing a piece of direct mail from conception to mailing, in their own time and with the benefit of Royal Mail’s expertise and purchasing power.

DM Online provides a simple and effective solution for those who currently find it hard to access the services they need to use direct mail. The service enables SME’s to utilise state-of-the-art web based design tools as well as to gain access to all the elements of the supply chain necessary to undertake a direct mail campaign.

Royal Mail is embarking on its first nationwide customer acquisition campaign to ensure the vital success of its Sameday delivery service.

The postal operator, which faces questions over its long-term stability, is planning to raise awareness of its document and parcel courier service – Royal Mail Sameday – which was launched in 2001.

It is the first marketing initiative to be linked to the service, and will target 5,000 small-to-medium size businesses with both a direct mail campaign and a telemarketing push to prospective customers.

The Department for Social Development has stressed that people who wish to collect benefits from Post Offices will still be able to do so after April 2003.

The Department hit back at claims that the new system of direct payment will impact on rural post offices.

A spokesman said: “Some rural Post Offices may be under threat from closure however this is not as a result of Direct Payment, which is the new method of paying benefits.

Royal Mail was attacked for deciding to mothball a 75-year-old underground railway system which carries millions of bags of post every year.

The company said it could not afford to continue operating Mail Rail in London, which it estimated cost four times as much as transporting post by road.

The Communication Workers Union said it was angry at management’s “total disregard” for the 76 employees who work on the system, which runs for 10km through central London, 21 metres below ground.

Royal Mail said talks were now under way with a range of businesses about the future of the tracks, trains and tunnels.