Tag: UK

GLS France: strong growth in export volumes

Posted by | Jan 7, 2008 | |

GLS France recorded a 25 pct growth in export shipments sent to Europe last year further strengthening its cross-border structures and enhancing European interchange.

From Paris and regions bordering on Germany, export volumes rose by 46 pct compared to previous year, the parcels firm said in a statement. It did not release any total figures for volumes or revenues.

GLS said the export parcels are mainly destined for countries bordering on France like Germany, Belgium and Italy. The majority of parcels are exported to Germany (23 pct), Belgium (20 pct), Italy (1 pct), UK (13 pct) and Spain (11 pct).

GLS France said it expected this growth to continue and would continue to optimise its tools and processes to boost this development. For example, in April 2007 it established a direct connection ensuring 24-hour delivery from Paris to Belgium.

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Environment minister raises concerns over DM industry (UK)

Posted by | Jan 7, 2008 | |

Environment minister Joan Ruddock has warned the direct marketing industry that it needs to improve its environmental record if it is to avoid legislation such as a mandatory opt-in for direct mail.

Ruddock set out the government’s views of DM’s environmental record in an exclusive interview in the January 2008 issue of Marketing Direct magazine. While she appreciated that “a lot of technical work has gone on” to make DM materials more environmentally friendly, she reminded the industry that opt-in for direct mail is “always on the table” if it doesn’t meet the recycling targets agreed with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs back in 2003.

She said direct marketers needed to ensure they are “on course” to achieve the second recycling target agreed timed for 2009.

The government would not impose opt-in “lightly… but we could not stand by if the industry made no further response”.

Having met with the Direct Marketing Association late last year, she said she was confident that direct marketers would respond. “We have established a relationship [with the DMA], but we want you to do more. We’re not singling out this industry — every industry and business across the land is being asked to do more for climate change.”

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Are prices set to rocket for holidaymakers in Malta and Cyprus – the newest members of the eurozone?

Posted by | Jan 7, 2008 | |

The eurozone got bigger this week as two of the most popular destinations – Malta and Cyprus – joined Europe’s currency club. But, if history repeats itself, this could prove bad news for UK holidaymakers, according to Post Office® Travel Services.

Costs for holidaymakers in Malta and Cyprus are currently lower than in eurozone countries like France and Spain, based on the Maltese lira and Cypriot pound. However, if prices rocket as they did in Spain and Greece when the first 12 countries switched to the euro six years ago, the two islands could become Europe’s most expensive resorts. This is one of the key predictions made in the new Holiday Money End of Year Report, which will be published by the Post Office® next week.

Before the 2002 changeover, Spain and Greece were the cheapest of Europe’s major holiday resorts – places where eating and drinking cost a fraction of the UK price. By contrast, Italy was, invariably, the most expensive. Within months of adopting the euro, prices had rocketed in Greece and almost doubled in Spain. Only in Portugal did euro prices stay more or less in line with the Portuguese escudo rates.

Post Office® bureaux de change branches will no longer sell Maltese lira or Cypriot pounds. However, customers will be able to exchange these currencies for sterling using the Post Office®’s buy back service until 30 January 2008. After that point, anyone wanting to exchange old Maltese and Cypriot notes will need to contact the central bank of these countries.

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GSI acquires Zendor.com

Posted by | Jan 7, 2008 | |

US e-commerce provider GSI buys UK fulfilment and e-commerce vendor Zendor.com at knock-down price.

US E-commerce provider GSI Commerce has finalised its acquisition of Manchester-based provider of fulfilment, customer care and e-commerce solutions Zendor.com and now glories in the ridiculously long URL www.zendorgsicommerce.com.

With the acquisition, GSI grows its global e-commerce partner base to approximately 85. GSI will acquire Zendor.com for approximately USD 7.9 million in cash, about GBP 4 million in real money and a bargain considering the size of Zendor and the nature of its clients and it’s 2007 turnover of GBP 3.8 million.

Zendor.com was formed in 1999 as a subsidiary of parent company N Brown Group, a business with over 140 years experience in catalogue and shopping. Zendor’s client list before the sale included Woolworths, River Island and Early Learning Centre and the just announced deal with Peacocks.

Zendor operates two fulfilment centres with approximately 245,000 square feet of space and a brand new 50-seat customer care centre that opened in September of 2007 and it claimed at launch time that there was “capacity to reach 150-seats for Christmas peak trading should client growth and new business development meet company expectations.” In addition the company employs approximately 100 employees.

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Postal workers return in Oxfordshire

Posted by | Jan 5, 2008 | |

Postal workers in Oxfordshire returned to work this morning but union leaders are warning it could be Friday before any mail is delivered.

Communication Workers Union representative Bob Cullen said there was a backlog of “millions and millions” of letters and parcels at the Oxford Mail Centre in Cowley.

As a result, staff who would normally be delivering mail have been called in to help with the mass sorting operation.

Mr Cullen said: “The problem is that it is not just mail backed up in the system – the public and businesses have been told to hold back until today and there is going to be a deluge of new mail.”

Meanwhile, postal workers in the Liverpool and Glasgow areas refused to go back to work today and there are fears the wildcat action could spread nationally.

The situation is also likely to remain chaotic next week with strike action staggered across the service on different days.

Talks over pay, jobs and pensions remain deadlocked, although the CWU claims there has been significant movement.

But Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier fuelled the flames by claiming Royal Mail staff was paid 25 per cent more than workers in rival post firms.

He added that other companies in the business were 40 per cent more efficient, which is why the Royal Mail wanted a long-term solution to the current dispute to help it compete more effectively.

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