Tag: UK

Competition in UK starting to benefit smaller businesses

Posted by | Oct 30, 2007 | |

Research commissioned by Postcomm, the independent regulator for postal services, has found the benefits that large mailers have been experiencing since the market was opened have now started to slowly spread to smaller businesses. However, much more progress is needed and the challenge posed by growing alternatives to mail confirms the need for mail operators to continue to pursue greater innovation.

The market research, which forms part of Postcomm’s latest annual Business Customer Survey, revealed:
Although Royal Mail remains the dominant operator, one in five small and medium mailers and more than a third of large mailers are using more than one mail provider;
one in five respondents have explored alternatives to mail and have moved some of their mail to other media in the past 12 months which confirms the need for all postal operators to place more emphasis on customer service and innovation; and more than half of respondents agreed that competition has improved choice and more than a third believe competition has improved Royal Mail’s quality of service.

Also published today is Postcomm’s annual Competitive Market Review (CMR), which looks at factors affecting competition in the postal sector. Key findings of the CMR included:
– mail volumes were 2 per cent down on last year but there are indications that direct mail is growing in sectors such as building societies, charity, and health;
– end-to-end competition has declined by four million items and stands at less than one per cent of total mail volume, but mail volumes collected by ‘access’ operators and delivered by Royal Mail have more than doubled and now represent 19 per cent of revenue-derived mail volumes.

Both documents were launched at the UK Mail Show.

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Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for Cardiff and Glamorgan Valleys

Posted by | Oct 30, 2007 | |

Post Office Ltd opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for the Cardiff and Glamorgan Valleys area. In line with the criteria and factors set by the UK Government in its Response Document (DTI The Post Office Network, Government response to public consultation May 2007 – www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page36024.html), the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 153 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 31 existing branches (see full list below).

Under the proposals, more than 99.7 pct of the area’s population will either see no change, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The detailed Area Plan proposal for Cardiff and Glamorgan Valleys area is now available from Post Office Ltd at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or by emailing: [email protected] or by writing to: Post Office Ltd, Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp required)

Post Office Ltd is now seeking views on the proposed future service provision in the area, in particular views on access to Post Office services, the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure. Consultation is due to end on December 10, 2007.

The UK 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 2,500 from its current level of over 14,000, while continuing to provide funding (subject to EU state-aid clearance) to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the UK Government.

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Online mailing service ViaPost draws interest from DM

Posted by | Oct 30, 2007 | |

Online postal service ViaPost, due to roll out in early December, has attracted the attentions of direct mail printers.

The initiative, which could cut a letter’s carbon footprint by 75 pct and involves Royal Mail and Microsoft, allows users to send files direct from their computer to a local production site before being delivered by Royal Mail.

ViaPost chief executive Simon Campbell told printweek.com: “The benefit to printers is that each roll-out will be quick and we can tell the printer from the off that we will fill their capacity to, say, 50 pct or however much they can provide us with.”

“If someone from China wants to send a letter to the UK using ViaPost, you are cutting out the air mile, which provides a massive saving.”

ViaPost has already forecasted sending “10m items” per week based on registrations of interest to its trial website.

The service will launch with eight distribution sites in “high-volume” areas, such as London, with plans to increase this to 25 as the scheme builds momentum.

ViaPost upholds confidentiality by employing “industrial closed processes” when printing and processing the letters.

“We are using HP Indigo and Xerox iGen3 machines and Pitney Bowes folders. The levels of security are very high,” said Campbell.

The service is due to launch in time for the Christmas rush.

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UPS & Staples to establish joint venture in China

Posted by | Oct 29, 2007 | |

UK based office product supplier Staples and UPS are planning to establish a joint venture to launch new co-branded stores in China.

The new store format, co-branded Staples UPS Express, combines office supplies and document processing services from Staples with packaging and international shipping services from UPS.

The first two Staples UPS Express stores will be opened in Beijing’s Central Business District. Two additional locations are planned for Shanghai by the end of 2007.

“The Staples UPS Express concept in China stems from a long-term alliance between the two companies,” said Richard Loi, senior vice president, UPS Asia Pacific and China District.

“Our strengths, interests and commitment to China have led us to develop Staples UPS Express which will offer customers a convenient, one-stop location for office supplies, document services and international shipping needs. Chinese business customers will benefit from the customized solutions and one-to-one customer experience Staples UPS Express stores will present them,” Loi said.

Every store will include a broad range of core office supplies, document processing services, international package shipping, and packaging and labeling services for business customers and consumers. Customers can expect their UPS shipments to be picked up within 30 minutes of their telephoned request.

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