Direct mail millionaire who wants to be UK postmaster
Interview: Nick Wells
First he sold TNT his postal marketing firms, now he is leading the Dutch group’s charge against Royal Mail .
Tag: UK
Profile: Analysis – DSTI Output
DSTi is turning heads with its high-quality, technologically advanced bespoke mail, writes Philip Chadwick.
Bristol may not have a reputation for being a revolutionary hotspot but one firm on the outskirts of the city believes it has hit on something that is changing the face of transactional mail.
DSTi Output has started to shout about its full-colour capabilities and the market is now beginning to respond. The combining of statements with full-colour marketing messages is something that DSTi believes has caught on, although it is still early days.
‘The challenge for us is to see this as a start, not an end,’ explains DSTi Output chief executive Tim Delahay. ‘The industry has woken up to us. We believe we have a revolutionary product and lead the market but for a while we have kept our powder dry.’
DSTi in Bristol was previously GE Mailing Services – part of the GE Capital and Finance Group. In 2002, it was bought by US transactional mail production firm DST International.
Read MoreCan new players make inroads on Royal Mail's old stamping ground?
As full competition begins in the mail market, the operators licensed by Postcomm will be able to offer favourable deals to marketers. Yet Royal Mail’s monopoly hardly seems under threat, says Sarah Chambers
A recent survey commissioned by Postcomm revealed that eight out of ten business mailers expect a competitive mail market to reduce prices, offer better choices and improve the quality of Royal Mail’s service. They also believe the postal market should be opened to full competition as soon as possible.
From this month, businesses throughout the UK will be able to see whether these predictions come true. After 350 years, Royal Mail’s monopoly of the letters market will come to an end and mailers will be able to use other companies licensed by postal industry regulator Postcomm to carry their mail.
Read MoreBusiness Post appoints new MD
Business Post has appointed a new managing director to lead its charge into the new deregulated mail delivery market. The Birmingham company, which has its national HQ near Bromford Lane, has appointed Steve Patrick as head of its UK Mail arm. The 49-year-old had been sales and marketing director for the division since its introduction as the first alternative to Royal Mail in 2004.
He replaces Guy Buswell, who has become chief executive.
New UK Post Office boss in battle to save pounds 150m subsidy for rural branches
The new boss of Britain’s post office network expects a showdown within months of his arrival with ministers over the future of rural branches, many of which would shut if the government makes cuts to its pounds 150m subsidy. Royal Mail announced yesterday that Alan Cook, the current boss of National Savings & Investments, will take up his new position as managing director of its Post Office Ltd subsidiary next month. He is expected to repeat the turnaround at the Post Office, which has suffered a bruising couple of years. Deep cuts to the urban post office network sparked heated exchanges in parliament and protests from pensioner groups angry at the loss of local amenities. Moves to offset the loss of lucrative benefit payments with a wide range of financial services have also proved difficult in the face of stiff competition.
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