Training Ofcom in postal matters...
PLCWW has been training Ofcom staff in postal issues and operations to assist them as they take over responsibilities from Postcomm. Ofcom are experts in Regulation but some staff are not familiar with the workings of the postal industry and wanted to be better informed. A number of training sessions were undertaken to help staff understand the market better. A PLCWW paper on postal regulation is available in the papers section below.

CHASING DOWN THE MARKET...
USPS and Poste Italiene add their names to the growing list of postal operators seeing profits squeezed as they chase ever declining volumes. The volume mail postal business model is under challenge across the world. Who can find a new model that secures profitability in a declining market with a fixed USO. Will Swiss Post’s venture into personal newspapers be a new dawn for the industry?

PLCWW speaks at Post Expo Copenhagen...
Steve Hannon CEO will be delivering a paper entitled "The Beginning of the end for parcel delivery operators in consumer delivery".

Independent Procurement gains ground...
Posters are increasingly seeking to leverage enhanced value for money through the independent procurement of mailing contracts. Public and private sector mailers with 2-5 year postal contracts find it increasingly difficult to keep ahead of the changes taking place in the UK market before the next round of negotiations. Using independent procurement contractors (like PLCWW) ensures the latest developments are included in any negotiations.

THE SHRINKING POSTAL SECTOR...
Canada, USPS, and Royal Mail are just 3 of the latest postal operators who have announced plans to restructure their businesses or seek significant job losses. Across the globe the industry is trying to come to terms with a changing or shrinking marketplace. Rightsizing is never easy and USO obligations simply add further complications. What is clear is that mail has entered a significant decline phase and operators look to each other to see who is coping best with these new demands.

These articles are only available to individuals and organisations who have registered for this service.

Postal Regulation in the UK has not worked. Who says so? No other than Ofcom, who took over the mantle of UK postal regulator from Postcomm on 1st October 2011.

The Home Delivery Conference in London was very much around e-retailing and covered the whole supply chain and customer experience. Read about the key conclusions.

Problems and Opportunities offered by the Xmas Mail Market Why do postal operators ignore the marketing opportunities of Xmas?

Is there a future for mail. Is the electronic bandwagon the death of mail?

Advice Centres. An article produced for PTI showing the value of taking advice on mail issues.

Postal Address data, an underperforming revenue stream. PLCWW discuss the opportunities for non postal revenue generation from the use of address data.