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| Direct mail accounts for nearly half of all UK letters | Direct mail accounts for nearly half of all UK letters |
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| It is the bane of the nation's hallways but direct mail has become a cornerstone of the postal network, accounting for around half of all envelopes that fall through our letterboxes, Royal Mail has admitted. | It is the bane of the nation's hallways but direct mail has become a cornerstone of the postal network, accounting for around half of all envelopes that fall through our letterboxes, Royal Mail has admitted. |
| Targeted mailouts and their more frustrating random cousins represent close to 50% of UK letter deliveries, said the Royal Mail, as the state-owned business published results that showed an improving financial performance – thanks, in part, to the huge volume of business from direct mail. | Targeted mailouts and their more frustrating random cousins represent close to 50% of UK letter deliveries, said the Royal Mail, as the state-owned business published results that showed an improving financial performance – thanks, in part, to the huge volume of business from direct mail. |
| Moya Greene, Royal Mail's chief executive, defended the prevalence of direct mail on the nation's welcome mats. Asked if she hoped the volume of magazine subscription offers and book club overtures would increase, she said: "I hope so, because it's such a powerful medium. If it is added to national campaigns, with newspapers and broadcasting, it helps UK businesses grow, and that is what we all want." | Moya Greene, Royal Mail's chief executive, defended the prevalence of direct mail on the nation's welcome mats. Asked if she hoped the volume of magazine subscription offers and book club overtures would increase, she said: "I hope so, because it's such a powerful medium. If it is added to national campaigns, with newspapers and broadcasting, it helps UK businesses grow, and that is what we all want." |
| In 2010, 1.7bn direct mail items were sent to UK homes. | In 2010, 1.7bn direct mail items were sent to UK homes. |
| Royal Mail, which has been formally separated from the Post Office network, said revenues for the six months to 23 September rose 3.3% to £4.4bn, with operating profit rising from £12m to £144m after restructuring costs were taken into account. Greene declined to comment on reports Royal Mail will be fully or partly privatised in the third quarter of next year, as the figures confirmed the business was becoming more resilient. | Royal Mail, which has been formally separated from the Post Office network, said revenues for the six months to 23 September rose 3.3% to £4.4bn, with operating profit rising from £12m to £144m after restructuring costs were taken into account. Greene declined to comment on reports Royal Mail will be fully or partly privatised in the third quarter of next year, as the figures confirmed the business was becoming more resilient. |
| Royal Mail's core UK parcels, international and letters business – which collects, sorts and delivers mail all over Britain – also recovered from a loss of £41m in the same period last year to post a profit of £99m. | Royal Mail's core UK parcels, international and letters business – which collects, sorts and delivers mail all over Britain – also recovered from a loss of £41m in the same period last year to post a profit of £99m. |
| However, overall letter volumes showed another steep decline despite the resurgence in old-media marketing. Letter volumes fell 9% to 6.8bn, Royal Mail said. | However, overall letter volumes showed another steep decline despite the resurgence in old-media marketing. Letter volumes fell 9% to 6.8bn, Royal Mail said. |
| The Communication Workers Union said the profit proved that modernisation of Royal Mail could be successful within the public sector. | The Communication Workers Union said the profit proved that modernisation of Royal Mail could be successful within the public sector. |
| The union's deputy general secretary, Dave Ward, said: "There is no need for privatisation as a solution to business transformation. Change is being successfully delivered by postal workers daily throughout the company." | The union's deputy general secretary, Dave Ward, said: "There is no need for privatisation as a solution to business transformation. Change is being successfully delivered by postal workers daily throughout the company." |
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