Japan Post wins major parcels deal with Universal Studios

Japan Post has signed an exclusive parcel delivery agreement with Universal Studios Japan (USJ)while anticipating an operating loss of around YEN 100 billion (€883.66 million) due to declining

As part of the new contract, Japan Post Holdings will ship about 100,000 parcels a year for theUniversal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka such as souvenirs purchased by park visitors. TheJapanese postal operator thus aims to increase the awareness for its services among younger peopleand families, who represent an important segment of USJ’s customer base, the Japanese news agencyNikkei reported.

From Tuesday next week, home delivery counters will be set up at stores of Universal StudiosJapan with the aim to switch overseas parcel shipments for foreign tourists and in-housedistribution to Japan Post as well.

The theme park operator already ships a total of some 100,000 tickets, member magazines andother items via Japan Post Service. The new deal is expected to strengthen ties between the twocompanies, Nikkei further reported.

Japan Post intends to run vehicles with the logo of the Universal Studios Japan and willcooperate with USJ on advertising.

At the end of last month, Japan Post applied to the government for approval of its business planfor 2011 that foresees cutting labour expenses and scaling back services due to an anticipatedoperation loss of around YEN 100 billion, Kyodo News reported.

In the first half of the current fiscal year, Japan Post Service, the mail delivery unit ofJapan Post Holdings Co, registered an operating loss of YEN 92.8 billion (€819.78 million).

As part of the cost-cutting measures, Japan Post Service plans to reduce personnel costs worthabout YEN 32 billion (€282.58 million) on non-regular employees through such measures as notrenewing employment contracts and shortening working to improve profitability. Of the YEN 32billion, the company intends to save about YEN 20 billion (€176.68 million) by cutting itsnon-regular payroll nationwide in charge of the Yu-Pack parcel delivery service.

Japan Post’s business plan is expected to be approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications at the end of March.