UK Mail claims it has put together a “robust” contingency plan for its consumer brandipostparcels.com to ensure smooth services during the Olympic Games, now taking place in London.
The firm expects the Games to cause severe congestion from mid-July to mid-September, with 24Olympic venues established across London.After preparing for the Olympics for the past 12 months, UK Mail has deployed extra staff torespond to any disruptions that might occur. In addition, the company has extended opening times atcollection points, with additional facilities in and around the London area to be opened at shortnotice in case further capacity is required.
Alternative delivery methods including smaller vehicles, cycles and foot couriers are also beingused. The ipostparcels.com product was launched by UK Mail in 2011 as an online parcel deliveryservice, offering a next-day collection and delivery for consumers, eBay users and smallbusinesses. It recently added a new feature ‘Bring me Labels’, eliminating the need for customersto print out the shipping label themselves from the service website after placing on order, asdrivers can deliver the filled label to customers’ doorsteps at the same time as collecting theirparcel.
UK Mail has also just launched an initiative to enhance the way businesses shape their directmarketing campaigns. The ‘imail data’ service was launched this month by the firm’s hybrid mailingbrand ‘imail’, aiming to enable businesses to buy consumer data, creating a link between customersand targeted direct marketing campaigns. The service emphasises how important it is for relevantdata to reach relevant contacts, therefore increasing its economical impact, UK Mail said.
Andy Barber, general manager of imail, said: “Our customers have seen a 12% increase in salesthrough direct marketing so it was only right to offer a service in which we could encompass allthe tools needed to get the most out of your direct marketing campaign. Having the right data isessential.”
He added: “imail data will build on our direct marketing platform and will give businesses thechance to purchase tailored data for their specific campaigns, which in turn will improve responserates. With the data health check, we are able to analyse businesses’ existing data and provide areport showing how it can be more effective.”
Through its cooperation with Callcredit Information Group, imail has access to a consumerdatabase of over 43 million UK prospects, accessed using a simple online search tool. Purchaseddata is then available within imail to immediately attach to postcard or letter mailing.
As an alternative to the first class postal service, imail allows users to create, proof, printand post letters, postcards and marketing material direct from a PC, Mac or laptop, and claims tooffer cost savings of up to 50% while also reducing the carbon footprint of a letter by more than80%.
