MONDAY APRIL 16, 2007

DIRECT GROUP ACQUIRES BOOKSPAN
Direct Group Bertelsmann, the global direct-to-consumer division of Bertelsmann AG, announced it purchased from Time Inc. its 50 per cent share of Bookspan, established in 2000 as a partnership between the two companies. Bookspan owns and operates 40 book clubs in the United States. Bookspan will be integrated into BMG Columbia House, an operating unit of Direct Group that markets music and DVD’s direct to consumers in the United States and Canada through such market-leading brands as BMG Music Service and Columbia House DVD Club. The combined business will serve more than 20 million members in the United States and Canada through its various club catalogs and online, and have offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, South Carolina, and Toronto.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) recognized Bookspan at the 2007 National Postal Forum with its “Corporate Business Achievement” award for using postal products and services to strengthen and expand its business. In 2006, the USPS and Bookspan entered into a three-year Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA). This agreement is significant to the USPS as the first NSA related to Standard Mail and the first agreement containing volume based incentives without accompanying cost savings. Bookspan joins Capital One services, Bank One (now JP Morgan Chase), Discover Financial Services, and HSBC in NSA’s approved by the Postal Service Board of Governors.

NAMMU EXECUTIVE BRIEFING WILL TABLE COMMUNICATION MODEL
The Toronto Chapter April 19th session features three big business issues at three concurrent round table executive briefings. “Fostering Communication between Canada Post, Mailers and Software Vendors” hosted by Kristi Kanitz, Flagship Software Ltd., addresses an important issue for all concerned. This expert will propose a practical, communication model that works for all three parties. Get engaged! Join the conversation at Kristi’s table and test drive the model.

Other executive briefings include: Technically Speaking! with Ross Eberlin, Bowe Bell + Howell Ltd, discussing current use and future trends of Vision technology in quality inspection and tracking; The Green Report: Contributing to the Sustainability of the World’s Forests, with Daron Rosenbusch, Supremex Inc.; Privacy in Action: Simple Solutions for Controlling Privacy Risks, with Terry McQuay, Nymity Inc. Added bonus: Power Keynote: Hans Wobbe, President & CEO, DataFix: Four Forces Driving Address Management Through 2010. Learn More and Register click here:

INTEGRATED BRAND STRATEGY FOR SUN LIFE FINANCIAL
Sun Life Financial Inc. announced that it is integrating its brand strategy in Canada to more effectively leverage the Sun Life brand. As part of the integrated strategy, the company also announced that it is retiring the Clarica name. The Clarica brand was introduced in 1999 as the new brand for Mutual Life of Canada, and Clarica was acquired by Sun Life in 2002. Nearly two million Canadians hold policies and accounts through Clarica. The transition will be completed by the first quarter of 2008. The decision does not affect McLean Budden, Sun Life’s successful investment management subsidiary in Canada. Learn more: www.sunlife.com

NEW READER’S DIGEST APPOINTMENT
Mary Berner, President and CEO, The Reader’s Association, Inc., since the Ripplewood Holding acquisition of the global powerhouse, has announced Alyce Alston as President, Home & Garden and Health & Wellness. Formerly CEO of De Beers North America, Alston will report to Berner and become a member of the Executive Committee. Since the acquisition completion in early March and Berner’s appointment by Harvey Golub, Executive Chairman, Ripplewood Holdings and Chairman of Reader’s Digest, several executive appointments and responsibility realignments have been announced, notably: Eva Dillon named President and Group Publisher, Reader’s Digest Magazine; Suzanne Grimes named President, Food and Entertaining; Michael Geltzeiler named President, Consumer Business Services; Dawn Zier named President, Consumer Marketing. All report to Mary Berner, who also assumed responsibility for WRC Media and Direct Holdings U.S. Corp., two of Ripplewood’s portfolio companies that are being integrated into the new Reader’s Digest.

REMINDER: CANADA POST >30g USA AND INTERNATIONAL RATES
Price increases for standard and non-standard USA and International Letter-post items over 30g increase as of April 16. NOTE: In general recognition of the benefit to Canada Post of the meter conversion program and the resulting mail processing efficiencies, Canada Post agrees to extend a reduced rate to meter customers for these eight price points until 2008. Commercial customers who use their own meters can continue to use the 2006 rates for USA and International Letter-post over 30g until implementation of the next rate action, currently scheduled by CPC for January 14, 2008. Learn more: click here

ARE YOU READY FOR THE 2007 CHALLENGE?
The 2007 NAMMU Mailing Industry Awards are officially previewed with the release of the 2007 entry form covering all 11 categories. The NAMMU Mail Marketing Council and the Awards Event Committee invite you to enter your best mail campaigns.

Call for entry information: Early Bird Deadline: July 26, 2007; Final Entry Deadline: September 20, 2007. Canada’s premier Awards event that celebrates excellence in marketing through the mail medium takes place November 7 at the Design Exchange. Learn more: click here
 

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eView is the electronic bulletin of the National Association of Major Mail Users highlighting issues of interest to business mail communication and delivery professionals. Content: KMR Group. The information contained in eView is obtained from various sources and believed to be reliable but accuracy cannot be guaranteed.