TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
VAM PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE LAUNCHED
Years in discussion, months in the consultation and prep stages, the
Canada Post – VAM partnership initiative is now a reality. The
objective of this groundbreaking, collaborative program – officially
named the “Canada Post Registered Partner Program” - is volume
build: a win-win for the mailing community and Canada Post. The
program was created to offer value add mailers access to Canada
Post’s valuable direct mail sales tools, training, and expertise.
Through this partnership, registered VAM’s will be ready to offer
even more relevant and effective direct mail advice and services to
customers. Another significant perk for VAM’s is the potential for
referrals to Canada Post customers through the online directory of
direct mail partners.
Patrick Bartlett, General Manager,
MSP Sales Channel Management, led the Canada Post team, including
Eleanor Rafter, Director Partner Relationship Management; and the
NAMMU VAM Council, chaired by Laura Artibello, President, Mailennium,
led the industry collaboration and work through to practical
implementation. All are delighted the initiative is now taking hold,
and are urging all VAM’s to register. “There’s simply no down side
for VAM’s, and the potential for business is significant,” noted
Laura Artibello. She commended Bartlett and his team on behalf of
the NAMMU VAM Council for their belief in the idea, as well as their
creativity, expertise and delivery. According to Laura Artibello:
“This program has tremendous benefits and comes at a time when we
all recognize the face of business has changed; and we either change
with it or fade out. Together, we bring great value to the mailing
industry and businesses which use our services.” Learn more and
register:
www.canadapost.ca/partners
Questions:
laura@mailenniumgroup.com
2011 TRANSACTION MAIL CONSULTATION CONSIDERED POSITIVE
Exit polls from the August 27th NAMMU Transaction Mail Council
workshop indicate participants found the process worthwhile and
support this working model to build a better understanding of
potential changes. Of particular note, are the positive comments
concerning this consultation timing, well ahead of any commitment
date. Notes from the session are being prepared by Canada Post
discussion leaders: Alice Lafferty, General Manager, Product
Management and Development – Lettermail; Richard Jokiel, Director,
Product Management, Customer Experience – Lettermail; Steve Dineen,
on behalf of Postal Transformation; and NAMMU President, Kathleen
Rowe, replacing Shirley Neil, Transaction Mail Council Chair; and
will be issued in mid-September.
Questions:
executive@nammu.org
RESERVE YOUR PLACE BY
SEPTEMBER 9
The 2010 Rate Package Review takes place in the Courtyard meeting
room, Courtyard Marriott, on Wednesday, September 16. All major mail
classifications - Transaction Mail, Publications Mail, Direct Mail –
will be workshopped, followed by a special update and review of the
new RVU processes and induction issues. Setting the stage for these
important discussions is the Keynote address by Jacques Cote, Chief
Operating Officer, Canada Post Corporation. Mr. Cote will provide
context for postal decisions that will be taken to balance the
realities of today’s economy and the impact for Canada Post, the
demand for infrastructure renewal, and alignment of products with
market needs. Registration required by September 9th.
Learn more and register:
CANADIAN CONSUMERS INCREASINGLY OPTIMISTIC
For the sixth consecutive month, the Conference Board of Canada
reports its consumer confidence index rose: 5.5 points to 88.4 in
August, 18.2 points since January. These results come as economists
note improving economic conditions and a return to growth expected
in the third quarter. The Bank of Canada says the economy will grow
1.3 per cent in the third quarter, followed by an expected three per
cent gain in the final quarter of this year.
USPS CONTINUES COST CUTTING ACTIONS
In a decision to save reportedly hundreds of millions of dollars in
labor-related costs, the USPS negotiated an agreement with two of
its employee unions to offer select employees a financial incentive
to retire or resign before the end of the fiscal year. The one-time
offer is a strategic move to accelerate targeted staffing reductions
with a negotiated incentive plan designed to save $500 million. As
many as 30,000 postal employees could take advantage of the offer.
The majority of employees eligible for the offer work in mail
processing facilities. Cost savings during 2009 are expected to
total more than $6 billion, reflecting actions taken to balance work
hours with work load.
Learn more:
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_073.pdf
