The DMA Supports USPS Agreement To Provide International Delivery Through Consignia Post
NEW YORK, January 9, 2002 - The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) today expressed support for the United States Postal Service's (USPS) agreement to distribute Global Air Parcel Post (Air Parcels) and Global Express Mail (EMS) through U.K.-based Consignia LLP, formerly the British Post Office.
The deal, announced today, promises to provide customers with more reliable international service, more information about options and tracking and to give customers consistent, quality service with competitive prices.
"We applaud the Postal Service and Consignia. This kind of partnership demonstrates the kind of creative business-thinking and flexibility the postal service needs for its domestic activities," said H. Robert Wientzen, president & CEO, The DMA. "Current law prevents this type of business arrangement in its domestic business, which is just another compelling argument for the need for postal reform legislation."
"This initiative will give both businesses and consumers an opportunity to use a more reliable and cost-effective route to international delivery," said Charles Prescott, vice president, international business development and government affairs, The DMA. "This deal will provide marketers greater access and information in their efforts to further develop their businesses, along with an opportunity to experience significant growth with access to 23 countries throughout Europe."
Actual European delivery will be provided by Consignia's subsidiary, Global Logistics Systems (GLS). It will have capability to every deliverable address in the region. While the service will be available at retail, the USPS will be aggressively marketing the new offering to businesses, and expects to announce a discount schedule in the near future.
The DMA is the leading and largest trade association for businesses interested in interactive and database marketing, with almost 5,000 member companies from the United States and 53 other nations. Founded in 1917, its members include direct marketers from every business segment as well as the nonprofit and electronic marketing sectors. Included are catalogers, Internet retailers and service providers, financial services providers, book and magazine publishers, book and music clubs, retail stores, industrial manufacturers and a host of other vertical segments, including the service industries that support them. According to a DMA-commissioned study, direct and interactive marketing sales in the United States exceeded $1.7 trillion in 2000, including $110 billion in catalog sales and $28 billion in sales generated by the Internet. The DMA's Web Site is
www.the-dma.org and its consumer Web site is www.shopthenet.org. Information about the Internet use tax issue is at www.simplifytax.org.###