National Retail Marketing meeting highlights

Express Courier International

‍POAAL and CEPU representatives welcomed this new initiative of Australia Post's International Group.  POAAL believes that this is a product and service which will be attractive to customers because of its ease of use and speed, and Licensees will promote it for the same reasons.

Express Courier International is scheduled for introduction in late March and Licensees have been advised some details by AP.  AP advises that this product will replace EMS International Courier.

‍Mail2Day

POAAL has been inundated with questions and concerns from Licensees in all States and Territories since AP started promoting its Mail2Day service which is due to start officially soon after a limited trial in a few corporate outlets.

As soon as AP advised POAAL of this proposed new service for private box holders, we circulated all State committee members asking for comment.  These comments were collated by two senior POAAL Directors into a detailed response to AP. The matter was discussed at the recent National Retail Marketing Council meeting and again the POAAL representatives made strong comment. The matter will no doubt also be discussed at the next National Consultative meeting and this will be expanded to include LPO payments for Mail2Day as well as the practical considerations inherent in a service like this.

‍Philatelic

‍AP previewed some of the forthcoming philatelic issues for 2005.  AP has planned some exciting and colourful issues and it is anticipated that they will sell well.  Some issues are planned to have merchandise tie-ins.  This is a great add-on for sales in LPOs.  POAAL representatives gave AP feedback on customer response and sales results of previous issues, including the Legends series.  Licensees appreciate the margins they are able to achieve on Philatelic and appreciate AP's help in promoting stamp issues and associated merchandising items.

‍Discounting

‍POAAL representatives raised the issue of AP discounting of their retail products, especially the pre-Christmas discounting that occurred in December 2004.  Senior AP management will make a presentation on AP's discounting strategy at the next Marketing Council meeting.