DIRECT: Briefs

The German direct mail market is more efficient and effective for

clients than the UK’s. Research from mailing firm Pitney Bowes, shows

that the average UK household receives 50% more post a week than its

German equivalent, yet much of it is non-targeted mail, addressed to

either ’The Occupier’ or a previous occupant. German households receive

68 pieces of effectively targeted direct mail per person a year,

compared with just 40 in the UK.

Page & Moy, the holiday operator, has appointed Twenty20 CbH to handle

its relationship marketing. The agency will develop Page & Moy’s

database marketing activity over the next 12 months. Page & Moy

specialises in escorted tours and cruises in the UK, Europe and across

the world.

Tate & Lyle, the sugar firm, has developed a new range of recipe cards

to encourage use of sugar in the kitchen. The cards are contained in

CD-style plastic holding cases and are aimed at two audiences: ’Classic

Cooks’, and younger, ’Contemporary Consumers’. The cards will be

available to consumers who call the Tate & Lyle information service and

through magazines and national newspapers.

Mars Confectionery is working with ZGC for on-pack promotional support

for its ’Make it Happen’ campaign. The activity is Mars’ first on-pack

promotion for two years. Consumers are invited to send in their dream to

’kick-start the new millennium’. Winners will be given the chance to

make their idea a reality.

The Post Office is moving to bolster its US services with the pounds 25m

acquisition of Citipost Group. New York-based Citipost provides next-day

document delivery services in major US cities. The acquisition

reinforces the Post Office’s position in the US, where it has operated

since 1995 and is the fourth-largest international mailer. The deal

comes a week after Royal Mail suffered a setback when it emerged that

rival Deutsch Post had bought its US logistics supplier, Air Express

International.

Flycast, which develops direct response advertising on the internet, is

running an international campaign to build awareness of its

services.

The campaign, through IMP London, uses press, direct mail and banner

advertising to build the company’s profile. It emphasises that Flycast

will ’squeeze’ every drop out of an online budget.

Scoot, the 24-hour information provider, has developed a millennium

campaign in the run-up to 2000. Scoot is offering News of the World

readers a millennium countdown advent calendar in exchange for vouchers

from the newspaper.

Vouchers can be redeemed at 850 Shell Select stores. The calendar has

offers from Airtours, Kodak, Freemans, Laser Quest and Jarvis Hotels

behind its doors. The campaign is through Tequila Payne Stracey.

The DMA/Royal Mail Awards Presentation Ball takes place on December 7,

1999, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. The evening

includes dinner, dance and entertainment. Tickets, priced pounds 145

plus VAT for DMA members and pounds 165 plus VAT for non-members, are

available from the DMA on 0171 766 4408.

This article was first published on Marketing