OREANDA-NEWS. On January 20, 2007 as Igor Mandrikin, FSUE Russian Post Deputy General Director described the role of post in one of the most perspective and developing segments of Russian economy at the opening of VII International Conference “Direct marketing(DM). XXI century”. According to Igor Mandrikin this market has great potential ahead, presently its annual growth rate of 20-30%, reported the press-centre of Russian Post.

The independent sources show that volume of direct-marketing market in Russia is 470 mln USA dollars. However the participants emphasize that not all marketing agencies are interested to provide direct-mail services. It is explained by the fact that they have to prepare each order carefully, establish considerable data base that demands high costs and results low income.

As the main provider of direct-marketing services in Russia post grants stable and standard service, says Oksana Kutcheryavaya, Acting Head of Directorate of Advertisement and Marketing, FSUE Russian Post and Vice President of Direct Mail Advisory Board of UPU. To meet the requirements of commercial entities Russian Post annually upgrades and enlarges transport fleet, rearranges logistic schemes and prepares launching new automated sorting centers in February 2008.

In addition to post sorting sector the center will have hybrid post sector. Launching such sector helps to deliver direct-marketing dispatch by definite date in minimal terms and provide 50% growth of service.

Moreover, post is to grant new projects opening new PR approaches for DM-participants. Nina Mogilevskaya, FSUE Russian Post Head of Directorate of Postal Services comments, that in the nearest future post will offer their customers on-line mail. On-line mail is represented by the card with samples of small-size goods. CD can be also attached to the card, for instance.

Russian Post offers previous sorting for the clients who have immense volumes of mail dispatch. Post will use returnable containers, polymeric boxes to provide compact load and protect mail from damages.

Nina Mogilevskaya also noted that post constantly improves the quality of the services, though the enterprise works in Russian scarce roads and practices hand labor.

The conference Direct Marketing will last till 21st of September. The most famous and respected specialists in DM-sphere from Russia, England, Brasil, Germany, India and China are going to present their reports at the event.