Royal Mail Bulk Mail 2012 Introducing a simpler, easier-to-use product portfolio
Sustainable Contents 03 What s it 04 06 08 11 14 17 19 22 More information 23 Bulk Mail 2012 02
What s it April 2012 sees the launch of Royal Mail s biggest ever overhaul of bulk mail services. The market has changed a lot in recent years, and we ve improved our portfolio to better meet your needs. Firstly, we ve simplified and renamed our unsorted and sorted bulk mail services into just five products, making their benefits and suitability clearer: Within these five products, you will be able to select the options that are most relevant to your mailing needs. To give you more choice, we ve fine-tuned the options and specifications available, and made our products more accessible. Bulk Mail 2012 03
Faster bulk mail We have reviewed our delivery speeds for sorted mail to better meet your requirements and are providing a narrower window of delivery. From April we ll be aiming to deliver second-class mail within two working days after day of posting, and Economy, which was previously known as Mailsort 3, within four working days after day of posting. This gives you a much better idea when your mail will be delivered and get your mail to your customers more quickly. More large letter options We have introduced a new machine-readable [OCR] option for large letters, which will now include polywrap. The new large letter specification will be available to unsorted and sorted options. Great news if you re sending out items such as catalogues and magazines. New packet format for We have introduced a new packet format for to help you optimise your ROI on your creative direct mail. New unsorted options for You can now use a standard unsorted option that requires no sorting or address preparation. Or you can follow our machine-readable specifications, with no sorting required. This enables smaller businesses, and larger businesses running smaller advertising campaigns, access to the benefit of direct mail. Lower entry levels on all sorted products We have reduced entry on all sorted products to 4,000 letters or 1,000 for large letters and packets to make many of our products more accessible to a wider range of customers. We are removing the option to mail only 2,000 items for a local area on our sorted products. Reduced sortation levels We have simplified sortation from five levels to just two across the whole sorted portfolio. For machine-readable mail, you will only need to sort up to 88 ways (Low Sort). For non-machine-readable mail, you will still have the option to sort up to 1525 ways (High Sort). Bulk Mail 2012 04
Standards Board of Finance (ASBoF) Levy We will charge the levy on and products automatically, so there will no longer be pre-paid or levy-exempt options. The ASBoF levy will not be charged on (formerly Cleanmail and Mailsort). Choice of container options We will now offer bag and tray options across the sorted portfolio for letters and large letters so you have more choice on how you present your mail. Introduction of an average items per selection across the mailing for trays on sorted bulk mail We re also increasing the number of items per direct selection for High Sort. This enables more tray and bag fill to drive operational efficiency. Changes to packets We are removing the packet and A3 packet options in High Sort (formerly Mailsort 1400). We offer a full range of delivery services within our packet portfolio that have been developed for the needs of the fulfilment market. We have also introduced a new packet format for creative direct mail. Fewer OBA codes As a result of the simplification, we ve reduced the number of product codes on OBA significantly, so you ll find it much easier to find and use the products you need. Posting cheques We are withdrawing the facility to access bulk mail services by posting cheques. We ll be working with customers to help them migrate to OBA. Ongoing support You ll have access to more information online and for those impacted with more change, we ll guide you through the upcoming changes. Our Royal Mail service team will contact you about the changes that affect you, or you can find out more at www.royalmail.com/ bulkmail2012 from 16th February 2012. Bulk Mail 2012 05
We re here to ensure the entire process runs as smoothly as possible for you, and improves the service you receive. Ongoing support, tailored to your needs Migrating to the new product portfolio will affect customers in different ways. For some customers, we re simply renaming the services they use and adding more options. For other customers, we re changing the specifications of the products as well as adding more options. As part of the process, we will be discontinuing some services, but in these cases, we will make sure a suitable alternative is available. Our Royal Mail service team will contact you about the changes that affect you. If you want to know more, please email your business contact details to bulkmailsupport@your.royalmail.com Or you can find out more at www.royalmail.com/bulkmail2012 from 16th February 2012. Support for OBA users We will be making contact with OBA users to help them change to new product names and codes smoothly and seamlessly. Extra time to enable you to make the transition We are mindful of the challenges some customers may have in changing to our amended product portfolio on 2nd April 2012, so during the period from 2nd April 2012 up to the end of Saturday May 12th 2012, we will continue to accept mail using current products if you are having difficulty posting under the revised specifications. Bulk Mail 2012 06
Important information for your business As part of our commitment to enable your business to plan ahead, we also want to remind you about some important price changes that are happening in 2012: Value Added Tax (VAT) on our services - Changes to the rules about VAT on postal services and the way in which our services are regulated have affected the VAT status of a number of our products. For more details on what the changes in VAT could mean for your business, we recommend speaking to your finance director or a tax specialist. A summary of the main services affected is available at www.royalmail.com/vat We intend to change prices and some terms and conditions with effect from April. We cannot announce all of our prices until our regulator, Ofcom, has completed its public consultation on the framework for postal services. We expect to be in a position, however, to share the proposed new prices for account services online in late February and we will write to you shortly after with a summary of our revised terms and conditions and advice about how to access the full details online. More information is available at www.royalmail.com/prices2012 Let s look at each product and its options more closely... Bulk Mail 2012 07
is a highly effective and efficient way to find new customers, and keep existing ones informed of new products, offers and promotions. To qualify for, mail items must comprise a largely uniform message to all recipients, regarding the promotion or sale of products or services, or encouraging donations, or support for a cause. Bulk Mail 2012 08
Key changes: There is a new machine-readable, large letter specification, including the option to use polywrap, and will apply to both sorted and unsorted options. This will give you more choice in the type of mail you post, especially for those customers sending magazines and catalogues. We are introducing a new packet format for to help you optimise your ROI on your creative direct mail. We are introducing unsorted options on. You can now use a standard unsorted option that requires no sorting or address preparation. Or you can follow our machine-readable specifications with no sorting required. This enables smaller businesses, and larger businesses running smaller advertising campaigns access to the benefit of direct mail. We re improving our delivery speeds, so we re aiming for secondclass mail to be delivered within two working days after day of posting, and Economy, which was known as 3, within four working days after day of posting. This gives you a much better idea when your mail will be delivered. We are reducing the entry level on the sorted options to 4,000 letters or 1,000 large letters or packets*. This standardises the entry level across all sorted products, making them easier to understand and access. There will now be just two sortation levels for sorted mail: Low Sort (88 ways) and High Sort (1525 ways). Fewer selections across our product range can mean less work for you, and a much simpler offering. If you use 70 and 120, you will need to move to Low Sort. If you use 1400, you will need to move to High Sort. We will automatically charge the ASBoF levy on products, so there will no longer be any need to choose pre-paid or levy-exempt options. We will now offer bags and trays across our sorted portfolio for letters and large letters to give you more choice in how you present your mail. We will introduce an average number of items per selection across the mailing for sorted mail in trays. We will also increase the minimum number of items per direct selection for High Sort. This will help us handle your mail more efficiently. High Sort, non-machine-readable mail: - Bags and trays: a minimum number of items per direct selection is required 50 letters, 10 large letters or 5 packets. - Trays only: an average across the mailing of 100 letters or 25 large letters per selection is also required, across both directs and residues. Low Sort, machine-readable mail: - Trays: an average across the mailing of 100 letters or 25 large letters per selection is required. - Bags: no average volume per selection required. * Big Book and Heavyweight remain at an entry level of 12,000 items per mailing. Bulk Mail 2012 09
will incorporate these existing products. It will also have the following options for you to select from. You can find out more about changes to your bulk mail options, including product specifications and OBA code changes, online at www.royalmail.com/bulkmail2012 from 16th February 2012. Or you can contact our Royal Mail service team by emailing your business contact details to bulkmailsupport@your.royalmail.com. Current product Type of change New product Options to select Key changes 70 New name Low Sort 120 Move to Low Sort 1400 New name High Sort or Low Sort Mailmedia Clean Mailmedia 700 Mailmedia 1400 New name Move to New name with Response with Response with Response Machine-readable Unsorted Low Sort High Sort or Low Sort New large letter format Lower entry level, and option for bags ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays New large letter format Lower entry level for trays Fewer sorting selections ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Increased minimum items per direct selection New packets format ASBoF levy payable Lower entry level Fewer sorting selections ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds More items per selection ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds More items per selection A3 packet format removed Light New name Multistage Big Book New name Big Book Royal Mail Heavyweight New name Heavyweight NEW Standard Unsorted NEW NEW Machine-readable Unsorted Machine-readable Unsorted Plus Bulk Mail 2012 10
is designed to help you minimise the environmental impact of your mailing and demonstrate your commitment to good environmental practices. Our specifications are based on PAS 2020 environmental standards for direct marketing. Bulk Mail 2012 11
Key changes: We re introducing a sorted, machine-readable large letter specification to meet customer demand. This will give you more choice in the type of mail you post. This does not include polywrap which does not meet our sustainable requirements. We re improving our delivery speeds, so we re aiming for secondclass mail to be delivered by within two working days after day of posting, and Economy, which was known as Sustainable Mail 3, within four working days after day of posting. This gives you a much better idea when your mail will be delivered. We are reducing the entry level on the sorted options to 4,000 letters or 1,000 large letters. This standardises the entry level across all sorted options, making them easier to understand and access. There will now be just two sortation levels for sorted mail, Low Sort (88 ways) and High Sort (1525 ways). Fewer selections across our product range can mean less work for you, and a much simpler offering. If you use Sustainable Mail 70, 120 or 700 you will need to move to Low Sort. If you use Sustainable Mail 1400, you will need to move to High Sort. We will automatically charge the ASBoF levy on Mail products, so there will no longer be pre-paid or levy-exempt options. We will now accept mail in both trays and bags to give you more choice in how you present your mail. We will introduce an average number of items per selection across the mailing for sorted mail in trays. We will also increase the minimum number of items per direct selection for High Sort. This will help us handle your mail more efficiently. High Sort, non-machine-readable mail: - Bags and trays: a minimum number of items per direct selection is required 50 letters or 10 large letters (not applicable to residues). - Trays only: an average across the mailing of 100 letters or 25 large letters per selection is also required, across both directs and residues. Low Sort, machine-readable mail: - Trays: an average across the mailing of 100 letters or 25 large letters per selection is required. - Bags: no average volume per selection required. Bulk Mail 2012 12
will incorporate these existing products. It will also have the following options for you to select from. You can find out more about changes to your bulk mail options, including product specifications and OBA code changes, online at www.royalmail.com/bulkmail2012 from 16th February 2012. Or you can contact our Royal Mail service team by emailing your business contact details to bulkmailsupport@your.royalmail.com. Current product Type of change New product Options to Select Key changes Sustainable Mail Entry Level for Mailsort 70 Sustainable Mail Intermediate Level for Mailsort 70 New name New name Entry Level Low Sort Intermediate Level Low Sort New large letter format (no polywrap) Lower entry level, and option for bags ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Sustainable Mail Entry Level for Mailsort 120 Sustainable Mail Intermediate level for Mailsort 120 Move to Move to Entry Level Low Sort Intermediate Level Low Sort New large letter format (no polywrap) Lower entry level for trays Fewer sorting selections ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Sustainable Mail Entry Level for Mailsort 700 Sustainable Mail Intermediate level for Mailsort 700 Move to Move to Entry Level Low Sort Intermediate Level Low Sort New large letter format (no polywrap) Lower entry level for trays Fewer sorting selections ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Sustainable Mail Entry Level for Mailsort 1400 Sustainable Mail Intermediate level for Mailsort 1400 New name New name Entry Level High Sort or Low Sort Intermediate Level High Sort or Low Sort ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Increased minimum items per direct selection Bulk Mail 2012 13
The most effective channel for reaching loyal subscription customers. This category incorporates mail where at least one-sixth of the periodical contains editorial content, and is published and posted at least twice a year. Bulk Mail 2012 14
Key changes: We re introducing a new machine-readable, large letter specification, including a polywrap option, to meet customer demand. This will give you more choice in the type of mail you post. We re improving our delivery speeds, so we re aiming for secondclass to be delivered within two working days after day of posting. This gives you a much better idea when your mail will arrive. There will now be just two sortation levels for sorted mail, Low Sort (88 ways) and High Sort (1525 ways). We will accept sorted large letters in both trays and bags to give you more choice in how you present your mail. We will introduce an average number of items per selection across the mailing for sorted mail in trays. We will also increase the minimum number of items per direct selection for High Sort. This will help us handle your mail more efficiently. High Sort, non-machine-readable mail: - Bags and trays: a minimum number of items per direct selection 10 large letters or 5 packets or A3 packets (not applicable to residues). - Trays only: an average across the mailing of 25 large letters per selection is also required, across both directs and residues. Low Sort, machine-readable mail: - Trays: an average across the mailing of 25 large letters per selection is required. - Bags: no average volume per selection required. You ll no longer be able to post Publishing items over 750g when using the 250k rate card. This high-volume rate card will be available only on second class. Bulk Mail 2012 15
will incorporate these existing products. It will also have the following options for you to select from. You can find out more about changes to your bulk mail options, including product specifications and OBA code changes, online at www.royalmail.com/bulkmail2012 from 16th February 2012. Or you can contact our Royal Mail service team by emailing your business contact details to bulkmailsupport@your.royalmail.com. Current product Type of change New product Options to select Key changes Presstream and Presstream Walksort Migrate to Low Sort or High Sort New machine-readable large letter specifications Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Increased minimum items per direct selection Presstream Profile Pricing Migrate to Profile Low Sort or High Sort New machine-readable large letter specifications Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Increased minimum items per direct selection Presstream Premium New name Premium New machine-readable large letter specifications Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Increased minimum items per direct selection Bulk Mail 2012 16
is perfect for businesses or organisations looking to send critical or time-sensitive mail quickly and get the desired response just as fast. From last-minute offers to urgent information requests, notifying disruptions to utilities, or changes to contract terms - anything where you or your customers need to act fast and rely on timely delivery. For changes to this product, please see on the following pages. Bulk Mail 2012 17
will incorporate these existing products. It will also have the following options for you to select from. You can find out more about changes to your bulk mail options, including product specifications and OBA code changes, online at www.royalmail.com/bulkmail2012 from 16th February 2012. Or you can contact our Royal Mail service team by emailing your business contact details to bulkmailsupport@your.royalmail.com. Current product Type of change New product Customised Option Key changes Standard Account Mail Change to format Standard Account Mail Cleanmail Name change Cleanmail Plus Name change Cleanmail Advanced Name change Automated Standard Tariff Large Letter Move to Machine-readable Unsorted Machine-readable Unsorted Plus Machine-readable Unsorted Advanced Machine-readable Unsorted Mailsort 70 Name change Low Sort Mailsort 120 Move to Low Sort Mailsort 700 Move to Low Sort Mailsort 1400 Move to Low Sort or High Sort No automated large letter format New large letter format New large letter format New large letter format Lower entry level, option for bags No ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays New large letter format Lower entry level for trays Fewer sorting selections No ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays New large letter format Lower entry level for trays No ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Lower entry level No ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Packet format removed Average items across mailing for trays Increased minimum items per direct selection Walksort Move to Low Sort or High Sort Dependent on if the mailing is machine-readable or not Bulk Mail 2012 18
For every other kind of bulk business mail, such as bills, statements, and other non-publishing or advertising correspondence (including membership mailings). Bulk Mail 2012 19
Key changes: We re improving our delivery speeds, so we re aiming for secondclass mail to be delivered within two working days after day of posting, and Economy, which was known as Mailsort 3 mail, within four working days after day of posting. This gives you a much better idea when your mail will be delivered. We re introducing a new machine-readable, large letter specification, including a polywrap option, This option will be available for both unsorted and sorted mail, providing you more choice in the type of mail you post. This new specification will also apply to Automated Standard Tariff Large Letter (ASTLL). If you are currently using ASTLL, you will need to move to one of our Machine-readable Unsorted large letter options (formerly Cleanmail). Please talk to your Account Manager, as accreditation may be required. We are reducing the entry level on the sorted options to 4,000 letters or 1,000 large letters. This standardises the entry level across all sorted options, making them easier to understand and access. Now there are just two sortation levels for sorted mail: Low Sort (88 ways) and High Sort (1525 ways). Fewer selections across our product range can mean less work for you, and a much simpler offering. If you use Mailsort 70, 120 and 700, you will need to move to Low Sort. If you use Mailsort 1400, you will need to move to High Sort. If you use Walksort, you can then move to Low Sort or High Sort. We won t charge the ASBoF levy on any. We will now accept sorted mail in both trays and bags. We will introduce an average number of items per selection across the mailing for sorted mail in trays. We will also increase the minimum number of items per direct selection for High Sort. This will help us handle your mail more efficiently. High Sort, non-machine-readable mail: - Bags and trays: a minimum number of items per direct selection is required 50 letters or 10 large letters (not applicable to residues). - Trays only: an average across the mailing of 100 letters or 25 large letters per selection is also required, across both directs and residues. Low Sort, machine-readable mail: - Trays: an average across the mailing of 100 letters or 25 large letters per selection is required. - Bags: no average volume per selection required. We are removing the packet and A3 packet options in High Sort (formerly Mailsort 1400). We offer a full range of delivery services within our packet portfolio that have been developed for the needs of the fulfilment market. If your mail piece qualifies, we have also introduced a new packet format for creative direct mail, and have packet formats in. Bulk Mail 2012 20
will incorporate these existing products. It will also have the following options for you to select from. You can find out more about changes to your bulk mail options, including product specifications and OBA code changes, online at www.royalmail.com/bulkmail2012 from 16th February 2012. Or you can contact our Royal Mail service team by emailing your business contact details to bulkmailsupport@your.royalmail.com. Current product Type of change New product Options to select Key changes & 2nd Class Standard Account Mail Change to format & 2nd Class Standard Account Mail Cleanmail New name Cleanmail Plus New name Cleanmail Advanced New name Automated Standard Tariff Large Letter Move to Machine-readable Unsorted Machine-readable Unsorted Plus Machine-readable Unsorted Advanced Machine-readable Unsorted Mailsort 70 New name Low Sort Mailsort 120 Move to Low Sort Mailsort 700 Move to Low Sort Mailsort 1400 New name High Sort or Low Sort No automated large letter format New large letter format New large letter format New large letter format Lower entry level, option for bags No ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays New large letter format Lower entry level for trays Fewer sorting selections No ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays New large letter format Lower entry level for trays No ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Average items across mailing for trays Lower entry level No ASBoF levy payable Faster delivery speeds Packet format removed Average items across mailing for trays Increased minimum items per direct selection Walksort Move to High Sort or Low Sort Dependent on if the mailing is machine-readable or not Bulk Mail 2012 21
More information Visit www.royalmail.com/bulkmail2012 from 16th February 2012 for more information about details of product changes, new OBA codes, and support. Also, your Royal Mail contact is always on hand to help. We ll be in touch regularly to provide all the information and support you need, but please get in touch with any questions or concerns or to discuss the bulk mail options best suited to your specific requirements by emailing your business contact details to bulkmailsupport@your.royalmail.com Bulk Mail 2012 22
More information 70 Low Sort 120 1400 High Sort Standard Unsorted New Options Machine-readable Unsorted Machine-readable Unsorted Plus Bulk Mail 2012 23
with Response mailmedia with Response Machine-readable Unsorted mailmedia Plus mailmedia Creative with Response Low Sort with Response High Sort other Big Book Heavyweight or Mailsort Light Big Book Heavyweight Multistage Bulk Mail 2012 24
Sustainable Mail Sustainable Mail Entry level for / Mailsort 70 Sustainable Mail Entry level for / Mailsort 120 Sustainable Mail Entry level for / Mailsort 700 Sustainable Mail Entry level for / Mailsort 1400 Sustainable Entry Level Low Sort Sustainable Entry Level High Sort Sustainable Mail Intermediate level for / Mailsort 70 Sustainable Mail Intermediate level for / Mailsort 120 Sustainable Mail Intermediate level for / Mailsort 700 Sustainable Mail Intermediate level for / Mailsort 1400 Sustainable Intermediate Level Low Sort Sustainable Intermediate Level High Sort Bulk Mail 2012 25
Presstream Presstream Presstream Walksort Low Sort High Sort Presstream Profile Pricing Presstream over 250k Presstream Premium Profile Low Sort Profile High Sort over 250k Premium Bulk Mail 2012 26
Unsorted Products 1st & 2nd Class Standard Account Mail Cleanmail 1st & 2nd Class Standard Account Mail or Machine-readable Unsorted Automated Standard Tariff Large Letter (ASTLL) Cleanmail Plus or Machine-readable Unsorted Plus Cleanmail Advance or Machine-readable Unsorted Advanced Bulk Mail 2012 27
Mailsort Mailsort 70 Mailsort 120 or Low Sort Mailsort 700 Mailsort 1400 or High Sort Packetpost Packetsort Walksort Walksort or Low Sort or High Sort Bulk Mail 2012 28