Press release
TNT launches Master Development Plan to accelerate growth of Direct Mail in China
Shanghai, Sep 17th, 2004 - TNT, a global provider of mail, express and logistics services, today participated in the 2nd Annual Conference on Direct Marketing, DMChina2004, as the platinum sponsor. During this national conference, organized by the China Direct Marketing Association, Mr. Harry Koorstra, Group Managing Director Mail and a member of TPG Board of Management, addressed a keynote speech and launched an Industry Master Development Plan to accelerate the development of the Direct Mail market in China and shape China's future in Direct Marketing.
China's Direct Mail market has the potential to match the sizes of its counterparts in the US and Europe. Both markets generate billions of dollars in turnover and employs millions of people. In China, the average Chinese person receives about 7 direct mail items per year, while in Europe this number is 85. In order to accelerate growth, challenges have to be addressed. TNT has identified today's two main issues: professional standards in service cycle management, and the quality and availability of consumer data.
According to Mr. Koorstra, "Direct Mail is a communications channel like TV, radio and internet. As a channel, it competes with all the others. And we and the industry will have to prove that mail is a valuable consumer communications channel and offers great opportunities.".
"The Chinese Direct Mail market, high-potential as it is, deserves full commitment from all the major players. This is a call to action, it is time for direct marketers and industry leaders to join forces, to realize this potential and bring the market to fruition."
TNT therefore proposes an industry-wide scheme to address these important issues, to nurture and accelerate the long-term growth of China's Direct Marketing market. TNT, as one of the leading players in the world in Direct Marketing, will initiate industry efforts, on fostering growth and setting standards in Direct Mail market in China, and invites other leading players to do the same and join them in this initiative.
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TNT is the leading the global provider of Express, Logistics and Mail services. The group employs around 161,000 people in 64 countries and serves over 200 countries. TNT provides customers with integrated business solutions that cover the entire range of services, from direct marketing solutions, to time-definite door-to-door delivery services, to complex supply chain management. The company focuses on a diverse range of market sectors including automotive, electronics, consumer goods, utilities and telecommunications, publishing and media. TNT is a division of TPG N.V, a Global Fortune 500 company. Headquartered in the Netherlands and publicly listed in the stock exchanges in Amsterdam, New York, London and Frankfurt, the company reported sales of €11.86 billion in Y2003.
TNT China currently employs 2,500 skilled professionals across its network of 25 branches (35 by 2005), and services more than 500 cities in China. TNT China currently operates seven gateways to China – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, Hangzhou, Xiamen and Shenzhen.
TNT China is the largest automotive logistics provider in China through its JV with SAISC.
For more information, reporters may contact:
Ivy Wang
TNT China
Tel: 86 (21) 5465 5105 Ext. 210
Fax : 86 (21) 5465 5918
Email :Ivy.wang@tnt.com