Press release
Direct Marketing In China Reaches New Frontiers TNT Launches Key Initiative in Direct Marketing
Shanghai, March 30 - TNT, the leading global provider of Express, Logistics and Mail services, kicks off its Data Collection Campaign in Shanghai today as the initial step in building its Direct Marketing business in China.
As a concrete part of TNT's long-term investment plan in China, the Data Collection Campaign will begin in Shanghai and expand to 10 cities over the next 3 years. During the first wave, TNT will send out 5 million questionnaires via mailings, newspaper/magazine inserts, telephone and face-to-face interviews to collect consumer data for products and services ranging from cars to banking.
The databases available in the market place today tend to lack qualitative and up-to-date information. "Data is Direct Marketing's oxygen and without it, marketers will not be able to effectively reach their targeted consumers." noted Eric van den Berg, Director of Mail Development, TNT China, "We offer fresh, first-hand data provided consensually, allowing companies access to highly-targeted and receptive consumer segments."
Direct Marketing is a marketing channel that offers custom-tailored solutions for companies wishing to reach targeted market segments. Unlike mainstream advertising like TV or billboards, Direct Marketing allows marketers to provide information wanted by their target consumers when they want it. In China, Direct Marketing is still in its infancy and offers major growth potential. The average Chinese person receives only 8 pieces of direct mail per year compared with an average of 88 pieces per person in Europe. By 2010, 400 million urban residents in China will belong to the upper and middle class income brackets. These consumers will be the key drivers of urban economies. With increasing buying power and greater discerning tastes, effective channels like Direct Marketing will be needed to reach these consumers efficiently. The potential for China's Direct Marketing industry is estimated at between USD 100-200 billion per year.
"As the leading Express, Logistics and Mail provider, TNT helps companies deliver raw materials into their manufacturing sites and distribute their finished goods to their end customers through an efficient distribution network. Now, TNT China also helps companies find consumers who are interested in their finished products through the provision of useful, relevant consumer information. We believe this initiative will create substantial value for the marketers and the consumers," said Ken McCall, CEO, TNT China.
With 25 years of experience in Direct Marketing in 9 European countries, TNT is a trusted partner of millions of consumers and global companies. Every year, TNT sends out millions of consumer surveys and manages 80 million addresses for Direct Marketing programmes.
TNT will contribute its world-class strengths in Direct Marketing to develop the Chinese market . Developing qualified consumer data through the Data Collection Campaign is only the first step towards bringing consumers and marketers together. TNT will continuously enhance the data through on-going data management programmes to keep the information up-to-date and accurate for marketers.
As part of the Data Collection Campaign taking place in Shanghai from April 2 to July 15, TNT will offer a "Lucky Draw" incentive to attract more consumers to return their questionnaires with prizes ranging from a free trip to Paris, digital cameras, and mobile phones, to a VW Polo automobile. Every respondent who complete the questionnaire will also be given booklets of coupons for dining, fashion, beauty and spa venues.
- End -
TNT is the leading global provider of Express, Logistics and Mail services. The group employs more than 160,000 people in 64 countries and serves over 200 countries. TNT provides customers with integrated business solutions covering a broad range of services, from direct marketing solutions, to door-to-door delivery services and supply chain management. TNT provides airfreight, sea freight and combined sea/air freight services within an international network, which guarantees its competitive edge on the express and logistics market. The company focuses on a diverse range of market sectors including automotive, electronics, consumer goods, utilities and telecommunications, publishing and media. As a Global Fortune 500 company, TNT is headquartered in the Netherlands and publicly listed on the Amsterdam, New York, London and Frankfurt stock exchanges. The global revenues in 2004 are 12.6 billion Euros.
TNT Express has the biggest air and road delivery network in Europe and provides fast, reliable door-to-door express delivery service internationally. TNT is the world's leading third-party logistics provider to the automotive industry and a key provider of Logistics services to the electronics and pharmaceuticals sectors. TPG Post is a market leader in international business mail that has been established for over 200 years. It runs mail networks in seven European countries.
TNT China has been operating in China since 1988. It currently employs over 3,000 skilled professionals across its network of 25 branches and services more than 500 cities in China. TNT China has developed over 2,000 service stations and currently operates seven gateways to China. TNT has two joint ventures in China – Shanghai TNT Logistics Co., Ltd. and Anji-TNT Automotive Logistics Co., Ltd., through which TNT China has become the largest third-party automotive logistics provider in China.
For more information, reporters may contact:
Ivy Wang
TNT China
Tel: 86 (21) 5352 4688 Ext. 6411
Fax : 86 (21) 6340 3657
Ivy.wang@tnt.com
Copyright © 2005 TNT China