Direct mail in the UK: Current challenges and future opportunities of digital 

In this podcast episode we welcome Philip Ricketts, Business Development Director at Royal Mail. He and Robert Rebholz, Managing Director at optilyz, talk about how direct mail is evolving. They discuss the challenge of COVID-19 and the looming recession. After that Philip and Rob dive into the opportunities that lie in personalization, automation, and cross-channel campaigns.

Listen in to gain insight into how the channel is changing in the UK!

Agenda & highlights: 

00:00-00:40 Introduction 

00:41-03:03 COVID-19: How does it affect direct mail as a channel?

03:04-05:42 Changes & developments: direct mail then and now

05:43-08:15 Personalization: the possibilities for direct mail 

08:16–10:27 Automation: benefits and the value of cross-channel campaigns

10:28–13:34 Customer journeys: different verticals, different purposes

13:34–16:54 Challenges for 2020: the recession & the value of direct mail 

16:55–18:31 Biggest opportunity: integration & the use of technology

18:32–19:02 Credits

About Royal Mail MarketReach:

Royal Mail MarketReach was founded in 2012. They’re a dedicated team of specialists with a unique set of skills, tools and free services to help companies make money. Their data planners and media specialists are on hand to enhance marketing strategy via mail.

Philip Ricketts is a Director of Business Development at MarketReach by Royal Mail. He’s an accomplished leader with a track record in delivering innovation and business growth during periods of significant change in UK markets. Philip is adept in building and leading high performing teams; leading businesses through change quickly through focusing on customer needs and succeeding in setting strategy and then delivering in complex structures and environments. He has worked with clients, partners and stakeholders across wide range of industry sectors and disciplines. Philip is a chartered marketer (CIM), and holds an executive board position with the Direct Commerce Association, non-executive directorship for JICMAIL, and is an advisory board member for IPA Effectiveness Week. He holds an MBA a postgraduate diploma in marketing, postgraduate diploma in leadership and is a qualified coach.

About optilyz: 

optilyz is Europe’s leading direct mail automation software. Our tool offers a straightforward way to integrate letters, postcards and self-mailers into your cross-channel marketing as well as automate and better personalize campaigns.

Rob Rebholz is a managing director at optilyz. He works with some of the biggest and most successful companies in Europe. Before optilyz, Robert led the internationalization of various internet companies. He started his career as a management consultant at Kearney, with a focus on strategy. He holds an MBA from UCLA and a Diploma from WHU.

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