David Falkner, co-founder of Cardology, may specialize in selling pop-up cards featuring iconic symbols like Star Wars stormtrooper helmets and Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, but his dedication extends beyond novelty to advocating for the recognition of the £1.5bn greetings card industry’s importance. “We punch well above our weight,” he emphasized, underscoring the significance of his sector.
Recently, Falkner joined forces with fellow card retailers in London to express apprehensions regarding proposed cutbacks to Britain’s postal service.
In late January, the communications regulator, Ofcom, presented various options for the service’s future, including implementing a slower but more dependable service or reducing the number of delivery days by Royal Mail from six to either five or even three days a week, while retaining a costly next-day service.
The ongoing consultation process is expected to lead to reforms of the universal service obligation (USO), which mandates Royal Mail to deliver to every address in the UK at a fixed price, six days a week.
While much of the public discourse has focused on the potential impact on consumers, businesses like Falkner’s are equally concerned about the ramifications.
The parallels drawn to the 1963 Beeching report, infamous for its sweeping cuts to rail infrastructure, underscore the apprehensions surrounding the postal service proposals.
Businesses fear that similar cost-cutting measures could have detrimental long-term effects on the industry, akin to the repercussions of the Beeching cuts on the railways.
Beyond the greetings card sector, concerns extend to industries reliant on timely mail delivery, such as publishing. Eilidh Wilson of the Professional Publishers Association highlighted the adverse impact on time-sensitive publications, emphasizing the need for a reliable postal service to maintain reader engagement.
While Ofcom’s analysis suggests significant cost savings for Royal Mail through reduced delivery days, uncertainties remain regarding the practicality and implications of such changes.
As responses to the consultation are awaited, stakeholders await clarity on the future of Britain’s postal service and its alignment with European standards, with a keen interest in potential government intervention.
