Tag: Greeting Card Association

Greeting Card Association awaits government response as its Royal Mail petition surpasses 10,000 signatures

  • The Greeting Card Association-backed petition calling for MPs to scrutinise changes to the postal service has reached 10,000 signatures – crossing the threshold which mandates a response from government.
  • Milestone reached as Ofcom consultation deadline on reforms looms and Royal Mail raises stamp prices again on Monday 7 April

The Greeting Card Association’s campaign to keep the Royal Mail service reliable, national and affordable, has received a significant boost as its parliamentary petition reached 10,000 signatures.

Despite Royal Mail’s claims that it should be allowed to reduce second class postal deliveries to as few as two days per week and cut Saturday deliveries altogether, over 10,000 UK voters have now joined the GCA’s call for proper parliamentary scrutiny of any proposed changes.

This petition, which also calls on MPs to regulate the price of first-class mail and mandate the Royal Mail meet existing delivery targets before changing the Universal Service Obligation (USO), now must receive a formal response from the government.

And the crossing of the 10,000-signature threshold is timely – the Royal Mail’s regulator Ofcom is currently consulting on those proposed changes setting a 10 April deadline for responses but has made it clear it can make changes to the USO without any involvement from MPs[1].

That’s why the GCA has also today stepped up its social media campaign with a new hard-hitting series of posts at https://www.instagram.com/share/p/BAWEWRMpDm.

The posts highlight the concern caused by the current uncertainty over Royal Mail’s ownership and the threat to the price and reliability of the postal service if they are allowed to dilute the service.

Royal Mail has failed to meet delivery commitments outlined in the current USO since 2022 but has consistently raised prices.  A first-class stamp is now 75 per cent more expensive than three years ago offsetting the £15m-plus fines levied by Ofcom on Royal Mail for missed delivery targets.

The cost of a first-class stamp price is up a staggering 170 per cent over the last decade, and the price rise that takes effect on Monday (7 April) when the price rises to £1.70, will be the sixth in under three years.

GCA members believe the proposed weaking of the USO will lead small businesses and consumers to rely on an increasingly unaffordable, uncapped and unregulated first-class service to ensure cards and important letters are delivered on time.

The GCA, which represents over 500 publishers, retailers, agents, specialist suppliers and distributors that make up an industry worth over £1.5bn to the UK economy now awaits the government’s official response to its petition.

Amanda Fergusson, chief executive of the GCA said: “Our members are deeply concerned that they’re being railroaded into accepting reforms that will make the Royal Mail service they depend on, less reliable and affordable.

“We now look forward to receiving a formal government response to their petition.

“We know a postal service that’s a mere shadow of the service Royal Mail should be delivering, will cause real damage to small businesses, consumers, high streets and communities.”

Petition

The petition can be accessed at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/701850 or via the QR Code.

It calls on the Government to amend legislation to require parliamentary scrutiny of any change to the Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation (USO).

It also asks the government to insist any changes to the USO are dependent on:

  • Royal Mail meeting existing performance delivery targets for letters and cards
  • New regulation for the price of first-class mail to avoid further above-inflation rises and
  • Royal Mail maintaining a national, affordable, and reliable postal service that supports high streets and communities across the UK.

Seven Days to Stamp Deadline – Make a ‘Card Commitment’ to boost positivity

Use expiring stamps to bring a moment of joy

It’s seven days before millions of non-barcoded Royal Mail stamps become invalid, and the UK’s Greeting Card Association is asking Brits to use one of those stamps this week to change someone’s life.

Before the 31 July expiration date, the GCA, which is proud to represent many local high street card retailers, is encouraging people this week to make a ‘card commitment’, using one of those stamps to bring the power of thoughtfulness to someone who really needs it.

“Sending and exchanging cards promotes wellbeing and mental health, lighting up the life of recipients and senders alike,” said GCA chief executive officer Amanda Fergusson.

“What’s more that simple act nurtures local independent businesses on the high streets we all love, supports local charities and organisations in the communities we care for and helps protect the Royal Mail delivery service we all treasure.

“The use of an expiring stamp next week to connect with someone who would love to know you’re in their thoughts, would be a small act that may have an incredible impact,” added Amanda.

The GCA will encourage Brits making a #Cardmitment this week to share their card-sending stories on the GCA’s Instagram site and social media feeds of its 500 members – from small high street card retailers to some of the largest publishers in a creative industry worth over £1.5bn to the UK economy.

The altruistic act of sending a card can be powerful, reducing the sender and recipient’s negativity, stress and loneliness, and promoting positive mental health.

Sending greeting cards can be a way to spread kindness and positivity, and doing so makes the sender and recipient feel connected, and better about themselves.

The suggestion marks the beginning of a significant GCA #Cardmitment campaign that, over the coming months, will highlight how powerful the simple, British act of sending a card can be to individuals, communities and society.

#Cardmitment