EU Threat to Mail Order Industry – Act Now!

This is a bit of heavy topic for a Monday morning – but it’s too important to wait to Tuesday!

**ACT BY FRIDAY 26TH APRIL**

There is new EU Data Protection Regulation on it’s way that in it’s current form aims to outlaw database profiling. This will remove lots of targeting and segmentation techniques – basically making mailing less effective, leading to more catalogues being printed and mailed to keep order volumes up.

It’s also proposing to make 3rd party mailing preference an active opt-in. This might not have a big effect in the first year, but it a few years down the line it will kill off the list rental, and data-swap markets – that will put retailers out of business.

What should you do?

The CatexDCA trade body are all over this – so to understand the full situation visit their website, or give them a call.

But there a couple of direct actions you can take right now.

First, email info@catalogueexchange.co.uk with the following information:

• Number of permanent employees in your business
• Number of temporary/contract employees in your business
• Estimated number of jobs at companies supplying your business
• Total annual direct/catalogue/online sales of your business
• Company name
• Your name

This will be used to add weight to their lobbying activity. If you don’t have precise figures your best estimate will be fine.

Second, write your own MEP/MP – you can find details of who that is, plus a sample letter to download on the CatexDCA website.