The UK’s postal landscape is facing renewed turbulence. Royal Mail, already under scrutiny for missed delivery targets, has entered what Printweek describes as “intense discussions” with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over reforms to the Universal Service Obligation (USO). At the same time, the wider marketing industry is increasingly anxious. As Decision Marketing reports, the ongoing delivery crisis and claims that parcels are being prioritised over letters have “triggered fears of a direct mail backlash”. [printweek.com] [cwue5.org] These two developments, though reported separately, tell a single story: confidence in the mail system is under severe strain, yet direct mail remains one of the most trusted and resilient marketing channels. The question now is whether Royal Mail’s operational issues will undermine [...]