Twenty billion items sent through the UK post in 2006 would say it is! But the traditionally growing industry is now facing huge challenges. There is increasing questioning of its relevance when faced with competing communications technologies and growing environmental concerns linked to perceptions of pollution and waste.

How can the mail industry bring a sense of excitement back to picking up the post from the doormat, reduce the green challenge, and kick-start growth? These are some of the searching questions that this year's Mail Show will be asking on 30-31 October in London under the theme of ''The Relevance of Mail''.

Alongside government representatives, large business customers and independent watchdogs, top industry executives will be responding to the challenge over the two days of conference. Speakers will address the needs of direct mailers, publishers, transactional mailers, international mailers and home shopping operators, in a quest to re-examine approaches, stimulate growth and provide direction for the future.

The new mail mix

With the rapidly increasing use of computer-mediated communication, some overseas posts have already positioned themselves at the forefront of looking at new uses for the mail, and responded to the requirements of new businesses springing up alongside the Internet. Four such organisations at The Mail Show will be sharing with delegates what they are doing to re-define and add value in mail markets.

In addition, the role of mail as an advertising medium will be examined from both the perspective of the advertising industry and the consumer. Delegates will hear how other forms of media have made a recovery after a period of relative decline and about how consumers want to be communicated with in the future.

More competition, less value for the customer?

Some would argue that the competitive focus in the UK mail market to date has primarily been on cost reduction rather than innovation. The conference will not only look at what is happening to value and how it can be enhanced, but also through The Mail Show's Customer Forum, held the day before Conference begins, highlight the current issues and concerns of a broad spectrum of the mail industry's most important members: its customers.

Although full competition in the UK market is now well into its second year, there are a number of ongoing issues which continue to impact upon the way a free market is developing. The debate continues in three areas - where Royal Mail's zonal pricing plans are headed and how Postcomm is likely to respond; how much real progress has been made on providing end-to-end competition to Royal Mail; and whether changes earlier in 2007 mean we are progressing closer to a level playing field on VAT.

Alongside the conference throughout the two days, the display area will feature all the leading organisations, suppliers and operators you would expect to find at such an event, ready to share their latest innovations developed for this new environment.

These and many more issues will be put under the spotlight at The Mail Show 2007, now in its 8th consecutive year as the UK's premier mail industry event, taking place at the Novotel London West Hotel & Convention Centre in Hammersmith.

Speakers: Anyone interested in speaking at The Mail Show 2007 should contact Conference Editor, john.modd@triangle.eu.com

Customers of the mailing industry, large or small, who have views which they think are important for the operators and others in this business to hear should email events@triangle.eu.com to reserve a place on the Customer Forum – this will also entitle them to a free seat at the UK Mail Awards dinner and complimentary delegate place for the two-day conference.

Sponsors & Exhibitors: A limited number of sponsorship packages and exhibition spaces are now available for The Mail Show. For more specific information on the remaining opportunities, please contact Triangle's Media Sales Director, nigel.ashton@triangle.eu.com

All of the above can be contacted at Triangle by telephone on 0870 950 7900.

Triangle Management Services Ltd, founded in 1984, is today the pre-eminent independent specialist management services company within the global mail, express and logistics sectors. Triangle offers the following services to clients: Recruitment, Market Research, Consultancy, Conferences and Mergers and Acquisitions - all of which focus primarily on the mail and express industry sectors.