Waitrose is launching a direct marketing and digital campaign to promote its new online customer engagement programme MyWaitrose.

The programme, which is described as a “club for food lovers”, aims to engage customers with a series of on and offline events including product tastings, webcasts, expert Q & As, access to offers and behind the scenes footage at Waitrose.

The direct marketing members of advertising body ISBA have given their broad backing to the government’s plan to part-privatise the Royal Mail.

The proposals, introduced by Lord Mandelson, have been met with heavy criticism from Labour back-benchers, who have signed a Commons motion opposing the decision.

A new free-of-charge industry body focusing on direct mail will provide news, research and case studies for an audience consisting of the UK’s top 3,000 advertisers and 500 key agencies.

Royal Mail will fund the Mail Media Centre (MMC) on behalf of the entire mailing industry to offer better information, education and to help marketers when they’re tasked with choosing their marketing mix.

Last month what is being hailed as the “best job in the world” by the Australian Tourist board was  advertised all over the world. The successful candidate will write a weekly blog post, maintain a video blog and upload photos while exploring Australia’s islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

The six month Island Reef Job pays approximately $100,000 US dollars working a measly 12 hours per month and the site reported that 15,000 applications had been received.

Royal Mail has launched an online tool to help small firms create personalised direct mail campaigns.

The Mailshots Online service enables firms to log-in, select an A4 or postcard-sized design and add their own logo and text to create their own tailored mailout, with print, production and delivery handled directly by Royal Mail.