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Royal Mail Cuts Second-Class Post – Micom Urges Regulated Industries to Act Now

Royal Mail’s upcoming reform of its Universal Service Obligation (USO), effective 28 July 2025, will see Second Class letter deliveries reduced to just three days a week, with Saturday deliveries scrapped. 

For regulated industries, this change threatens timely, compliant customer communications. Micom, the UK’s leading multi-channel communication platform, is urging organisations to adapt now with intelligent digital and hybrid mail solutions.

“This is a Wake-Up Call,” Says Micom CEO

“Waiting four or five days for a letter to arrive is no longer acceptable for critical messages like bank statements, legal notices or healthcare letters,” Andy Barber, CEO of Micom told That's Business.

 “Customers and regulators demand faster, trackable communications. Micom’s platform ensures every message reaches its destination on time, blending secure digital delivery with automated postal fallback when needed.”

The Impact of Postal Reform

The Ofcom-approved reform comes as letter volumes have fallen by 60% over the past decade. With 63% of UK mail generated by regulated sectors (Ofcom, 2024), the risk of delayed or non-compliant communications is growing.

Micom warns that businesses relying solely on traditional post could face operational challenges, compliance issues, and rising costs.

Digital and Hybrid Solutions Built for Compliance

Micom’s Customer Communications Management (CCM) platform enables organisations to maintain compliance and resilience by combining digital and physical channels. Key features include:

Secure digital delivery: Encrypted, trackable portals and email.

Automated mail fallback: Print and dispatch triggered when digital delivery fails.

Compliance-ready workflows: Proof of access, audit trails, and SLA monitoring.

Why Small Businesses Shouldn’t Overlook Amazon as a Growth Platform

In today’s fiercely competitive marketplace, small businesses, from independent bookshops and boutique beauty brands to local pet shops, artists, cake makers, designers, face a constant challenge: how to grow their customer base without overstretching their resources. 

While many entrepreneurs dream of keeping things local and personal, there’s a powerful tool that can help elevate visibility and sales on a national or even global scale: Amazon.

It may seem counterintuitive to team up with such a giant when your brand is built on independence and uniqueness. However, using Amazon doesn’t mean selling out. Instead, it can mean scaling up smartly. But  on your terms.

1. Amazon Offers Visibility You Simply Can’t Get Elsewhere

Even the most beautifully designed e-commerce site can struggle with visibility. Amazon, on the other hand, is where millions of people start their shopping journey. By listing your products on the platform, you're placing yourself in front of a vast audience that’s already primed to buy.

This is especially powerful for niche businesses. A small eco-conscious skincare brand or an independent publisher of children’s books might find it hard to drive traffic to their own site. But Amazon’s search features and suggested products algorithm can surface your items to curious, relevant shoppers.

2. It Levels the Playing Field for Independent Sellers

Amazon isn’t just a platform for big-name brands. In fact, over 60% of items sold on Amazon come from third-party sellers — many of them small businesses. With access to tools like Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA), sellers can store their products in Amazon’s warehouses and let the platform handle packing, delivery, and even customer service.

For a small artisan jeweller or pet accessory designer, that means less time dealing with logistics and more time focused on making and marketing their products.

3. Amazon Builds Trust — Especially for New Customers

Consumers tend to trust Amazon. Its policies on returns, fast shipping, and secure payment are widely recognised. For small businesses, piggybacking on that trust can be a game-changer — especially when trying to win over first-time buyers.

Think of a newly launched vegan candle business: even if potential customers have never heard of your brand, seeing it on Amazon with positive reviews can build the credibility needed to make a sale.

4. You Can Still Retain Brand Identity

Using Amazon doesn't mean abandoning your brand’s voice or ethos. Your listings can feature your brand name, high-quality images, and detailed product descriptions that highlight your values. Amazon even offers Brand Registry for registered trademarks, giving sellers greater control over how their products are presented, and helping to protect against counterfeits.

Many creatives, like illustrators selling art prints or authors selling self-published books, have found success using Amazon as just one part of a broader strategy. They drive traffic to their own website for custom orders or exclusive items, while using Amazon to sell high-volume or evergreen products.

5. It Can Be a Low-Risk Testbed for Product Ideas

Not sure whether your handmade dog toys will resonate beyond your local area? Or whether your vintage-inspired stationery line could find a national market? Listing products on Amazon is a relatively low-cost way to test demand, pricing, and keywords before investing heavily in large production runs or marketing campaigns.

You’ll get data, feedback, and sales trends — invaluable insights for any small business trying to scale sustainably.

6. It's a Way to Diversify — and Build Resilience

The last few years have taught us how important it is for small businesses to have multiple income streams. Relying solely on footfall, events, or even a single social media platform can be risky. Amazon is just one more outlet — and a powerful one — that can keep revenue flowing even when other channels slow down.

For small business owners, whether you're a local bookshop with a curated collection, a maker of bespoke soaps, or a freelance artist with a growing portfolio, Amazon is not the enemy. It’s a tool. Used strategically, it can help expand your reach, build your brand, and strengthen your business.

The key is to approach it on your terms. View Amazon not as a replacement for your website or personal touch, but as a stepping stone to new customers who wouldn’t otherwise find you. In a digital-first world, visibility is currency. And Amazon is a platform that can help you earn it.

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