From the Contributors

Albert Boerma - Europe:

AIJP: POs should pay for publicity; Sieger - 70 years in stamps; Dutch World Cup stamps destroyed; 'Audrey Hepburn' tours Germany; German Philatelic Foundation flourishes.

Read the entire column in the April 2006 Philatelic Exporter.

Otto Hornung - In My View:

Stampex and Philatex reports.

Read the entire column in the April 2006 Philatelic Exporter.

Liz McKernan - Postcard World:

A Winner for McGill

I was pleased to learn that the Comic postcard artist, Donald McGill, is to have a headstone on his unmarked grave in Streatham Park Cemetery in south London.

Michael Winner, the well- known film director and food critic has been a fan of his for many years and he is hoping to be able to erect a headstone ... Michael Winner has been collecting the original artwork of Donald McGill for 25 years and in March his collection went on sale as he no longer has space to display the items as he would wish ...

Also this month:

Naval books; Romanian postcard calendar; Red Rose Postcard Club; Truth somewhat embroidered; missed opportunities; A fair too far.

Read the entire column in the April 2006 Philatelic Exporter.

David Rennie - New Books:

All reviewed in the April 2006 Philatelic Exporter.

James Skinner - Great Britain:

Dreamtime

CAN you believe this? A stamp programme with eight commemorative sets, all containing either four or five values, and totalling 36 stamps and just a single prestige booklet, which includes three CBS eligible stamps exclusive to this source.

Well you can stop dreaming now. That was the Royal Mail programme for 1985 – some 21 years ago. Those of you with a more weary eye on the world will realise that Royal Mail’s 2006 programme is far from this idyll. The reality of what we can expect for the rest of this year was revealed to the philatelic trade at Spring Stampex ...

Read the entire column in the April 2006 Philatelic Exporter.

Les Winick - USA:

Prospecting for customers

ARE you satisfied with your list of buyers and potential buyers? It doesn't matter if you issue an auction catalogue, mail price lists, or simply fill wants lists. You have a very valuable basic list of names that is the core of your business. What have you done to expand this list?

Your mailing list may be tired, used beyond its level of usefulness, and reaching a declining number of buyers. This may be the perfect time to look beyond your current list. How much you want to invest in new buyers depends on their lifetime value, and your willingness to invest money back into the core of your business ...

 Read the entire column in the April 2006 Philatelic Exporter.