Political postcard, business opportunity for Post Office

Political postcard, business opportunity for Post Office

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

At least 10 political parties and legislative candidates
contesting the general elections have placed orders for custom
designed postcards, the Bandung Post Office said on Wednesday.

The post office is ready to meet the orders, said Suyud
Suhendar, head of public relations.

"This is the first time ever that political parties and
legislative candidates are making special electoral postcards,"
he said, and that the Bandung branch was the first in the country
to offer such postcards.

The Bandung Post Office is producing special-order postcards
printed on art paper weighing 260 grams, which will be used to
woo voters.

The post office is offering two sizes: 10 x 15 cm and 12 x 17
cm.

"Photographs, the candidacy number, a candidate's CV or the
electoral number of a party can be placed on the front of the
card, while its mission and vision can be printed on the reverse
side. Color, size and design is up to the customer," he said.

Each postcard costs Rp 3,500 (40 U.S. cents) at a minimum
order of 1,000 cards.

Delivery should not be a problem, as the Post Office --
particularly for voters in Bandung -- would send the postcards
according to the mailing list provided by parties or candidates.

"The main idea behind the postcard is to help parties and
candidates reach out to prospective voters," said Suyud.

The Bandung Post Office consulted with the West Java Elections
Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) prior to marketing the electoral
postcards to ensure that the cards did not violate campaign
rules.

The Post Office will keep the postcards and hand them over to
the respective parties and candidates after March 11, when the
campaign period begins.

The legislative election will be held on April 5.

Anticipating a deluge in orders, the Post Office has set up
cooperation with three large publishing companies in Bandung to
fulfill the orders.