The younger generation: the future of philately

31.03.2009 - Because 70% of philatelists started collecting stamps when they were children, a number of the world's Posts, including Belgium's De Post, are increasingly targeting youngsters – the customers of tomorrow.

 

"Philately is not, as certain people claim, an endangered species" declared De Post's representative in the World Association for the Development of Philately, at a forum devoted to youth philately held recently at UPU headquarters in Berne, at which Belgium, Croatia, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain exchanged best practices in this area.

It was true that young people were writing fewer and fewer letters, and their interest in stamps was diminishing, but the Belgian operator was working tirelessly to raise youngsters' interest in what has traditionally been one of the world's most popular pastimes.

De Post has been issuing stamps featuring comic strip characters for a number of years. And each member of the "Stampilou" club (the name is a contraction of Stam and Pilou, two popular children's characters) receives an album, and regular shipments of stamps featuring plants, animals, history, geography, etc., which also help to educate youngsters about the world.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese operator CTT has been working to develop philately for the past 20 years, and in 2007 launched its own stamp album for children. Published in Portuguese and English, this book traces the history and techniques of postage stamp production and preservation. The aim is to attract 3,000 new young customers and sell 12,000 albums over three years.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Canada Post has moved with the times by creating its own virtual city on the "Second Life" social network, where young visitors can buy or swap stamps, and share their collections with other youngsters in a virtual world of their own making.

(in news.upu.int/nd/the-younger-generation-the-future-of-philately/)

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