Thank you to all who viewed my webinar on Canadian Credit Card Direct Marketing Opportunities yesterday! I enjoyed the chance to share insights from the Mintel Comperemedia database, and I hope you found the information useful and informative.

If you missed the webinar, you can view the slides or a recording here.

We received a some good questions from attendees, which I’ve answered below. If you think of any more questions, please use the comments field to ask them and I’ll respond on this blog. Alternatively, you can email questions to your account manager or ask our PR department (press@mintel.com).

My question is regarding Andrew’s view of charge card market in Canada: what is the perception of charge cards?

From a direct mail perspective, charge cards are very much a niche product in Canada. They’re offered only by American Express. In Q4 2009, just 3% of estimated acquisition direct mail volume was for charge cards. This could change in the future. Back in October, American Express launched its “Realize the potential” campaign to promote its brand and charge card products which are high-end and aspirational. We have seen print advertising and now we are starting to see more integrated campaigns in the mail.

Do you expect mail volume in Canada to return to pre-recession levels? When?

Yes. The US overextended itself on many fronts including credit card acquisition direct mail and it is likely to rebound but not to go back to previous volume levels. In Canada, the situation has been more stable. The Canadian banks remain strong and MBNA and Capital One are expanding their activities in the US. American Express is investing in its brand. I anticipate an increase in 2010 with a return to annual mail volumes above 250 million in 2011.

Is there an impact on direct mail response rates due to emergence of online as an acquisition channel?

Canadians have been acquiring cards online or at the branch for years. US issuers such as MBNA and Capital One still rely on direct mail for their new customers. The key is driving customers to the website, and direct mail is an essential tool in any “drive to web” credit card strategy.

Andrew didn’t comment on Citicards in his presentation. Are they not a dominant player or force in mass acquisition anymore?

We currently see very little direct mail from Citi in Canada. The bank issues the Citi Petro-Points MasterCard and the Citi Drivers Edge MasterCard. It also has the license for Diners Club and manages a large private label portfolio including Staples, Zales and The Home Depot. Citi’s mail volume in the US has also declined significantly in recent months.

What else can be targeted to immigrants besides credit-building cards?

Card issuers can bring the credit-building message into their marketing, even if they’re promoting a rewards card. The CPAC card for Chinese professionals recently launched by the Bank of Montreal is a classic example. Once you’ve captured a customer, you have a great opportunity to build loyalty and cross-sell other products and services.

How many people use debit instead of credit cards in Canada?

In 2008, Interac handled roughly twice as many transactions as Visa and MasterCard combined, proving that Canadians clearly have a preference for debit. However, the recent trend has been towards credit as Canadians prefer to use credit cards for large purchases. The new rules allowing duality are opening up the debit card market for Visa and MasterCard, so we may see increased debit usage as these associations begin to promote their debit platforms.

Who are the top US credit card issuers that threaten the Canadian market in terms of direct mail?

MBNA is the biggest threat to established Canadian banks because it is the top mailer and is also the largest and fastest growing among MasterCard issuers. Capital One is also a threat due to its focus on credit-building and the growing immigrant population. Additionally, American Express has clearly stated its commitment to the Canadian market by investing in new marketing campaigns and increasing its mail volumes.

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