ASPECT Marketing Services has announced that it has acquired the rights from Shelwing Limited to provide specialist-mailing services for publishers.

Shelwing closed earlier in 2002 and Kent-based Aspect has moved swiftly to secure the rights to continue to provide this important promotional mailing service for publishers.

Publishers will be able to re-introduce the practice of promoting new book launches and catalogues through shared and solo mailings to libraries, booksellers and library suppliers. The facility to mail book covers to potential buyers has also been re-introduced.

The mailing service will be handled by Aspect's dedicated direct mail operations based in Folkestone - by co-incidence only half a mile from the site of Shelwing's original base.

Paul Markland, Aspect's managing director, said: "We are delighted to resurrect this service for the publishing community. It demonstrates our commitment to this particular market and the fact that the service will be provided from the same town as the Shelwing business operated from for many years is an added bonus."

John Bailey, founder of the Shelwing business, said: "The arrangement with Aspect to continue to provide this service for our loyal and valued client base is a very positive step.

"We have known the Aspect business for some time and are totally confident that the Shelwing services that we operated for many years up to our retirement will flourish under Aspects management."

Aspect is contacting all former clients of Shelwing individually to inform them of the re-launch of the mailing service and already have announced the dates for shared mailings to libraries, booksellers and library suppliers for the remainder of 2002.

* Aspect Marketing Services is a division of Orbital Marketing Services Group Limited, one of the UK's leading providers of direct marketing support solutions in the UK with headquarters on Orbital Park, Ashford.

Shelwing was founded by John Bailey in the 1970's in Folkestone and was managed by him up to his retirement in 2002 - created by publishers for publishers. Shelwing ceased to provide the services in the middle of 2002 until Aspect contacted the founders to offer to resurrect the services.