'Late mail can cut profits by 20 per cent'

Gemma Butler, 27, and Gavin Gordon-Rogers, 30, have run geezcorp.co.uk from their home in Battersea for more than two years.

The couple have a busy schedule which combines writing adverts with web design and directing music videos for stars such as Sir Paul McCartney.

Despite their high-tech business, they still rely on the morning post to deliver the hard copy of images, words and sometimes music. In the Evening Standard survey, they received eight out of 10 letters posted to their home.

"For our design work, there are often times when we're expecting images or copy from a client through the post," Gemma said.

"If the client is based outside London, then biking a package isn't feasible, and the cost of a courier can be prohibitive. In these cases, when there is no morning post we undoubtedly find ourselves wasting a third of the day waiting for urgently required materials."

The company operates on very small margins, and the £14 early morning delivery fee will add significantly to its overheads. However, late post has the biggest impact on earnings. Ms Butler and Mr Gordon-Rogers estimate they lose up to 20 per cent of their profits when the post arrives a day late and pushes their deadlines back.

"We never know when and where work will come from and so when we get a commission we have to be fast and accurate with our ideas," said Ms Butler. "The post can have a huge impact on the impression we give to clients. Are the Royal Mail trying to force small companies such as ourselves to take on new working hours - from 12pm until 9pm?"