Direct Mail Outlook -- Meeting the Challenge

With the U.S. Postal Service projecting a volume decline of nine billion pieces for the 2008 fiscal year, Andersen believes the shortfall has left the direct mail printing industry with excess capacity. But not all of the news is grim.

“Retention mailings are increasing, as marketers attempt to gain more business from existing customers,” he says. “The insurance segment is strong, with price wars being waged for auto insurance and new products, like long-term care insurance, being offered to Baby Boomers.”