NPOA Study Reveals Mailing Services Still a Major Profit Center for Small Commercial Printers
MELBOURNE, FL—February 17, 2015—The National Print Owners Association's (NPOA) latest mailing pricing survey shows that, despite the rise in e-commerce, mailing services are still an important part of the job mix for quick and small commercial printers. In fact, some 85 percent of survey respondents report offering both printing/copying and mailing services.
“The biennial NPOA mailing services study is the industry’s premier guide to mailing services pricing practices,” according to NPOA Executive Director and study author John Stewart. “It offers critical pricing insights to those who provide mailing services, especially firms that process between 50,000 and 250,000 pieces each month."
Average sales for the survey group were $2,639,879 with 71.62 percent of sales coming from printing and copying and 28.38 percent coming from various mailing services. Some 22.3 percent of mailings were First Class while 71.9 percent were standard postage. Parcels and periodicals combined accounted for only 3.8 percent.of the total.
The survey also asked respondents what specific mailing-related services they offered, with the results combined into a “market basket” of typical services with average prices for each. Among the items priced in the survey were: Minimum charges for CASS certification; Charging for IMb Reporting; Charges for de-duping mailing lists; Markup for lists purchased from brokers; Charges for variable data services; Inkjet addressing charges; Charges for inserting; Etc.
The 100-plus page 2015-2016 NPOA Mailing Services Pricing Study is expected to be released in mid-February, and will be free to all survey participants. The study will be available for purchase by non-participants with special pricing for association members. All NPOA members will receive a free "Executive Summary" of the study shortly after the full study is published. Visit the NPOA Website for additional details.
About NPOA
NPOA is dedicated to delivering products and services that enhance the growth and profitability of its small commercial print members including advocacy, educational programs, publications, research, and the sharing of technical information. The 2015 National Owners Conference will be held in Orlando, FL, from Thursday, April 16 through Saturday, April 18 at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel overlooking Downtown Disney.
Source: NPOA.
