Mailing/Fulfillment - Postal Trends

Move Update examines whether mailers are appropriately and effectively updating their members’ addresses in accordance to the National Change of Address (NCOA) database.

Very limited but essential strategic options remain for the small- to medium-sized printer who are inextricably dependent upon the USPS.

Ever wonder what makes a good direct mail piece, which creative pulls the best results and why some mailing lists are better than others?

The international trade dispute initiated by three paper makers could lead to a considerable pull back for those printers who teeter on the edge of existence.

The president of GR Marketing & Graphic Design of Tampa, FL, knew he was sitting on a niche powder keg when he acquired a UV ink-jet printing solution from Kirk-Rudy, the WaveJet UV system.

Here are seven misconceptions about the plan gleaned from news accounts, conversations, and the Postal Service’s own presentation.

The U.S. Postal Service in late February published a final rule regarding eligibility for commercial flats failing the deflection or “droop” test in the Federal Register.

This final rule provides revised mailing standards and price eligibility for commercial flats of all classes that don’t meet the deflection standard—meaning that the books are too floppy to be processed by the postal equipment.

The USPS had relaxed the deflection standards in 2007 by increasing the permitted deflection to up to 4" for flat-size pieces at least 10" long. The new deflection standards allow 1” less of vertical droop.

In order to claim automation discounts, mailers must switch from using the Postnet barcodes to the basic or full-service IMB by May of 2011.

The USPS is facing a possible loss of $7.8 billion in 2010, even after implementing cost-cutting initiatives that would slice away $3.8 billion.

When used wisely and analyzed carefully, direct mail outperforms many tactics, particularly with prospects and certainly with many customer segments.