Planned postal rate hike hits marketers
The postal rate increase coming this spring is not expected to have a significant effect on direct mail marketing plans this year, thanks to its size and timing. However, the fact that the increase is even smaller than the US Postal Service had initially proposed is not much comfort to marketers, say industry observers. As […]
Postal Service considers customer experience improvements
The US Postal Service is planning to improve the customer experience as part of its broader effort to create new revenue sources, postal officials said November 17 at a Mailers Technical Advisory Committee meeting. “A major goal of mine is that I want us to provide a better customer experience,” said Patrick Donahoe, deputy postmaster […]
DM News Interviews Ruth Goldway, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission
Ruth Goldway, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, speaks with Direct Marketing News’ news editor Frank Washkuch about how the US Postal Service can improve its financial situation as well as consumers’ response to possible five-day home delivery. Direct Marketing News (DMN): What does the US Postal Service need to do to right its financial […]
New Poly Letter Wrap Product for Catalogers
The U.S. Postal Service’s new business plan calls on customers and stakeholders to provide it with creative ideas that keep mail an attractive communications tool. Innovative Packaging has one: The supplier of polymer-based substrates to the direct mail and publishing industries has developed a new generation of poly film that offers the properties required for […]
Four ways to green your mailing list
While marketers still consider direct mail to be one of the most powerful ways to connect with customers, it is not considered the most eco-friendly way to do so. However, there are some simple steps that marketers can take to make their direct mail efforts much more sustainable – and effective – according to Brian […]
Royal Mail Sell Off To Go Ahead
The UK coalition government has announced it is to push ahead with privatisation and present the Postal Services Bill before Parliament. Up to 90% of the Royal Mail could be owned by private buyers but Post Offices would be protected. In a statement this morning, a government spokesperson said of the Bill: “The requirements of […]
Nine Ways to Decrease Direct Mail Spending & Improve Results
ROI (Return on Investment) is a function of cost and revenue generated. Any change in either one impacts your ROI. It is possible to utilize direct mail to its fullest potential, and decrease the amount you are investing in the medium, while increasing response and purchase rates. Here are nine ways too improve both sides […]
Postal Rate Increases for 2011 Denied! HOWEVER – Expect Increases!
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has declined the USPS’s request for a 5.6% increase, which had been proposed to take effect in January 2011, and was filed under the Extraordinary Circumstances rule. The Extraordinary Circumstances rule allows the USPS to increase rates above the CPI rate cap during “exceptional or extraordinary circumstances”. This is great […]
Postal Increase Denied – The Fallout
By now you’ve heard the news that the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) denied… check that, unanimously denied the USPS requests to raise postage rates in January beyond the rate of inflation, ruling that the mail agency’s recent financial woes were caused by a flawed business model and not the recent recession. So a rise in […]
US POSTAL PRICE HIKE STAMPED OUT!
Postal regulators Thursday denied requests by the U.S. Postal Service to raise postage rates in January beyond the rate of inflation, ruling that the mail agency’s recent financial woes were caused by a flawed business model and not the recent recession. The Postal Service in July requested the right to raise postage rates on first-class […]
1/1: Interview with Larry Bauer Owner, Bauer Associates: Marketing for a New Age
Hi Larry and thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for us. I follow you on Twitter, and we are also connected on LinkedIn. I think you have a proactive and positive approach for keeping Print relevant in the emerging Print Media market, and I hope the readers of this interview will […]
Which Way will PRC Rule in Exigent Postal Rate Case?
With less than two weeks before the Postal Regulatory Commission decides on the U.S. Postal Service’s exigent rate hike proposal, both sides are clearly on edge. The money-losing USPS says it needs the exigent rate hike desperately, while already-stretched catalogers say a postage increase will force them to cut back on mailings. Plus, the legality […]