Commercial and nonprofit mailers of US Postal Service Standard Mail high-density flats, mail pieces delivered to each address on a delivery route, will enjoy new minimum per-piece price decreases of 0.1 cent. The decreases kick in on July 19. In addition, mailers will see decreases to the pound price element that match the Standard Mail Saturation rate. The Postal Regulatory Commission approved the rate on July 1, potentially setting a new precedent on how to address a rate decrease in a period of deflation.

Most of us know the keys to direct marketing success are multifaceted and includes many — if not all — of the following techniques.
Define the goals of your program with a clear and concise call to action. Create and scrub your list.

Thanks to the recent postage increase and economic pressure, mailers are once again in search of ways to cut costs and improve the efficiency of their efforts. Four industry experts share their best belt-tightening tactics.

Beginning in late November 2009, mailers will be required to switch to full-service Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB) to qualify for greater U.S. Postal Service discounts. IMB offers a dynamic alternative to the extremely limited POSTNET barcode. As you prepare to make the switch to IMB, here are five tips to make sure you take advantage of IMB's benefits.

A multimillion-dollar ad campaign was launched today by FedEx to target UPS' support of legislation that would make it easier for FedEx employees to unionize. The campaign includes a Web site, brownbailout.com, which asks consumers, "Why is mega-corporation UPS trying to use its political clout to get a bailout from the U.S. Congress, leaving you to pay the tab?"

Zumbox, a paperless mail delivery system that launched in February, has enlisted direct marketing veteran Donn Rappaport as its CEO. Rappaport, who has a 30-year history in the list and database marketing industry, will remain chairman of ALC. The two companies also announced a strategic partnership that will support Zumbox's national rollout planned to begin September 2009.

The Postal Regulatory Commission unanimously approved the US Postal Service's summer sale, formally known as the Standard Mail Volume Incentive Pricing Program, on June 4.

The Postal Regulatory Commission today unanimously approved the US Postal Service's proposal to implement a "summer sale" or Standard Mail Volume Incentive Pricing Program. The seasonal rates are scheduled to take effect on July 1.

My husband and I collect beautiful rugs, including our prized "Kerman," purchased from Area Rugs by Rugman. Imagine my shock back in 2006 to see our very own luscious Kerman rug featured on the cover of a tabbed self-mailer.

Whether retail or b-to-b, the economy and rising print and postal costs are crunching the catalog sector. Our experts assess what the future holds for the popular sales channel.