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Direct Mail & Postal

USPS reports losses of $3.3 billion

Melissa Hoffmann February 10, 2012

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ended the first three months of its 2012 fiscal year with a net loss of $3.3 billion — and large losses are expected to continue until planned restructuring efforts have taken place, the agency said Feb. 9.

USPS to propose repeat mobile barcode promo

Melissa Hoffmann January 31, 2012

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is, for the second year, planning a summertime promotion for direct mailers that use two-dimensional barcodes, USPS VP of domestic products Gary Reblin told Direct Marketing News on Jan. 31.

USPS offers commercial mailers a free ounce for promo inserts

Melissa Hoffmann January 26, 2012

In response to feedback from the mailing industry, businesses mailing automated or presort letters first-class can now mail letters weighing up to two ounces at the one-ounce postage rate, said U.S. Postal Service (USPS) spokesperson Patricia Licata on Jan. 26. The "2nd Ounce Free" initiative became effective this week.

Cox Communications taps Draftfcb Chicago as AOR for digital, direct

Tim Peterson January 17, 2012

Communications and entertainment company Cox Communications named Draftfcb's Chicago office its national digital and direct-response agency of record after a two-month review, Todd Smith, director of media relations at Cox Communications, confirmed via email on Jan. 16.

Direct mailers no longer need to prepay postage

Melissa Hoffmann January 06, 2012

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has been granted permission by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to allow direct mailers to pay postage via credit rather than requiring prepayment, said PRC chairman Ruth Goldway on Jan. 6. The new rules went into effect Jan. 5.

2012 Essential Guide to Direct Marketing

January 06, 2012

The 2012 Essential Guide to Direct Marketing is now available for $19.95 as a pdf. Click above to download.

Marketers eye USPS' struggles with caution

Amanda Green January 01, 2012

The embattled U.S. Postal Service (USPS) faces a host of new challenges, several of which threaten to directly impact marketers. However, many who rely on direct mail say that in spite of the tumult, they'll wait and see how things pan out before altering marketing strategy.

Bing maps give personalized directions to closest clinic

Allison Schiff January 01, 2012

Newcomers to the suburbs of north Seattle are sent individualized maps, using Microsoft Corp.'s Bing technology, with turn-by-turn directions from their respective doorsteps to the nearest of The Everett Clinic's more than two dozen locations.

USPS to cut next-day delivery for first-class mail

Tim Peterson, Melissa Hoffmann December 05, 2011

As part of a previously announced $3 billion cost-savings initiative, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is moving forward with plans to change delivery standards for first-class mail, the organization said on Dec. 5. The cuts would eliminate next-day delivery for first-class mail and periodicals.

Study: Fifty percent of consumers prefer direct mail to email

Allison Schiff December 01, 2011

Fifty percent of U.S. consumers prefer direct mail to email, according to a study released by marketing services firm Epsilon on Dec. 1. The study also found that one-quarter of all U.S. consumers said they found direct mail to be "more trustworthy" than email.

USPS proposes rate increases for 2012

Juan Martinez November 23, 2011

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) seeks to raise shipping service rates by 4.6%, the company said in a Nov. 22 statement. Priority Mail prices will increase on average 3.1%, Express Mail prices will increase 3.3% and First-Class Package Service prices will increase 3.7%

USPS finishes fiscal year with $5.1 billion net loss

Tim Peterson November 16, 2011

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) closed the 2011 fiscal year with a $5.1 billion net loss, the government agency said on Nov. 15. Last fiscal year USPS posted an $8.5 billion net loss, the largest loss in its history.

Pack your bags, we’re going on a guilt trip

Allison Schiff November 02, 2011

The amount of unsolicited mail I receive from charities is prodigious to say the least. Don't get me wrong. I don't think I'm being scammed - I just feel like I'm being spammed. Maybe opting out is the only answer?

Direct mail's Lazarus act

Tim Peterson October 10, 2011

Don't sleep on direct mail. That was my surprising takeaway from last week's Direct Marketing Association 2011 Conference & Exhibition.

Marketers forge through dire times for US Postal Service

Tim Peterson October 01, 2011

Although the headlines about the US Postal Service staring into a financial abyss are disturbing, many marketers who use the mail are relatively unperturbed.

Postal Service to integrate with PayPal in October, launch TV campaign this month

Tim Peterson September 15, 2011

The U.S. Postal Service will let consumers make purchases on USPS.com with PayPal beginning next month. The organization will also streamline users' site accounts into one umbrella login and make site pages available in Chinese and Spanish.

Postal Service weighs infrastructure cuts

Frank Washkuch September 15, 2011

The U.S. Postal Service said Sept. 15 that it is considering cutting its processing-facilities network by more than half and adjusting service standards to save up to $3 billion a year. However, the USPS also said the changes would also result in longer processing and delivery times for the mail.

TV, magazines most effective affluent marketing media: study

Tim Peterson September 13, 2011

Affluent consumers are more receptive to TV and magazine advertising than other media, according to a survey from market-research firm Ipsos Mendelsohn.

Donahoe asks Congress to solve crisis

Frank Washkuch September 06, 2011

Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe told a Senate committee September 6 that the US Postal Service is "in a crisis" and will default on a $5.5 billion payment to the federal government if Congress does not enact legislation this month changing its business model.

Postal Service pitches local direct mail service to small businesses

Frank Washkuch August 24, 2011

The US Postal Service is letting small businesses know that they can reach neighborhoods or ZIP codes without putting consumers' names on the front of the envelope.

Stamp your direct mail with QR codes

Gina McDowell, senior product specialist, Experian Marketing Services August 15, 2011

QR codes are everywhere. But rarely are they being used effectively.

Postal Service asks Congress for permission to eliminate 220K jobs, fix benefits payments

Frank Washkuch August 12, 2011

The US Postal Service has asked Congress to allow it to cut about 220,000 positions by 2015, bringing its total workforce to 425,000. The move would decrease the USPS' employee costs by 30%, the Postal Service said.

Postal Service net loss plummets to $3.1 billion

Tim Peterson August 05, 2011

The US Postal Service continued its downward spiral on Aug. 5, with the agency reporting a net loss of $3.1 billion for the third quarter of its 2011 fiscal year. The number is a slight improvement compared with the same period in 2010, when the USPS posted a $3.5 billion net loss, but the agency said that "absent substantial legislative change" it will default on payments owed to the federal government.

Postal Service to review 3,600 post offices in consolidation

Frank Washkuch July 26, 2011

The US Postal Service said July 26 that it is studying the consolidation of as many as 3,700 post offices as it adjusts the size of its retail network.

Winning votes with interactive TV

Frank Washkuch July 20, 2011

It's a given that marketers - including politicians in election years - target precise messages to specific groups of consumers.

Issa unveils comprehensive postal reform bill

Frank Washkuch June 23, 2011

US Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) introduced a sweeping postal reform bill June 23 that would create new oversight bodies to help the US Postal Service restore financial stability. The bill would also allow the USPS to move to five-day home delivery, close retail locations as it sees fit, and sell advertising on facilities and vehicles. Issa estimated that the changes included in the bill would save the USPS at least $6 billion a year.

Postal Service suspends benefits payments to save $800M in FY 2011

Frank Washkuch June 22, 2011

The US Postal Service said June 22 that it will suspend its benefits contributions to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to preserve liquidity through the rest of its fiscal year. The Postal Service said it expects to save about $800 million by the September 30 close of its 2011 fiscal year.

MagnaGlobal shrinks 2011 direct revenue forecast

Tim Peterson June 16, 2011

Direct media advertising revenue will increase by 0.5% this year, according to media firm MagnaGlobal's revised forecast for 2011. The firm had predicted in April that the category would grow by 0.8% this year. It downgraded projected growth for direct mail from a 1.1% increase to 0.2%. MagnaGlobal also downgraded its overall US ad revenue forecast from 3.1% growth to 2.9% growth.

Postal Service needs more digital, less regulation: PostalVision 2020

Frank Washkuch June 15, 2011

Postal industry stakeholders said June 15 that digital technologies must be a part of the US Postal Service's future, and that the organization has been burdened by government regulations.