Less than a week after the US Postal Service disclosed that it incurred a $3.8 billion net loss for fiscal year 2009, it narrowed the list of branches it is considering closing by 130. The agency is still reviewing the possible closure of 241 post offices as of November 20.

Marketers often cite cutting through the clutter as the goal of a new campaign — but how many of those messages are perceived as clutter themselves by consumers? According to a poll from the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council and InfoPrint Solutions Company, 41% of consumers say they would consider ending a brand relationship due to irrelevant promotions, and another 22% say they would definitely defect from the brand for that reason.

The US Postal Service reported on November 16 a net loss of $3.8 billion for its 2009 fiscal year. It also disclosed a nearly 9.1% drop on operating revenue to $68.1 billion this year from $74.9 billion last year. While the agency's net loss is $1 billion more than the $2.8 billion reported for the 2008 fiscal year, it cut operating expenses by nearly $6 billion for the fiscal year.

John Potter, postmaster general and CEO of the US Postal Service, used the open session of the November 13 USPS Board of Governors meeting to press again for structural reform of the agency, insisting that real reform must reduce the number of delivery days from six to five per week.

UPS will announce increases in its shipping rates later this month. Norman Black, director of global media services at UPS, said via e-mail that the shipping company does "foresee some general increases," and "adjustments to both air and ground rates," but it was not prepared to disclose details.

Less than a month after the US Postal Service announced it will not raise rates for 2010 on its "market dominant products," a category that includes services used largely by direct mailers and publishers, the agency revealed a mix of increases and rate cuts on other services for next year.

Business-to-business technology marketers have found that their audience of business decision makers responds well to entertaining messaging as a way to cut through the current economic malaise.

Arandell, a printer with catalog clients including Target, Macy's and Neiman Marcus, has added BCC Software's Mail Manager Full Service platform to increase its compatibility with the Intelligent Mail Barcode.

FedEx is conducting an international advertising effort promoting the shipper as a reliable partner during an uncertain economic period. The effort, which uses the tagline "FedEx delivers to a changing world," contains digital elements and a microsite. The initiative, which launched last month, is targeting small-to-medium businesses and influencers in the UK, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, China and Mexico.

It is that time of year again when non-profit companies are soliciting for dollars, in hopes to raise money for their charities during the holiday season.