May 10, 2013
With revenues ticking up slightly, the Postmaster General and his CFO say reform could make the Postal Service profitable again.
March 13, 2013
Stuck in a government holding pattern, the USPS could be forced to look to bulk mailers for salvation by raising rates, says a postal regulator.
March 01, 2012
As the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) — which reported in February losses totaling more than $3 billion — struggles to stay solvent, it is using a number of promotions to try to keep shippers shipping.
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.
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.
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%
May 01, 2011
Direct marketers are concerned about the prospect of additional postal increases, overshadowing worries over printing materials.
The Postal Regulatory Commission said March 24 that the US Postal Service overestimated its potential savings and underestimated potential lost revenues in its proposal to move to five-day-per-week home delivery. The commission's five members issued varying opinions on the plan to cut Saturday delivery, which Congress is expected to debate this session.
March 01, 2011
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.
March 01, 2011
The printing industry's newfound creativity has recaptured marketers looking for impact as it races to compete against its digital brethren
March 01, 2011
Marketers sound off on how rising costs are impacting strategies.
The Postal Service said today that it would appeal the Postal Regulatory Commission's (PRC) September 30 ruling that denied the Postal Service's exigent price increase.
August 09, 2010
Direct mail will be dead for many companies and dying for many more — if postal rates rise in 2011. Some have the delusion that small reforms at the US Postal Service will protect the direct mail industry, but a number of direct marketers and political leaders recognize the problem can't be solved by lobbying and compromise.
The U.S. Postal Service unveiled details of its proposed "exigent price increase" last week and filed an application with its regulator, the Postal Regulatory Commission. Direct mailers sprang into action decrying the move, and mailers across the board vow to fight the increase (see cover story).
July 12, 2010
Marketers and catalogers that rely on mail to reach consumers decried the USPS's proposed "exigent price increases," saying the hikes would have drastic negative financial repercussions for 2011.
The US Postal Service unveiled details of its proposed "exigent price increase" on July 6. Direct marketing and mailing industry trade groups immediately vowed to fight the price increase.
The US Postal Service saw a net loss of $642 million in May, bringing its fiscal-year-to-date total net loss to more than $2.9 billion, according to preliminary financial data filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission.
The unprecedented nature of the US Postal Service's forthcoming "exigent" rate case is uniting the business mailing community in a way few other issues have.
May 17, 2010
Catalogers and multichannel retailers are beginning to plan their responses to the US Postal Service's possible move to a five-day home delivery schedule.
Catalog mailers and magazine publishers are bracing for sizable postage price increases in January 2011, when the US Postal Service expects to implement an "exigent" price increase on mailing services.
March 15, 2010
John Potter, CEO and postmaster general of the USPS, described the organization's challenges in restoring financial stability in stark terms last week. He expects a cumulative shortfall of $238 billion by 2020 as mail volume drops by 27 billion pieces.
The US Postal Service's new rates for numerous shipping services, including Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Return Service and Express Mail International, went into effect today.
January 04, 2010
The "great recession" has dealt its share of challenges to the mailing industry, and mailers are hard-pressed to find good news these days. Fortunately, the US Postal Service delivered an early holiday present in December — there will be no increase in first-class postage in 2010.
January 04, 2010
Many mailers planned for a 2% to 3% increase in postage in 2010. The lack of a rate increase means many mailers can take advantage of the surplus budget to increase circulation, especially in acquisition and reactivation efforts. The key to doing this successfully is to "mail smarter."
January 04, 2010
Ever since the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 became law, mailers have had two questions: "What's the Consumer Price Index?" and "How much additional postage will I now have to pay?" For the first time in many years, the USPS won't raise first-class or standard-mail postage rates in 2010. But savvy application of some postage-saving techniques could push even more cash to your bottom line while actually enhancing delivery.
The US Postal Service has decided not to raise first-class rates for 2010. Four direct mail experts divulge their top recommendations for taking advantage of the break in rate increases.
FedEx announced December 3 that it will increase standard rates for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery by an average of 4.9% next year. The rate changes take effect January 4, 2010. The shipper previously announced that it will raise shipping rates for FedEx Express by an average of 5.9% for US domestic and US export services, effective next month.
UPS announced November 20 that its 2010 shipping rates will increase by an average of 4.9% for UPS Ground packages, and will see an average net increase of 4.9% for air express and US origin international shipments. The rates will go into effect January 4, 2010.
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.
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.
What's in our mailbox this month: fitness postcards from Retro Fitness, American Woman Fitness Centers, Union's United Taekwondo Academy, and Bally Total Fitness. (We're totally pumped.)
Social data can improve a brand's bottom line and customer relationships. Just ask brands Infiniti and Diamond Nexus.
Here are three must-have data sets that every marketer should include in his or her email strategy.
