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USPS reports losses of $3.3 billion

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

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

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.
 

USPS solvency saga continues

January 20, 2012

The embattled U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is continuing its struggle to stay in the black, but the five-month moratorium on facilities closures may end more than a month before the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) releases an advisory opinion on its streamlining plans.
 

Direct mailers no longer need to prepay postage

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.
 

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.
 

Twitter-ready insights on marketing follies

Scott Donaton, CEO, Ensemble January 01, 2012

A picture is worth a thousand words, but not every one of my observations is worth a full column. Or so my editors tell me. Most, however, are worth at least 140 characters. With that in mind, and to help ring in 2012, I proudly present my Twitter-ready views, insights, unsolicited tidbits of advice and meaningless random thoughts on the absurdities of modern marketing.
 

USPS agrees to moratorium on post office closures

December 14, 2011

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS), in response to a request made by multiple U.S. senators, agreed to a five-month moratorium on closures of post offices and mail processing facilities on Dec. 13.
 

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

, 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.
 

USPS finishes fiscal year with $5.1 billion net loss

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.
 

Postal reform bill introduced in U.S. Senate

September 23, 2011

A postal reform bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Sept. 23, seeking to help the ailing U.S. Postal Service (USPS) with the establishment of two new control boards. One would oversee a kind of receivership for the USPS if it defaults on any of its government payments and the other is intended to prevent politics from influencing plans to reduce the USPS processing infrastructure.
 

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

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 net loss plummets to $3.1 billion

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.
 

Church marketer mails faster with automated presorting

Mercedes Cardona August 01, 2011

Outreach Inc., one of the nation's largest providers of church-outreach programs, needed help during crunch times — especially around Easter and Christmas, its two top mailing periods. During Easter, it mails from 6 million to 10 million postcards, requiring employee overtime and sometimes outsourcing to meet deadlines.
 

USPS streamlines management

August 01, 2011

Shortly after taking office as Postmaster General in late 2010, Patrick Donahoe reduced the number of his top-level lieutenants to seven. His predecessor, Jack Potter, had nine senior officers on his executive committee.
 

USPS conducting agency review

June 30, 2011

The US Postal Service is conducting a review of its marketing agencies, the government agency said on June 30. USPS spokesperson Patricia Licata said that the USPS is reviewing its strategy and creative, retail promotions, direct marketing and sales support, media planning and buying, and multicultural marketing for the African-American, Hispanic and Asian markets.
 

Marketers hope new legislators tackle USPS

December 01, 2010

American voters sent a clear message about government spending last month when they voted in a new House of Representatives class dominated by Republicans.
 

Abandoning the mail

November 01, 2010

Financial doomsday scenarios at the USPS, coupled with advancements in customer communications, are forcing marketers to prepare for a day when the US Mail is a far smaller piece of their business plans.
 

Interview: Ruth Goldway, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission

November 01, 2010

Ruth Goldway, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, sheds light on USPS's current challenges
 

Postal clerk union voting delayed

October 07, 2010

In an ironic twist of fate, the American Postal Workers Union has had to delay elections because several thousand ballots have - wait for it - been lost in the mail.
 

Marketers brace for paper cost increase

August 23, 2010

Direct marketers and catalogers are preparing to face paper cost increases this fall, while also planning for a possible significant postal rate increase in January.
 

Rate increases outrage mailers

Kate Muth 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.
 

Merchants prepare for possible postal cuts

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.
 

USPS and Congress trade barbs

Kate Muth April 16, 2010

Members of the House of Representatives committees that oversee the USPS argued on April 15 that five home-delivery days per week would further erode mail volumes and harm the agency.
 

Mailers regroup after postage increase plan

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.
 

Despite budget, USPS CFO backs 5-day week

Kate Muth February 15, 2010

President Barack Obama's budget for fiscal year 2011 includes language that shows his administration supports requiring the US Postal Service to deliver mail six days per week.
 

Valassis calls consumers to act on missing child cases

February 05, 2010

Media, direct mail and couponing company Valassis will place missing child-awareness posters, each with a call to action, in 33,000 post offices across the US. The posters highlight the 25th anniversary of the company's "Have you seen me?" campaign, conducted with the US Postal Service.
 

JCPenney pioneers postal intelligence

February 01, 2010

JCPenney's postal affairs manager Ty Taylor discusses the retailer's catalog and mail strategy
 

Make the most of stable postal rates

January 04, 2010

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.
 

Postal Service's latest consolidation list kinder to cities

December 15, 2009

The US Postal Service's latest list of branches that it may close is gentler to individual cities than past versions of its roster of possible consolidations. Of the 168 branches still being considered for closure, the highest number in one city — six — is shared by New York and Cincinnati.