Articles by Kurt Ruppel Blog Archive IWCO Direct to Host POTC Meeting in Chanhassen info Posted June 7, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates IWCO Direct is actively involved in a number of associations that advocate for the mailing industry on postal issues, including EMA, PostCom, and Idealliance. We believe it’s important to be vocal about issues ranging from postal reform legislation to mail preparation and other postal operational concerns [...] + Read More The 2019 National Postal Forum Highlights the Ability of Mail to Enhance Marketing Campaigns info Posted May 14, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates The National Postal Forum completed its victory lap in Indianapolis last week, providing inspiration and tools to achieve direct mail success. In her keynote address, Postmaster General Megan Brennan reminded attendees, “digital can’t do it alone.” She encouraged marketers to create mail that adds value by delivering exceptional customer experiences [...] + Read More Take the Checkered Flag at the 2019 National Postal Forum info Posted April 17, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates Start your engines! The National Postal Forum, the year’s premier postal event, begins its high-octane run in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 5. The theme of this year’s event is “Growth Driven: Fueling Your Mailing and Shipping Success,” and the IWCO Direct team is ready to expand our knowledge to ensure we’re geared up to drive mailing success for our clients [...] + Read More Why You Should Care About the Latest Postal News info Posted March 27, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates Have you heard of Areas Inspiring Mail (AIM)? It’s a Postal Service program that offers mailers and marketers the opportunity to meet with USPS Area and Headquarters leaders to learn about the latest postal news and initiatives and how to integrate mail into omnichannel marketing campaigns. I have the privilege of serving as the industry […] + Read More This is Marketing: A Marketing Philosophy Built on Making Connections and Meeting Needs info Posted January 11, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Direct Marketing Trends I’ve been a Seth Godin fan since the days of purple cows, so I was excited to discover his most recent book, This is Marketing. In his latest work, Godin reminds us that “marketing involves very little in the way of shouting, hustling, or coercion.” Instead, he describes effective marketing as “understanding our […] + Read More What’s Ahead for Postal Affairs in 2019? All the Postal News You’ll Need info Posted December 18, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates As we approach the new year, SpeakingDIRECT will be taking the opportunity to reflect on important marketing trends from 2018 and look forward to what we might expect for 2019. In the coming days, my colleagues Karen Weil and Debora Haskel will examine ongoing trends in the evolving paper market and changes we can expect […] + Read More Postage Increase 2019: Rate Adjustment Could Mean a Rocky Road for Mailers info Posted October 24, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates When it comes to the recently announced postage increase for 2019, those of us in the mailing industry thought we were getting vanilla, but what the Postal Service served up was rocky road. Depending on the specific rates a given mailer relies on, that road can look pretty rocky, indeed. The rate adjustment filed […] + Read More Your Fall 2018 Postal News Update: New Governors, New Initiatives, and the Need for More Collaboration info Posted October 10, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates As I alluded to in my post this past June, it’s been a year of non-stop activity for postal nerds. The opportunities to learn about new approaches to postal optimization just keep coming. The fall meeting of the Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) was held last week, with additional association meetings happening through Thanksgiving (even […] + Read More Summer 2018 Postal Update: Reform Appears On Hold Until Task Force Issues Report Later This Summer info Posted June 27, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Direct Marketing Trends The last few weeks have been busy for postal nerds like me. While postal issues may not get the press other topics in Washington do, there is certainly a lot going on behind the scenes—including factors impacting postal reform—to continue to keep people like me busy over the summer. Let’s take a look at what’s […] + Read More The 2018 National Postal Forum Proved Mail is the “Ultimate Closer” info Posted May 15, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates San Antonio lived up to its billing as a great place for the mailing community to gather for the 2018 National Postal Forum last week. Great history, a beautiful environment, and exciting nightlife made the city a vibrant backdrop for discussions of data-driven mail and how digital channels “need mail to seal the deal.” The […] + Read More Pages: 12345678910111213141516Load More Articles
IWCO Direct to Host POTC Meeting in Chanhassen info Posted June 7, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates IWCO Direct is actively involved in a number of associations that advocate for the mailing industry on postal issues, including EMA, PostCom, and Idealliance. We believe it’s important to be vocal about issues ranging from postal reform legislation to mail preparation and other postal operational concerns [...] + Read More
The 2019 National Postal Forum Highlights the Ability of Mail to Enhance Marketing Campaigns info Posted May 14, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates The National Postal Forum completed its victory lap in Indianapolis last week, providing inspiration and tools to achieve direct mail success. In her keynote address, Postmaster General Megan Brennan reminded attendees, “digital can’t do it alone.” She encouraged marketers to create mail that adds value by delivering exceptional customer experiences [...] + Read More
Take the Checkered Flag at the 2019 National Postal Forum info Posted April 17, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates Start your engines! The National Postal Forum, the year’s premier postal event, begins its high-octane run in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 5. The theme of this year’s event is “Growth Driven: Fueling Your Mailing and Shipping Success,” and the IWCO Direct team is ready to expand our knowledge to ensure we’re geared up to drive mailing success for our clients [...] + Read More
Why You Should Care About the Latest Postal News info Posted March 27, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates Have you heard of Areas Inspiring Mail (AIM)? It’s a Postal Service program that offers mailers and marketers the opportunity to meet with USPS Area and Headquarters leaders to learn about the latest postal news and initiatives and how to integrate mail into omnichannel marketing campaigns. I have the privilege of serving as the industry […] + Read More
This is Marketing: A Marketing Philosophy Built on Making Connections and Meeting Needs info Posted January 11, 2019 by Kurt Ruppel in Direct Marketing Trends I’ve been a Seth Godin fan since the days of purple cows, so I was excited to discover his most recent book, This is Marketing. In his latest work, Godin reminds us that “marketing involves very little in the way of shouting, hustling, or coercion.” Instead, he describes effective marketing as “understanding our […] + Read More
What’s Ahead for Postal Affairs in 2019? All the Postal News You’ll Need info Posted December 18, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates As we approach the new year, SpeakingDIRECT will be taking the opportunity to reflect on important marketing trends from 2018 and look forward to what we might expect for 2019. In the coming days, my colleagues Karen Weil and Debora Haskel will examine ongoing trends in the evolving paper market and changes we can expect […] + Read More
Postage Increase 2019: Rate Adjustment Could Mean a Rocky Road for Mailers info Posted October 24, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates When it comes to the recently announced postage increase for 2019, those of us in the mailing industry thought we were getting vanilla, but what the Postal Service served up was rocky road. Depending on the specific rates a given mailer relies on, that road can look pretty rocky, indeed. The rate adjustment filed […] + Read More
Your Fall 2018 Postal News Update: New Governors, New Initiatives, and the Need for More Collaboration info Posted October 10, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates As I alluded to in my post this past June, it’s been a year of non-stop activity for postal nerds. The opportunities to learn about new approaches to postal optimization just keep coming. The fall meeting of the Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) was held last week, with additional association meetings happening through Thanksgiving (even […] + Read More
Summer 2018 Postal Update: Reform Appears On Hold Until Task Force Issues Report Later This Summer info Posted June 27, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Direct Marketing Trends The last few weeks have been busy for postal nerds like me. While postal issues may not get the press other topics in Washington do, there is certainly a lot going on behind the scenes—including factors impacting postal reform—to continue to keep people like me busy over the summer. Let’s take a look at what’s […] + Read More
The 2018 National Postal Forum Proved Mail is the “Ultimate Closer” info Posted May 15, 2018 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates San Antonio lived up to its billing as a great place for the mailing community to gather for the 2018 National Postal Forum last week. Great history, a beautiful environment, and exciting nightlife made the city a vibrant backdrop for discussions of data-driven mail and how digital channels “need mail to seal the deal.” The […] + Read More
