Articles by Kurt Ruppel Blog Archive Your Mid-Year Postal Issues Update from IWCO Direct info Posted July 15, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates It’s been a busy first half of the year for those of us involved in postal issues. From concerns about postage rates, to operational changes that resulted in service performance challenges, to new options for connecting mail and digital, we’ve had a lot of moving parts to track this year. Let’s jump in and see […] + Read More Court Rules on Exigent Postage Rates: Now What? info Posted June 10, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Direct Marketing Trends, Postal Issues Updates This past Friday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued its long awaited ruling regarding the future of the exigent postage rates. The court agreed with the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) finding that the emergency rates could not be made permanent. However, it also questioned the PRC’s methodology for calculating the […] + Read More NPF Day 4 Highlights: Understanding Mailer Scorecards info Posted May 21, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates The sessions that my colleague Bob Rosser and I presented at this year’s National Postal Forum (NPF) were all focused on mail quality and the Mailer Scorecard. We weren’t the only ones tackling this subject – it was one of the most popular seminar topics at NPF. All the sessions were well attended, and […] + Read More NPF Day 2 Highlights: Direct Mail Works – Even in a Digital World info Posted May 19, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates This year’s National Postal Forum (NPF) has been a high-energy event with more than 2,500 participants eager to “grow together” and build a more vibrant mailing and shipping industry. The highlight of day two was the keynote from Postmaster Brennan focused on new USPS technology and services. We wanted to recap those important innovations for […] + Read More NPF Day 1 Highlights: MTAC Celebrates 50 Years & Focus on Mail Quality Solutions info Posted May 18, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates The mailing industry has made its way to sunny southern California, where the 2015 National Postal Forum (NPF) kicked-off yesterday at the Anaheim Convention Center. Anaheim is a great venue for the NPF – a much needed break for our friends who survived the brutal winter in the Northeast, and who can complain about being […] + Read More Breaking News: Postal Regulatory Commission Approves Standard Mail Postage Rates info Posted May 7, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates The Postal Regulatory Commission today approved the U.S. Postal Service’s most recent proposal for adjusted rates for Standard Mail, Periodicals and Package Services. These were the last pricing elements to be approved, so implementation of all new rates (including First-Class Mail, which was approved earlier this year) is expected to take place on Sunday May […] + Read More Much More Than Envelopes: Key Postal Issues Addressed at EMA Spring Meeting info Posted April 24, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates I had the privilege of participating in the Envelope Manufacturers Association Spring Meeting last week. It’s always enlightening to meet with other envelope manufacturers and members of the paper-based communications industry. The theme for this meeting was Agility: The Foundation of our Future. We discussed a wide range of topics from how EMA members can […] + Read More BREAKING: Postal Service Delays Postage Price Increase info Posted March 30, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates The Postal Service announced on Friday that it will delay the price increase, originally planned for April 26, 2015, until adjustments for all classes of mail are approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). While the PRC has approved proposed rates for Competitive Products (Shipping Services and International), Special Services (P.O. Boxes, Certified Mail, etc.), […] + Read More PostalVision 2020 Looks to the Postal Future: Optimism and Insight info Posted March 17, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates Last week I had the opportunity to participate in the PostalVision 2020 conference. This conference engages stakeholders in conversation about the future of postal services, both in this country and around the world. As marketers, we know that direct mail is one of the strongest performers in cross-channel marketing campaigns. However, in order for direct […] + Read More What the Mailing Industry Needs from the Postal Service: Thoughts for Incoming Postmaster General Megan Brennan info Posted February 3, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates When it was announced last fall that Megan Brennan was going to become the first woman to be Postmaster General (PMG) of the United States, it caused quite a stir, especially in our Hamburg, PA facilities. You see, Brennan is a neighbor of ours, having grown up in nearby Pottsville. Colleagues from Hamburg eagerly shared […] + Read More Pages: 12345678910111213141516Load More Articles
Your Mid-Year Postal Issues Update from IWCO Direct info Posted July 15, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates It’s been a busy first half of the year for those of us involved in postal issues. From concerns about postage rates, to operational changes that resulted in service performance challenges, to new options for connecting mail and digital, we’ve had a lot of moving parts to track this year. Let’s jump in and see […] + Read More
Court Rules on Exigent Postage Rates: Now What? info Posted June 10, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Direct Marketing Trends, Postal Issues Updates This past Friday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued its long awaited ruling regarding the future of the exigent postage rates. The court agreed with the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) finding that the emergency rates could not be made permanent. However, it also questioned the PRC’s methodology for calculating the […] + Read More
NPF Day 4 Highlights: Understanding Mailer Scorecards info Posted May 21, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates The sessions that my colleague Bob Rosser and I presented at this year’s National Postal Forum (NPF) were all focused on mail quality and the Mailer Scorecard. We weren’t the only ones tackling this subject – it was one of the most popular seminar topics at NPF. All the sessions were well attended, and […] + Read More
NPF Day 2 Highlights: Direct Mail Works – Even in a Digital World info Posted May 19, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates This year’s National Postal Forum (NPF) has been a high-energy event with more than 2,500 participants eager to “grow together” and build a more vibrant mailing and shipping industry. The highlight of day two was the keynote from Postmaster Brennan focused on new USPS technology and services. We wanted to recap those important innovations for […] + Read More
NPF Day 1 Highlights: MTAC Celebrates 50 Years & Focus on Mail Quality Solutions info Posted May 18, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates The mailing industry has made its way to sunny southern California, where the 2015 National Postal Forum (NPF) kicked-off yesterday at the Anaheim Convention Center. Anaheim is a great venue for the NPF – a much needed break for our friends who survived the brutal winter in the Northeast, and who can complain about being […] + Read More
Breaking News: Postal Regulatory Commission Approves Standard Mail Postage Rates info Posted May 7, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates The Postal Regulatory Commission today approved the U.S. Postal Service’s most recent proposal for adjusted rates for Standard Mail, Periodicals and Package Services. These were the last pricing elements to be approved, so implementation of all new rates (including First-Class Mail, which was approved earlier this year) is expected to take place on Sunday May […] + Read More
Much More Than Envelopes: Key Postal Issues Addressed at EMA Spring Meeting info Posted April 24, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Announcements, Postal Issues Updates I had the privilege of participating in the Envelope Manufacturers Association Spring Meeting last week. It’s always enlightening to meet with other envelope manufacturers and members of the paper-based communications industry. The theme for this meeting was Agility: The Foundation of our Future. We discussed a wide range of topics from how EMA members can […] + Read More
BREAKING: Postal Service Delays Postage Price Increase info Posted March 30, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates The Postal Service announced on Friday that it will delay the price increase, originally planned for April 26, 2015, until adjustments for all classes of mail are approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). While the PRC has approved proposed rates for Competitive Products (Shipping Services and International), Special Services (P.O. Boxes, Certified Mail, etc.), […] + Read More
PostalVision 2020 Looks to the Postal Future: Optimism and Insight info Posted March 17, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates Last week I had the opportunity to participate in the PostalVision 2020 conference. This conference engages stakeholders in conversation about the future of postal services, both in this country and around the world. As marketers, we know that direct mail is one of the strongest performers in cross-channel marketing campaigns. However, in order for direct […] + Read More
What the Mailing Industry Needs from the Postal Service: Thoughts for Incoming Postmaster General Megan Brennan info Posted February 3, 2015 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates When it was announced last fall that Megan Brennan was going to become the first woman to be Postmaster General (PMG) of the United States, it caused quite a stir, especially in our Hamburg, PA facilities. You see, Brennan is a neighbor of ours, having grown up in nearby Pottsville. Colleagues from Hamburg eagerly shared […] + Read More
