Performance Marketing Insights Our blog, Speaking Direct, delivers info on the latest direct marketing news, omnichannel marketing strategies, creative marketing ideas, direct mail marketing tips, postal issues, and more. Personalization vs. Relevance: The Science & Art of Direct Mail info Posted May 23, 2012 by Debora Haskel in Direct Marketing Trends Much of the industry discussion about maximizing the effectiveness of direct mail has centered on creating unique offers that increase open and response rates. In our industry, the terms “personalization” and “relevance” are often used interchangeably. While they have similar meanings, there are subtle but important differences that are necessary to understand. This is always […] + Read More Platform Enhancements Benefit Customers and Position Us for Growth info Posted May 21, 2012 by Jim Andersen in Announcements This morning we announced we’re implementing the next phase of our strategic platform enhancements by expanding our Chanhassen campus with an eye to greater speed and more options for customers. As marketers are well aware, timing and relevance have become the most important factors to the success of a direct mail campaign. Our platform […] + Read More Postal Update Part 3: More Definition to USPS Network Changes info Posted May 18, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates In Part 1 of this week’s Postal Update we mentioned it was anticipated the Postal Service would announce more details this week on the planned changes to its network. Thursday morning the Postal Service held a briefing to bring more clarity to the issue. As promised, here is an update. Postal Service Begins Network Rationalization […] + Read More Postal Update Part 2: USPS Announces IMb Requirement, Previews Mail Promotions for 2013 info Posted May 17, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates Yesterday we looked at the urgency of passing postal reform legislation as well as upcoming changes to the USPS processing network. Today we’ll examine the recent rule change surrounding automation discounts and preview upcoming promotions being considered for 2013. Intelligent Mail Barcodes Required for Automation Discounts The Postal Service has published its final rule […] + Read More Postal Update Part 1: Legislative Reform and Network Changes Loom info Posted May 16, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates It’s been a busy month in the postal world as the USPS works to address a variety of unique challenges. With so much going on, we decided to break our recap into two parts, so make sure to look for Part 2 tomorrow morning. Here are just some of the issues we are tracking: Continuing […] + Read More IWCO Direct’s Lean Efforts Head East to Compress Cycle Times info Posted May 9, 2012 by Steve Myrvold in Sustainability As IWCO Direct’s Lean Journey continues, teams at our Minnesota facilities continue to implement Lean Manufacturing principles into daily work routines. We’re also excited to share that our Lean Journey has headed east, with our Hamburg facility getting its first introduction to Lean principles. Lean has played an increasingly important role in our operations. It […] + Read More Spotlight on Customer Service info Posted May 2, 2012 by James Gartrell in Direct Marketing Trends Can customer service transform direct marketing? We asked ourselves the same question more than two years ago and decided, unequivocally, the answer is “yes.” Ever since, we have been committed to continually refining and improving our customer service to deliver direct marketing like no one else. Outstanding customer service starts by consistently exceeding expectations. Our […] + Read More EMA and MAILCOM Recognize IWCO Direct for Safety and Technical Excellence info Posted May 1, 2012 by Jim Andersen in Announcements Today we announced two awards we are proud and honored to receive. Our envelope operations team was recently recognized with a 2011 Industry Safety Leader Award by the Envelope Manufacturers Association (EMA) at its Spring Conference. From the banners that hang in our plant, visitors can see that this is the sixth consecutive year our […] + Read More Postal Update: Senate Passes Postal Reform! info Posted April 26, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates In yesterday’s article recapping the EMA Spring Conference, I mentioned the Senate was debating postal reform legislation and promised to post an update as soon as possible. Yesterday afternoon the Senate passed its bipartisan postal reform measure S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act, by a vote of 62-37. The provisions of […] + Read More EMA Looks to the Next Century of Direct Mail info Posted April 25, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Direct Marketing Trends Last week Steve Myrvold, IWCO Direct VP–Operations, and I joined colleagues for the Envelope Manufacturers Association (EMA) annual Spring Meeting. We always enjoy participating in EMA events because the organization clearly sets its sights on the future of direct mail and paper-based communications. The EMA Foundation’s Institute for Postal Studies publishes periodic mailing industry job […] + Read More Pages: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124Load More Articles
Personalization vs. Relevance: The Science & Art of Direct Mail info Posted May 23, 2012 by Debora Haskel in Direct Marketing Trends Much of the industry discussion about maximizing the effectiveness of direct mail has centered on creating unique offers that increase open and response rates. In our industry, the terms “personalization” and “relevance” are often used interchangeably. While they have similar meanings, there are subtle but important differences that are necessary to understand. This is always […] + Read More
Platform Enhancements Benefit Customers and Position Us for Growth info Posted May 21, 2012 by Jim Andersen in Announcements This morning we announced we’re implementing the next phase of our strategic platform enhancements by expanding our Chanhassen campus with an eye to greater speed and more options for customers. As marketers are well aware, timing and relevance have become the most important factors to the success of a direct mail campaign. Our platform […] + Read More
Postal Update Part 3: More Definition to USPS Network Changes info Posted May 18, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates In Part 1 of this week’s Postal Update we mentioned it was anticipated the Postal Service would announce more details this week on the planned changes to its network. Thursday morning the Postal Service held a briefing to bring more clarity to the issue. As promised, here is an update. Postal Service Begins Network Rationalization […] + Read More
Postal Update Part 2: USPS Announces IMb Requirement, Previews Mail Promotions for 2013 info Posted May 17, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates Yesterday we looked at the urgency of passing postal reform legislation as well as upcoming changes to the USPS processing network. Today we’ll examine the recent rule change surrounding automation discounts and preview upcoming promotions being considered for 2013. Intelligent Mail Barcodes Required for Automation Discounts The Postal Service has published its final rule […] + Read More
Postal Update Part 1: Legislative Reform and Network Changes Loom info Posted May 16, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates It’s been a busy month in the postal world as the USPS works to address a variety of unique challenges. With so much going on, we decided to break our recap into two parts, so make sure to look for Part 2 tomorrow morning. Here are just some of the issues we are tracking: Continuing […] + Read More
IWCO Direct’s Lean Efforts Head East to Compress Cycle Times info Posted May 9, 2012 by Steve Myrvold in Sustainability As IWCO Direct’s Lean Journey continues, teams at our Minnesota facilities continue to implement Lean Manufacturing principles into daily work routines. We’re also excited to share that our Lean Journey has headed east, with our Hamburg facility getting its first introduction to Lean principles. Lean has played an increasingly important role in our operations. It […] + Read More
Spotlight on Customer Service info Posted May 2, 2012 by James Gartrell in Direct Marketing Trends Can customer service transform direct marketing? We asked ourselves the same question more than two years ago and decided, unequivocally, the answer is “yes.” Ever since, we have been committed to continually refining and improving our customer service to deliver direct marketing like no one else. Outstanding customer service starts by consistently exceeding expectations. Our […] + Read More
EMA and MAILCOM Recognize IWCO Direct for Safety and Technical Excellence info Posted May 1, 2012 by Jim Andersen in Announcements Today we announced two awards we are proud and honored to receive. Our envelope operations team was recently recognized with a 2011 Industry Safety Leader Award by the Envelope Manufacturers Association (EMA) at its Spring Conference. From the banners that hang in our plant, visitors can see that this is the sixth consecutive year our […] + Read More
Postal Update: Senate Passes Postal Reform! info Posted April 26, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Postal Issues Updates In yesterday’s article recapping the EMA Spring Conference, I mentioned the Senate was debating postal reform legislation and promised to post an update as soon as possible. Yesterday afternoon the Senate passed its bipartisan postal reform measure S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act, by a vote of 62-37. The provisions of […] + Read More
EMA Looks to the Next Century of Direct Mail info Posted April 25, 2012 by Kurt Ruppel in Direct Marketing Trends Last week Steve Myrvold, IWCO Direct VP–Operations, and I joined colleagues for the Envelope Manufacturers Association (EMA) annual Spring Meeting. We always enjoy participating in EMA events because the organization clearly sets its sights on the future of direct mail and paper-based communications. The EMA Foundation’s Institute for Postal Studies publishes periodic mailing industry job […] + Read More