The Postal Service Will be Here Tomorrow – Despite What You’ve Seen in the Media
The U.S. Postal Service has been the trending story in the news cycle for the last few weeks, raising questions about a variety of Postal Service issues including mail delivery, operational changes, removal of equipment, and USPS finances. As a result, marketers are asking questions about what to expect in the coming weeks and months, […]
A Mid-Year Look at the Postal News and Issues We are Tracking
June was a popular month for postal meetings. It started with the Association for Postal Commerce’s (PostCom) Study Day review of postal policy, followed by the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) spring meeting, during which members of the mailing industry discussed issues of concern with USPS executives, and wrapped up with the Idealliance Postal Operations & Technologies Council (POTC) (hosted by IWCO Direct), which addressed the operational side of industry/USPS interactions [...]
IWCO Direct to Host POTC Meeting in Chanhassen
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 [...]
Why You Should Care About the Latest Postal News
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 […]
Postage Increase 2019: Rate Adjustment Could Mean a Rocky Road for Mailers
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 […]
Your Fall 2018 Postal News Update: New Governors, New Initiatives, and the Need for More Collaboration
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 […]
Summer 2018 Postal Update: Reform Appears On Hold Until Task Force Issues Report Later This Summer
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 […]
At PostalVision 2020, Pros Agree: Risk Intolerance Won’t Save the Mail Industry
Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in the eighth PostalVision 2020 conference. This visionary gathering of stakeholders involves conversations about the future of postal services and other delivery operations. It’s a great opportunity for those of us who work closely with the U.S. Postal Service to consider what postal delivery in this country […]
Time is Almost Up: The PRC Needs to Hear You’re Against Draconian Postage Rate Increases
This week, the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) received a letter from me that began, “We are writing to express our strong opposition to the rate-making framework you have proposed as a result of your 10-year review of the CPI-based annual price cap established under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA).” The language […]
Bob Rosser Receives Idealliance Circle of Excellence Award for Contributions to the Mailing Industry
I had the good fortune to escape the Minnesota winter for a few days last week when I attended the Idealliance Postal Exchange Conference in sunny Clearwater Beach, FL. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and beaches for me and my associates Bob Rosser and Anne Skroch. We spent much of our time engaged with our […]