Johnson & Quin kicked off the new year celebrating our 150th anniversary at our holiday party on Friday. It was a fun opportunity to reflect on how the company has grown and evolved over the years, from our beginnings in 1876 to where we are today.
The USPS has announced its postal promotions for 2026, offering discounts to mailers who incorporate specific technologies, formats, or personalization into their direct mail campaigns. While these promotions require some planning and compliance with USPS guidelines, they can help offset postage costs and encourage more effective mail strategies.
International Print Day is a time to celebrate the power of print—and in 2025, the theme #PrintSmart challenges us to think differently about how we use print to communicate, connect, and convert. J&Q believes that smart print starts with smart strategy, by using the latest print technologies to deliver more relevant, targeted, and engaging messages through direct mail. One of the most effective ways to do that is through personalization.
As mailers plan their 2025 budgets, one of the first things that comes to mind is the rising cost of postage. With two postage increases planned for next year, it’s more important than ever to utilize promotions to keep these costs down while maintaining a quality mail piece. Promotions aim to help mailers’ budgets while encouraging creative direct mail approaches. Let’s explore the 2025 promotions and discover how you can save money while leveraging new ideas to optimize your mailing experience:
As we embark on the new year, the USPS continues to roll out enticing postal promotions that promise not only cost savings but also innovative opportunities to enhance your direct mail programs. This year, businesses can reduce postage costs while revolutionizing their mailing strategies to resonate with their ever-changing audience.
Just 6 months after the January postage increase, the Postal Service will be implementing new postal rates on July 9, 2023. The new rates are a part of the Postal Service’s 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence. A notable increase includes a $0.03 increase on a First Class Mail Forever stamp, bringing the cost up from $0.63 to $0.66 per stamp.
The Postal Service will implement new postal rates on January 22, 2023. This increase comes just 6 months after the previous increase in July 2022. The new rates include a $0.03 increase in the price of a First-Class Forever stamp – from $0.60 to $0.63 each. According to the Postal Service these ongoing price increases are needed due to rising inflation and increasing operating expenses.
Postage Increases Keep Coming. The postal rate increases that occurred in August 2021 and July 2022 totaled 13% and were not kind to mailers’ budgets. In addition, the USPS announced that it will raise postage rates twice a year beginning in 2023.
On October 7, the Postal Service filed a price increase which if approved will take effect January 22, 2023. The PRC is expected to approve the filing in November. Because the USPS is filing just six months from the previous increase in July 2022, the rate authority available for January is only 4.2%. Another 2% can also be added for “non-compensatory” (underwater) categories.
Has your company participated in the USPS Informed Delivery Promotion in the past? If not, definitely consider it for 2022. Running August through September, mailings that participate in the Informed Delivery Promotion receive a 4% postage discount!
To put it in perspective, if you mail 1 million packages at Marketing Mail rates, postage could be a whopping $250,000 at current postal rates. A 4% discount equals approximately $10,000 which equals free postage for 40,000 pieces! In addition, rates are increasing on July 10th.
The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 was passed by both the House and Senate, and the President signed it into law on April 6. It has been over 15 years since Congress passed a major piece of postal reform legislation. The Postal Service is one of the oldest government institutions, established in 1775 to promote the free exchange of ideas across the colonies. It does not receive taxpayer funding and relies on revenue from stamps, postage, and package deliveries. Congress has also mandated that it deliver to every address in the U.S., including remote, hard to reach areas regardless of the financial consequences.
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