Mailing/Fulfillment - Postal Trends

The University of Washington’s Mailing Services operation has received a sizable sustainability grant to upgrade its three-year-old bicycle delivery program with new electric-assist bikes, cargo boxes, trailers and riding gear.

Here’s a roundup of laws and regulations from Capitol Hill for the industry to digest this year.

Bell and Howell announced that it has acquired Gunther International, a manufacturer of high-volume, intelligent-software-driven mailing systems, to expand its mail-inserting product portfolio.

The In-plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) just announced the second keynote speaker for its June 10-14 Costa Mesa, Calif., conference.

The PRC issued its findings related to the mandated review of the system for regulating rates and classes for Market Dominant products.

Forever stamps will increase from 49 to 50 cents on Jan. 21. On that day, Mailing Services product prices will rise “approximately 1.9 percent, and most Shipping Services products will average a 3.9 percent price increase,” according to the USPS. In a show of its resolve to do so, USPS filed a Priority Mail amendment with the PRC on Friday.

In 2017, the U.S. Postal Service reported that the volume for its primary source of revenue - letter mail - declined by 5.0 billion pieces. Continued aggressive management actions along with postal reform legislation and regulatory changes are critically needed to address declining volumes and the changing mail mix.

Did you know that putting a “Fragile” sticker on your package increases the chance that it will get damaged?

Yes, folks, it’s that most wonderful time of year, when the kids are back in school and publishers turn their thoughts to everyone’s favorite annual task: budgets. Here to help you is Dead Tree Edition’s annual forecast of paper, postal and print pricing.

The seven-person Print and Mail Services operation at California State University, Chico, is the only university Mail Service Provider certified by the United States Postal Service.