Periodical Supplements No Longer Need Endorsement

In response to customer needs, effective May 31, 2012, the Postal Service will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 707.3.3.5 to modify the marking standards for supplements to bound publications. Supplements prepared with bound publications that are enclosed in a complete wrapper, polybag, or envelope may be mailed without the endorsement “Supplement to…” followed either by the title of the publication, the name of the publisher, or by “Periodicals Publication.” This change will unify bound and unbound supplement endorsement requirements and simplify preparation of preprinted advertising in bound publications. [Editor’s Note: This change was made possible by a small group of publishers and printers working directly with the USPS. Thanks to everyone that participated. You know who you are].

Source: Postal Bulletin No. 22338

USPS Launches Permit Imprint Branding

In response to customer requests, the U.S. Postal Service has announced the launch of the “Picture Permit Imprint Indicia” program for commercial mailers. This program provides new advertising opportunities for commercial mail customers by allowing them to use corporate logos, product visuals or other brand images in the permit indicia space on their mail. “Dozens of our largest customers looking to increase brand awareness and increase the effectiveness of their mail have asked us to allow more creativity in the design of their permit indicia,” said Gary Reblin, vice president, Domestic Products. “Permit indicia enhanced with logos, photos or other brand images increase the visual impact of the mailpiece as well as its open rate and value.” The program is open to commercial mailers of presorted First-Class Mail letters and cards or Standard Mail letters. The premium for First-Class Mail letters and cards will be $.01 per piece, and for Standard Mail letters, $.02 per piece. For an overview of the “Picture Permit Imprint Indicia” program—including requirements, FAQs, and an application form— visit the new website.

Source: Printing Impressions

House Schedules Debate on USPS Rescue Bill

Majority leader Eric Cantor issued a memo laying out a timetable for the House through the summer, listing the Issa-Ross Bill (H.R.2309) on the agenda for consideration after the 4th July. Cantor called the bill developed by Oversight Committee chairman Darrell Issa and postal subcommittee chairman Dennis Ross as a “responsible proposal” to reform the US Postal Service. He said big changes were needed as he placed blame on USPS for not being able to pay its government bills. If the House does pass its bill following its floor debate, it would go to a conference committee along with its Senate counterpart, for a single compromise proposal to be agreed and voted on by both chambers of Congress before becoming law.

Source: Presort.com

USPS Continues Mobile Barcode Talk

The USPS issued another press release incenting mailers to combine mobile marketing with direct mail. According to the most recent release the Postal Service is offering an upfront 2 percent postage discount on Standard Mail and First-Class Mail letters, flats and cards (presort and automation) that include a two-dimensional barcode or print/mobile technology that can be read or scanned by a mobile device. When scanned, the technology must activate a link directly to either a mobile-optimized Web page that allows the mail recipient to purchase a product or service or to a mobile-optimized and customized Web page uniquely tailored to the mail recipient and accessible by a personalized URL. For more information, visit usps.com/mobile-barcode.