Tag Archives: Postal

Louis DeJoy, US Postmaster General. Daylight or Dark for the USPS?

On June 16, 2020, Louis DeJoy, a successful businessman from the private sector and Republican Party fundraiser, was sworn in to serve as the USPS CEO and our nation’s 75th US Postmaster General. DeJoy was appointed in May by a unanimous selection of the USPS Board of Governors.

DeJoy represents a new era of Postmaster General because he is not a career postal employee unlike his predecessors dating back over 19-years. John Potter served from 2001-2011. He was a second generation postal person, and his career spanned over 30-years. Up next was Patrick Donahoe, USPMG from 2011-2015. Donahoe worked at the US Postal service for over 35-years before retirement. And finally, there is Megan Brennan, the first female USPMG. Megan started as a letter carrier in 1986 and grew through the ranks during her 29-year career.

75th USPMG Lois DeJoy

75th USPMG Lois DeJoy

DeJoy’s career prior to the USPS was serving as chairman and CEO of New Breed Logistics. He spent decades in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service, Boeing, Verizon, other public and private companies to provide supply chain logistics, program management and transportation support. New Breed Logistics was a contractor to the U.S. Postal Service for more than 25 years, supplying logistics support for multiple processing facilities.

In 2014, New Breed merged with XPO Logistics, with DeJoy serving as CEO of XPO Logistics’ supply chain business in the Americas before his retirement in December 2015. He then joined the company’s board of directors where he served until 2018.

To some, Mr DeJoy is expected to be in alignment with the current administration because of his political background and affiliations, but for right now, we don’t know.  The postal unions are likely to be leery of him because of his political background and because he’s an outsider. The unions are unlikely to give him any slack, and will test his ability to deal with organized labor.

His biggest challenge will be dealing with the mailing industry, the businesses who bring the USPS’ lion’s share of revenue, and whose support he needs. Since Amazon is one of the USPS best clients, the tumultuous relationship between Trump and Bezos may have a determining factor on future policy for the USPS. Mr. DeJoy has donated over $300,000 towards the president’s re-election campaign since January of this year.

In the meantime, it is unclear what direction Mr. DeJoy will take the US Postal or what his long-term vision is for the struggling entity. We will keep you abreast of progress as it unfolds which should be unveiled by August.

 

 

The Basics of Networking Have Not Changed

Networking is to continually establish connections to generate business and feed our growth, professionally. It is an essential part of the sales and service cycle for every business. However, in our current climate, it seems impossible to do…or is it? The basics of networking have not changed, even during a pandemic that requires social distancing.

Developing and deepening relationships during this time is absolutely possible. Below are 4 easy ways to approach networking and help your business grow during these troubling times:

Prioritize Quality of Quantity
Networking has never been about casting a wide net around a large group of people. It’s about making connections to people and businesses that are likely to engage or support your business. You’re searching for potential clients or vendors. If you network with 250 people/businesses and only 10 are likely to engage or support your business, you have been wasting a lot time, money, and energy. It’s much more productive to engage 10 people on a regular basis, rather than 250 occasionally.

Unsubscribe from email lists from companies that are filling up your inbox with emails you only delete or don’t read. This will help prevent friends and colleagues emails from “getting lost” in the shuffle. Comment, reply and share posts on social media from the people/companies you have identified are a potential partners and customers, and do it often.

Stay True to You
If you aren’t your true, authentic self while networking, you are selling yourself and your client short. If you have a sense of humor, use your sense of humor. If you are a little irreverent, you should be a little irreverent. Networking is about being human. And the idiosyncrasies surrounding your humanness is what makes you interesting and is foundation for building trust.

Also, don’t forget to give your networking contact the license to be themselves too.

Help Others to be Heard
Instead of competing for the spotlight to focus on you or your business, try amplifying other peoples voices instead. People are drawn to those who are unselfish, especially in the business world, and are often most willing to reciprocate. Help to promote an event, or share a testimony within your social media or online circle, and lend  hand to those potential partners and clients. They will remember it, and in the course of that simple action, you are building trust.

Search for Ways to Service Your Network
This requires one to think out of the box. A good networker is a very good listener. Most people will tell you exactly what they need if you are willing to hear it. A new connection is participating in a community project over the weekend, can you offer to print some signs to help promote the event? Can you post the event on your website, blog, or social media pages? Even it’s not part of your core business, find ways to simplify projects or solve a person’s problem and your networking will turn a prospect into a client.

 

Slow Delivery in Houston Continues

Houston Standard Mail DeliveryThe new USPS delivery standards for First Class and Standard Mail that take effect on July 1, 2015 have been published.  However, we have continued to experience slow delivery both local and regional, especially with standard mail.  We encourage our clients, especially those mailing to promote scheduled events, to drop your mail an extra 7 days earlier to ensure timely delivery of your marketing mail!  We will continue to keep you apprised of delivery in the coming months as we prepare for the upcoming back to school and holiday seasons.

 

New Delivery Standards for Standard Mail

New delivery standards for Standard Mail will take effect on July 1, 2015.  See below for details:

USPS Standard mail delivery standardsWe have experienced slower than normal standard mail delivery locally and regionally.  See details on what Houston mailers are experiencing and read our recommendations for the coming back to school and holiday seasons.  Read More…

Slower Mail Delivery

BEB Business Extension Bureau USPS Slower DeliveryThe US Postal Service Has Slowed Mail Delivery

No, you’re not imagining it. It does, in fact, take longer for letters to get to their destination via snail mail. Since January, letters that used to be delivered overnight are now taking an extra day or two to reach their destination.

The slowdown is the result of far less volume (people are sending fewer things by USPS) and processing plant closures. The Postal Service closed 150 plants to save $865 million and another 82 starting in January to save an additional $750 million.

The USPS has had billion-dollar budget shortfalls in recent years, prompting the agency to ask Congress for help. It wanted to cut Saturday service all together, but an outcry prevented that measure.

Former postmaster general Patrick Donahoe argued, just before he retired earlier this year, that the longer delivery times only affect between 2.5 percent and four percent of the mail anyway. “So you can’t hold an entire system hostage and continue to run up debt and continue to avoid making investments over 2 percent to 4 percent of the mail,” he told the National Press Club.

Read more

USPS Rate Hike Approved

Postal Rate Hike Approved by BEB Business Extension BureauAfter three tries, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) finally approved the proposed prices and classifications for Standard Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services yesterday.

The new pricing and classification changes for all market-dominant mail classes and competitive products take effect on May 31, 2015.   Below are the new rates:

2015-05-31 POSTAL RATES Standard & First Class 2015-05-31 POSTAL RATES NON PROFITWould you like a 2015 BEB POSTAL RATE CARD?  These cards are double sided with nonprofit rates on one side, and for profit Standard & First-Class rates on the other.  They also include handy dimension minimums/maximums and other mailing requirements.  Printed on sturdy card stock and measuring at 9″ high X 8″ wide, these cards are excellent reference material and they are FREE!  If you would like one mailed to you, click here.

USPS Rate Hike Remanded Again

POSTAL POOCH RATE HIKE REMANDED AGAIN 1Two weeks ago the Postal Regulatory Commission sent the Postal Service’s rate and classification proposals for Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services back for corrections and amendment. Last week the revised proposed rates were resubmitted, and for a second time, the PRC remanded the rate case stating the Postal Service has not complied fully with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.  Once the rate proposal is updated, the PRC will allow 7-days for public comment.  In a statement released last week, the PRC also noted; “The Postal Service states that the revised prices are scheduled to go into effect on April 26, 2015. … Pursuant to [statute], no rate shall take effect until 45 days after the Postal Service files a notice specifying that rate.”

Our good friend and postal expert, Leo Raymond of Epicomm wrote; “Though I’m not a lawyer, that last sentence seems to sink the Postal Service’s plans for an April 26 implementation date — at least for Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services. (The proposed rates and classification changes for First-Class Mail, and competitive products were approved earlier, and there’s no legal reason why implementation of those rates would have to be delayed, though implementing them separately would be a major headache for mailing companies and their software providers.)”
If the USPS HQ can update and resubmit by Monday, and allowing for the seven days for comment, add another few days for the PRC to deliberate, and assuming it doesn’t remand the filing a third time, it’s reasonable to not expect an order on final rates in April. This means that it is possible that the 45-day clock won’t start until the date of the PRC order putting rate implementation (for the three classes involved at least) into mid-May.

We’ll keep you posted as things unfold.

PRC Approves Rate Hike effective Apr 26

April 26th Rate HikeThe Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has issued orders approving some of the price changes proposed earlier by the Postal Service. After its review of the USPS filing, discussion of the input from commenters, and its own analysis, the PRC found that “the planned” prices for First-Class Mail do not violate the price cap.

The PRC has also approved the price increase for competitive products (proposed on January 26), except for some rates associated with products whose transfer from “market dominant” to “competitive” remain under review.

Rate increases will take effect on April 26, 2015. You can view the new rates by clicking below:

STANDARD NONPROFIT LETTERS AND FLATS

STANDARD LETTERS AND FLAT | FIRST CLASS LETTERS & POSTCARDS

Downtown Houston Permit Holders

BEB MAIL POOCHIf you currently hold a mailing permit number that is issued from the Downtown Houston Post Office, you will need to make some changes.

As closure of the Downtown Post Office completes, all permit numbers issued from there must be re-issued from the North Houston office.

To make the transition, you are required to re-apply (at no additional charge) for a North Houston permit number. However, North Houston may not be able to assign the same number you were given from the Downtown Post Office. If the number issued from Downtown is not currently taken by another mailer in North Houston, you will be assigned the same number. Otherwise, you will be issued a new number.

This process must be completed no later than June 15, 2015
Inventory of items already printed with the Houston permit information will be accepted throughout the balance of this year. If you currently use a permit with the verbiage “Houston”; when creating new inventory, you will need to use the verbiage, “N. Houston” going forward. A sample for your review is below.
EXAMPLE INIDICA

You can see detailed standards for mailing permit verbiage by clicking here or you can contact the North Houston Post Office at 713-226-3032.

If you need additional information or assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us at 713-528-5568.

Marketing for Small Business Fall Seminar Series Review

Marketing For Small Business Fall Seminar Series ReviewsThe final 2014, Marketing for Small Business Seminar Series kicks off next week with with our Blogging class on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 between 11:30 – 1:00pm.

We have compiled results from the over 48 surveys submitted by participants since the inception of this program in July; and are proud to share the results!  90% of the respondents rated the classes as Excellent, 70% attended multiple classes within the series, and  97.3% said they would recommend classes to their friends and colleagues.

Each class covers a specific topic and is focused on teaching ways that small businesses can market using leading-edge technology without “breaking the bank” or having to hire a large staff to execute the plan.  The classes (Blogging, Social Media, Two Mails: Direct Mail | e-mail, and Search Engine Optimization) are limited to a maximum of 8 people to keep interaction at a high level and allow for personalized teaching.  For details and registration on the remaining classes, click here.

Our students gave specific examples of what they thought was good about the seminars.  See below for a glance at a few highlights:

Positive Comments from Marketing For Small Business Seminar SeriesOur valued graduates let us know that they are looking for additional class offerings as well.  We are currently creating content for the most requested subjects and will offer continuing education in the first quarter of 2015.  The new curriculum will include more guest lecturers and expanded content from the our original series.  In case you missed one of the original sets or would like to recommend someone, we will continue to offer the introduction of Marketing For Small Business Series once each quarter in  2015.

Marketing For Small Business Seminar Series suggestions for additional classesWe look forward to working with more new companies and expanding our relationship with our existing clients through further education of Marketing for Small Business.

Thank you!