Tag Archives: Business Extension Bureau

BEB Brings home Graphic Excellence Awards

GEA BANNER2013-GEA BOB HOLDING TWOWe are please and proud to bring home three Graphic Excellence Awards this year!  Last night, the Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast hosted their annual gala to honor the best of the best in the Houston and surrounding areas printing world.  Printers and marketers gathered at the Hilton Greenway to celebrate this year’s winners.

Business Extension Bureau picked up three awards!

We received two Awards of Merit for our digital and interactive 2012 Holiday Cards.

2013-GEA AWARDS GRAPHIC

We also picked up our third GEA for our newsletter, The Bureau!

The Bureau

It was a packed house at the event last night, with over 200 participants in attendance; and a great time was had by all!

Our Angel Wiener (Client Services) and Joy Z (VP of Marketing), attended the 2013 PIGC GEA Gala

Our Angel Wiener (Client Services) and Joy Z (VP of Marketing), attended the 2013 PIGC GEA Gala

44 Years Ago…

2013-04 The Whole Crew at Rick's Retirement Party in PaintFrom left to right:  Jim Tardy, Ron Royall, Kitty Tardy, Ro Royall, Ann Royall, Bob Royall, Cathy Vidock and Rick Vidock.

Last night we celebrated the beginning of a new chapter in Rick and Cathy Vidock’s lives!  Rick Vidock ran our operation and worked at BEB for 44-years along with his wife Cathy Vidock, a 42-year BEB veteran!  They retired last year and have been busy fishing down in the Gulf and traveling about.  It took us a while to be able to gather the crew together and say CONGRATULATIONS!

2013-04 Rick & Cathy Vidock at Rick's retirement partyIt was here at BEB that Rick swept Cathy off her feet and asked her to be his wife!

Congress Kills 5-Day Delivery

Congress Kills 5-Day DeliveryThe US Postal Service Board of Governors met yesterday to discuss the Continuing Resolution recently passed by Congress to fund government operations.  Congress included restrictive language as it pertains to 5-Day Delivery which specifically prohibits a new national delivery schedule for mail the US PMG Pat Donahoe wanted to implement the week of August 5, 2013.
The statement released by the Board said; “Although disappointed with this Congressional action, the Board will follow the law and has directed the Postal Service to delay implementation of its new delivery schedule until legislation is passed that provides the Postal Service with the authority to implement a financially appropriate and responsible delivery schedule.”

2013 MFSA-SW Conference

kenKen Garner, President of the National Association of Marketing Service Providers is speaking at the 2013 AMSP-SW Conference this morning.  He’s asked the question, “What is the USPS long-term vision other than cost cutting?”
Ken is also talking about creating a sustainable competitive advantage for our clients and how to create greater value.  The continuous change of the industry is our largest challenge AND our best ally.

HBJ TOP 20 PRINTERS IN HOUSTON

2013-03 HBJ Largest Printing CompaniesThe Houston Business Journal published the 2013 Largest Printing Companies List on Friday, ranking BEB-Business Extension Bureau in the top 20!  The prestigious list ranks Houston’s printers based on number of employees, types of presses and diversity of service offerings.  BEB ranked #16 based on size, #14 based on presses and #1 based on years of operations!

Picture Permit Indicia

A Few Words From Bob with blue backgroundThe USPS is hoping to boost visual impact and increase open rates of mailpieces by introducing the Picture Permit Indicia program.  It’s a great idea, incorporating a logo, brand or trademark within a mail permit or indicia.  The regulations for indicia elements (verbiage, location and placement) are the same, however, there are so many additional stipulations that the “great idea” is buried in a mountain of red tape.

  • The service is available for mailing of First-Class or Standard letters and postcards using Full-Service IMb.
  • Graphics must be in color because black and white images did not perform to satisfaction in operational tests.
  • Registration to use the service is required.
  • A separate application must be completed and approved.
  • Upon approval from the PMO (Program Management Office), a sample PDF copy of the addressed piece must be submitted for approval showing envelope/card dimensions, IMb, clear zone and proposed PPI design.
  • Upon approval, an additional 500 hard copies of live mail samples must be submitted for USPS Engineering, Operations and Acceptance to test and testing takes approximately 30-45 days.
  • After passing the operations test, you will need to submit your mailing schedule including dates and volumes.

There’s also an additional charge connected to service as well.  First-Class Mail cost is one additional cent per piece and Standard Mail costs two cents a piece.  The idea of using an indicia branded with a corporate image is exciting and let’s hope that in the future the USPS eases up on the rules and the cost to allow their client base to incorporate this new marketing tool in their mail programs. BUREAU - PICTURE PERMIT INDICIA

From the President

Ron Bi-LineWe are already at the start of the second quarter of 2013…that is hard to believe.  January has brought our semi-annual BEB Summit meeting where the executives of BEB meet to plan a strategy for the future.  We examine where the marketplace is going five-years out, review technology changes that impact our business and conduct a client review to determined how we can better serve our existing clients and where to find new business.  Our plan to add a second digital press in the first quarter has already come to pass.  Other items for the coming year include expansion and upgrade of our 15,000 square ft facility, Postal Reform and the enhancement to direct mail with online interaction.

2013-SummitThis year’s summit was very informative and we look forward to the coming year as we find better ways to serve our clients by planning for the future.  Our first ever BEB Calendar has been a big hit with customers and vendors alike!  Don’t forget, in addition to the beautiful photos (featuring our great state), we highlighted events unique to Texas and added a QR Code for each month.  The QR Code will take you to a landing page that has fun videos or photos specific to the month.  We hope you enjoy the interactive experience throughout the year.2013-03 Bureau POSTAL 101 COLLATERAL
January and February brought appointments with our clients as we were invited to conduct our POSTAL 101 class several times.  The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and we’ve managed to keep the presentation down to 30-minutes!  We cover the new postal regulations surrounding the FSM (Folded Sel-Mailer), review the new rates and want to expect in Washing with  Postal Reform.  We’ve created several classes with content geared specifically toward individual companies and provided “cheat sheets” branded with their logos that will allow our customers to distribute the reference materials as their own.  Business Extension Bureau “hit the road” in February too.  Joy Zehrbach, our VP of Marketing traveled to Florida for the  annual AMSP (Association of Marketing Service Providers) Mid-Winter Conference.  She participated on a panel discussion covering the emergence of cross media marketing, conducted a round-table on self-promotion and even though she is a newly elected Director on the nation Board, was invited to join the Government Affairs Committee.  Our sister company, BEBdata (one of the largest bankruptcy data compilers in the nation) was in Florida last month attending the National Automobile Dealers Association’s annual conference.  We mixed and mingled with several of our valued clients and got a chance to meet some new ones too!  We are always looking for ways to connect with you clients in a face-to-face manner and we managed close a deal with a new client just a few days after the show.  It was a great success and we look forward to participating again next year!

Ron Royall

Opposites Attract

BUREAU 1 - TWITTER PICTURE 3 OF 5We are often asked, “Do newsletters really work?”.   We’re also often asked, “What relevance does social media have on your business”.  The two venues seem to appeal to opposite audiences, however, we’ve found they are a match made in heaven.  Below are some surprising results.

NEWSLETTER RESULTS:
Since the creation of our bi-monthly newsletter last September, it has generated 10.5% of our new business revenue in 2012. 14% was from reactivated accounts, clients that have done business with us in the past, but not for more than one calendar year.  Afer each mailing, our website landing activity increased on average by 16.3%.

TWITTER RESULTS:

  • 51% of our active client base has a presence on Twitter.
  • 100% of new clients acquired since creating our own presence on Twitter in September, are active on Twitter.

We conducted an in-depth analysis of one of our 8 Twitter accounts (@BEB_BOB) and rendered the following results.
1.  Today there are 432 following @BEB_BOB.
2.  16% of the followers are relevant to our business today and are made up of the following categories:

  • 38.8% Industry Education Accounts
  • 20.9% Prospective Clients we are actively pursuing
  • 10.4% Active Clients, representing 12% of our annual revenue
  • 9% Employees
  • 9% Vendors
  • 6% Competitors
  • 6% Industry Associations
    Real and relevant results from perceived opposite platforms.  Direct mail and social media are an excellent and revenue generating combination.

 

 

US PMG Says “Get Your Game On”

Basket Ball Player on White - Slam DunkThe 2013 National Postal Forum wrapped up last week in San Francisco, CA.  The primary focus of the conference was on the positive changes occurring within our industry and the technology driving those changes.  US Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe said that the industry needs a “Game On Attitude.”
The growth of the industry is driven by change and those that embrace this dynamic will be around to service the next generation of users.  Users that define the EXPERIENCE of direct mail.  Donahoe highlighted the power of interaction from a printed piece, held in the hands of your audience within the comfort and convenience of their own home.  He said; “We own that experience.”
As we embrace this unique experience and ride the power to drive consumers to the ever developing mobile world, we will shape the future of direct mail and its unchallenged return on investment.