We were thrilled to see that we were included in this month’s National Association of Marketing Service Providers (AMSP) publication, PostScripts!
The August edition features the year’s winners from the Awards of Excellence program. Each year the AMSP holds a gala, celebrating excellence and innovation in the marketing service provider industry, Companies across the nation compete within eight categories and are measured by an independent panel of judges. Winners are revealed and awards distributed during the association’s annual conference in June.
BEB (Business Extension Bureau) took home the top prize as we accepted a first place win for the Ed Sisk Excellence in Education Award for our internal PRC (Postal Certification Certification) program. The program’s purpose is to raise competence of postal compliance with our staff. Required participants include sales, client service representatives, operations managers and company executives. We encourage all BEB employees to enroll in the class, which is available to staff twice a year.
Recent graduate Kristin Howell (DP) shows off her framed PRC certificate. Kristin participated in the inaugural class and scored the highest within her class on the final exam!
The course covers 12 modules and classes are conducted in 10, 90-minute intervals over a period of 8 weeks. The course is completed after participants pass a 100 question written test, and an 80% accuracy rate must be met to earn a diploma.
Creation and execution of this program has brought a level of postal knowledge confidence throughout the company. Because the course is comprehensive and participants must make a significant amount of commitment time, we have a high success rate. Also, we must use the program as a means to recognize and praise our employees. Certificates are awarded in a ceremonial setting in front of the entire company and each certificate is personalized, framed, and presented by the president of the company (who also earned his certification)!
Graduates overall confidence level and comprehension of postal regulations has increased significantly. They are able to identify when to ask questions, and are comfortable with how and where to find answers. Through our increased postal expertise, our clients use us an information source more often, and we’re included earlier in the planning stages of programs.
The 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.
