Summer 2013 Newsletter www.gnjpcc.com

Greater New Jersey PCC

21 Kilmer RoadEdison, NJ 08899

GNJ-PCC upcoming important dates to remember:4 September 16-20, 2013 – PCC Week4 September 16, 2013 – PCC Event – Rutgers, New Brunswick 4 December 4, 2013 – PCC Holiday Business Event – The Madison Hotel, Morristown, NJ

Bring a friend along to the GNJ-PCC September and December 2013 events!

Join the

GNJPCC

Executive Board!

email @ gnjpcc.com

RESOURCES

Business Customer Gatewayhttp://gateway.usps.com/bcg/login.htm

Direct Mail Websitewww.usps.com/directmail

Zip Codehttps://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input. action?mode=0&refresh=true

Mail Prohttp://about.usps.com/mailpro/welcome.htm

Quick Service Guideshttp://pe.usps.gov/text/gsg300/g000.htm

Mail Service Updateshttp://about.usps.com/news/ service-alerts/welcome.htm

RIBBShttp://ribbs.usps.gov

National Customer Support Center1-800-238-3150

The Jerseyan

A Message fromPriscilla ManeyUSPS DistrictManager-Northern NJExecutive – In – ChargePostal Co-Chair.

“The USPS is moving in the right direction.”

Priscilla Maney has been associated with PCC, going back to FIM on Business Reply Mail.

“Customer’s expectations are changing. All industries have changed because of technology. Look at the changes in how we listened to music, records, 45’s, 8 track, cassette, I Pad, etc. My point – mail is also changing. We need to make it relevant offering more technology and programs to grow and promote the value of mail using technology. Our promotions like Mobile, click to call, Picture Permit. MAIL IS GETTING SMARTER!!”

James began the Introduction for the 2013 meeting. “The United States Postal Service gives us full support

and we stand behind them 100%. Thank you to all board members who volunteered.”

James P. MullanIndustry Co-ChairNational Operations ManagerCanon Business Process Services, Inc.

MINUTES FROM THEJune 2013

Greater New Jersey Postal Customer Council Meeting

Guest Speaker – William P LundyBusiness Mailer Support AnalystBusiness Mailer Support Headquarters

William Lundy presented the audience with “Reaping the Benefits of Full-Service”

TOPICS*Overview of Intelligent Mail – Basic and Full-Service*Requirements for Full-Service

*Information Benefits of Using Full-Service - Start-the-Clock - Container, Tray and Bundle Scan Data - Address Correction (ACS) - IMB Tracing*Ways to Obtain Full-Service Information - Online Reports and Downloads - Mail.XML Push/Pull - File Transfer*Resources Other SpeakersTOPIC – GROWING PAINS

Marianne HoustonRegional Direct Mail Supervisor, Gannett/NJ Press Media

Marianne Houston presented the audience with “The World of MID’s, CRIDS, and the Business Customer Gateway”

TOPICS – MIDs, CRIDs, Business Customer GatewayChallenges of turning Gannett/NJ Press Media’s present Mail House operation to Full-Service. Challenges learning the new changes, terminology & how it intervenes with the day to day operation. Training the workers for the new process. Having to turn this over without the support of an IT Department. Her presort/software department was responsible to make this change. She shared with the audience the obstacles with no IT support. She also shared TEM testing experience.

Herb Eroh

Discussed Pitney Bowes conversion to Full Service in 2009. He talked in depth the hours & cost to convert to Full Service and the Benefits once this was done: Tracing & tracking – Great Tool.

Also discussed how difficult change can be, employees can fight change however once it was all done they found the Full Service process to be much easier. Herb ended his presentation with: START NOW DON’T WAIT!!!

James LombardDirector, Business DevelopmentUniversal Mailing Service

Presentation: BRING YOUR MAIL TO LIFEJames presented the audience with Augmented Reality. Generation Y - Generation Y loves mobile. The mail industry needs to talk to this generation. Generation Y loves Digital, loves Video. Let’s start talking to customers using video. If a picture is worth 1,000 words then a video is worth a million. The world is mobile, Digital versus Print. EMBRACE THE BEAST.

MEETING ENDED WITH A PLANT TOUR AVAILABLE FOR ALL ATTENDEES.

NETWORK RATIONALIZATION =Closing and consolidating a large number of processing facilities in an effort to cut costs and optimize the USPS processing network to more closely align with the decreased volumes of mail.

NETWORK FACILITY CHANGESBy the end of 2014, the Postal Service plans to close a total of over two hundred locations while consolidating other facilities in order to accommodate the closures. The first phase involved 48 facilities closed in 2012, and continues into 2013 for over one hundred facility closures. The second phase of the project will take place in January 2014 for the remaining facilities. The USPS posts the previous and planned closures and consolidations in the form of an Excel file, which is available on the USPS RIBBS web site. The listing is updated weekly to reflect any changes in the planned closures/consolidations.

VIEW THE USPS RIBBS WEB SITEProvides a facilities list, and a copy of the USPS network rationalization webinar presentation.

LABELING LIST CHANGESThe Labeling List data is used to define the specific destination information to be printed on sack labels, tray labels, and pallet labels. This destination information is usedf to route the mail inside the sacks, trays and pallets to the correct postal facility for processing. The destination information is based primarily on

3-digit ZIP Code prefix, and varies based on the class of mail, processing category, and other criteria. Virtually all container labels are generated using computer software, which accesses this Labeling List data in a file format, operating much like a look-up table.

WHY THE CHANGES?There are many reasons why the USPS makes changes to the Labeling List data. Recently, many of the changes are being made as a result of their efforts to consolidate processing facilities to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Changes also take place when the USPS makes alterations to the service areas for certain processing facilities, which can be the result of shifts in population, mail volumes, staffing and many other reasons. Keep in mind that approximately 12% of the US population moves each year and there are about 1,800 new delivery addresses added each day. So, there are lots of Zip Code changes happening all the time!

SEVEN STEPS TO EFFECTIVE DIRECT MAILIt’s a terrible rumor that direct mail has taken a dive with the Internet Age. The truth is, direct mail is alive and well. In fact, direct mail and the Internet make great partners. Consumers are more web active when

they receive direct mail first: 16% more site visits; 22% more page views; and 15% more time on site. And there’s more to support the case for direct mail:

ACCORDING TO A USPS STUDY:98% of consumers bring in their mail the day it’s delivered

77% sort through the mail immediately

Recipients spend an average 30 minutes reading their mail on any occasion

67% feel mail is more personal than the Internet

48% read mail to relax; 42% look to mail for financial savings; and 38% use mail to stay informed

Online shoppers who interact with brands using multiple media spend 30% more than those using a single medium.

According to the DMA Response Rate Study:

Overall response rates are strong (1-3%); better than email (2.4%), radio(1.4%), and newspapers(.5%); only TV and Telephone yield higher responses

DIRECT MAIL AT A GLANCE:Primary Goals

• Create awareness

• Acquire Customers

• Retain Customers

• Up-sell/Cross-sell

Key Strengths

• Highly Targeted

• Response Rate

• Measurable

• Personlization

A healthy, financially viable Postal Service is vital to the U.S. economy.

The Jerseyan

The Jerseyan

Participate in Your Local PCCThe Postal Customer Council (PCC) program is a valuable resource for business mailers, large and small. Local PCC’s serve as an open channel for USPS-to-business communication, providing information and best practices for cost-effective and profitable mailing, education and training, and solving local challenges. Though most PCC members include large business mailers, government agencies, and business mail service providers,

small businesses can benefit from PCC membership, too.

Your local PCC offers these benefits….n Learn from postal experts about marketing through the mail.

n Find new sources for mailing lists. Printing, database management, and more.

n Get discounts to major mailing industry events.

n Network with other mailers, business mail service providers, and USPS executives to discover

new ways to make your mailings more efficient and profitable.

n Hear first-hand from other decision-makers on how they deal with the same challenges you face.

n Leverage best practices to improve mailing effectiveness, efficiency, and profitability.

n Gain knowledge about postal products, services, and tools to improve mail quality through workshops and events-earn a professional certificate to boot.

USPS Emerging Technologies PromotionRegistration is now open for the US Postal Service’s Emerging Technologies promotion. This promotion is designed to encourage innovation and the use of technologies that can add value to the mail and

make it more interactive.

This promotion provides business mailers with an upfront two% postage discount on Standard Mail, Nonprofit Standard Mail, and First-class Mail letters, flats, and cards (presort and automation) that incorporate augmented reality authentication or near field communication

with mail pieces. Mailers can register for all promotions on the Business Customer Gateway at https://gateway.usps.com/eAdmin/view/signin.

For additional information and detailed program requirements, please visit our RIBBS website at http://ribbs.usps.gov/index.lcfm?page=mobilebarcode.

Consider Sponsoring Our Next MeetingGold Level ($500) – Silver Level ($250) – Bronze Level ($150)The benefits of sponsoring a meeting: Recognition during our PCC Meeting.Networking opportunities, publicity, brand awareness.For more information log onto GNJPCC.com.

The Greater New Jersey Postal Customer Council received a 2013 Gold Level Certificate Award for outstanding performance in various categories of PCC leadership.

It’s not a futuristic dream, it’s here now.Augmented reality (AR) is cutting-edge technology that allows for a digitally enhanced view of the real world, connecting you with more meaningful content in your everyday life. With the camera and sensors in a smartphone or tablet, AR adds layers of digital information – videos, photos, sounds – directly on top of items in the world around us.

Ask about the National Deliverability Index.With so many Americans moving each year, think how many might be your customers or members. Make sure the list you rented has accurate addresses-ask about its National Deliverability Index (NDI), which rates the percentage of addresses in a list that are deliverable. You can also use it to target certain address elements and save on postage.