As we enter the second year of the United States Postal Service (USPS) 10-Year Plan, the USPS has filed for a mid-year postage increase for Market Dominated products. The increase averages 6.5% across First Class, Marketing Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Special Services. Flat rate mail, Periodicals and Packages will have a higher average rate due to the fact they are not meeting the cost associated with delivery. The USPS call these products "Under Water". The USPS has the authority to add an additional 2% increase above the 6.5% until these products are covering delivery costs.

As the company's only Solutions Analyst and resident engineer, I have the privilege to work on some very unique projects here at Suttle-Straus that require design and engineering in three dimensions. Each has brought their own challenges, and requires finding a solution that tackles as many of those challenges as possible.

As more of the workforce has adopted a permanent work-from-home arrangement, marketers may get more value out of a promotional product meant for the home instead of the office. Here are some ideas to reach your prospect or client where they spend the most time each week:

A new year gives marketers a blank slate to reorder their priorities and contemplate new strategies. So take a moment to reflect and consider this a list of 10 to-do's to take your marketing to a new level this year:

The 2022 USPS Promotions Calendar has been published and there are a few changes to note from previous years. The great news is the amount of the available discounts is higher for a number of the promotions. My 2021 USPS promotions blog explains each of the promotions, so I will leave those details out, but I have included a link below each promotion that will take you to their resource pages. Let's review them individually by promotion and registration dates.

A company history display is a helpful resource for onboarding new employees and showcasing your storied past to visitors and clients. Universities have long found them useful for prospective student tours, and their use has been adopted by the corporate world.

Everyone wants their marketing projects to go quickly and smoothly. You can avoid delays, errors and extra charges with your print projects by following these four best practices for submitting files to your printer:

Thanking donors is one of the most important aspects of fundraising. Everyone appreciates a sincere thank you after giving a gift. Research has shown that donors who are thanked are more likely to give again in the future.

As part of a tradition at Suttle-Straus, our annual holiday card includes the option for our customers to choose one of three local charities for us to donate to on their behalf.

During this season of giving, if you are also looking for a way to give thanks to your customers or employees, while also giving donations to a charity in need, take a look at some promotional gifts that give back:

The first coupon was issued by Coca-Cola back in 1888. Surprisingly, coupons have endured the test of time to be a high-performing marketing tactic for more than a century.