SnailWorks has been sharing all we can on next year’s critical USPS promotions. There are a lot of savings available, but it will require a strategic approach and early planning. These promotions also require the coordinated efforts of a cast of characters – mail owners and their vendors. We’ll do all we can to provide education and support, but you should start coordinating with other stakeholders soon. The following are a few points you may find helpful:
Integrated Technology
- The mail owner needs to register for this promotion and select the 6 month window they wish to participate in the promotion.
- The mail service provider will need to get approvals and submit correct eDocs.
Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive
- The mail service provider can register.
- The mail service provider will need to get approvals and submit correct eDocs.
- Physical samples will be required which may involve the print provider as well.
Continuous Contact
- The Mail Service Provider can register.
- The mail service provider will need to get approvals and submit correct eDocs.
Reply Mail IMbA
- The mail owner needs to register for this promotion.
First-Class Advertising
- The Mail Service Provider can register.
- The mail service provider will need to get approvals and submit correct eDocs.
Sustainability Add On
- The Mail Service Provider can register.
- The paper supplier needs to provide appropriate certification.
- The mail service provider needs to get approvals and submit correct eDocs. As a reminder, if you are using the same stock for a number of different mailings you only need to obtain approval one time.
- If multiple paper providers are used, each may need to provide certifications to the mail service provider.
Informed Delivery Add On
- The mail service provider can register for the promotion.
- The mail service provider (or SnailWorks) needs to create campaigns and get approvals.
- The mail service provider needs to submit correct eDocs.
There are a lot of stakeholders in every mailing. Many mailings may be participating in up to three promotions (one primary and two add ons) and each promotion may have different parties involved. The IMbA promotion provides discounts on inbound pieces of mail and as such is counted separately from the other promotions. Be sure your vendors and partners know who needs to do what and gets all the timing correct. With each promotion, SnailWorks will do all we can to advise our clients, but in the end it takes a village to get a discount.