USPS Announces Operations Plan for National Day of Mourning

President Donald J. Trump has proclaimed Wednesday, December 5, 2018 as a National Day of Mourning in remembrance of former President George H.W. Bush. Out of respect for the 41st President of the United States and to honor his vast contributions to our country during his lifetime, and consistent with the Presidential Proclamation, the United
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The Forest Stewardship Council and Its Purpose

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America was once 46 percent forested, but that number declined significantly during the period between 1600 and 1900. However, thanks to reforestation efforts, the percentage of forests has remained stable since that time, and this is due in part to organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council. An open and independent, non-profit organization, the FSC
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National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger

The 26th Annual Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018.   This is the country’s largest single-day food drive. Last years’ drive collected 75 million pounds of food.   Please join the employees of AM Solutions in participating in this event and help those less fortunate. Unsure if your
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Digital vs Print

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “We think digital is a more effective marketing tool than print.” Another favorite, when a client says “Digital’s lower response is offset by its lower cost.”   I don’t think It’s an either/or situation, print is a valuable part of any marketing mix, or it certainly
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5 Advantages of Direct Mail

Customers and prospects alike often will ask me which is better . . . direct mail or email? What are the advantages or benefits of each? AM Solutions offers both and while I would strongly encourage the use of an integrated, multi-touch campaign, if I had to choose only one-I would choose direct mail, but
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The Death of Direct Mail

We’ve all heard about the impending death of direct mail, I’m sure some marketers probably believe it died several years ago. Almost daily I’m asked about the effectiveness of direct mail. An InfoTrends survey found that 66% of all direct mail is opened, 82% of which is read for minute or more. The survey also
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10 Most Common Mistakes in Mailpiece Design

According to the United States Postal Service the Ten Most Common Mistakes in Mailpiece Design are as Follows: Failure to Meet Minimum Mailing Dimensions Dark/Black Background on Mailpieces Screening & Imaging Return Address Placement on Letters & Flats Text or Graphics in the Barcode Clear Zone Postcard Design Insert Shift Folded Self-mailer Construction Address Placement
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Direct Mail Fishing

I participate in a fishing league every Tuesday night from mid-May through mid-September. My teammate and I usually have the boat’s radio on in the background. We are often listening to a syndicated show on the local classic rock station or our favorite baseball team. Fishing is supposed to be my escape from my chosen
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2017 National Postal Forum in Review

I always look forward to attending the National Postal Forum (NPF) with 4500+ of my closest friends. This year’s forum, themed “Make Informed Connections” was no exception. After spending 4 days in the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland, I can report the demise of direct mail is greatly exaggerated. Direct mail is very much alive! I continually
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National Postal Forum (NPF)

As I prepare to attend the Premier Mailing Industry Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, I thought I would provide a little background on the event. “2017 National Postal Forum, Make Informed Connections-Innovation-Opportunity-Success” is the headline for this year’s event. AM Solutions recently changed its tag-line to “when connections matter” The NPF is about making connections from
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