To say Pressworks does “a lot of political mailings” is a subtle way of stating that they reach millions of mailboxes in the critical state of Ohio every election season.

“Altrans has been a lifesaver to me over these past several weeks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve scheduled a job, canceled a job, rescheduled that same job for the same day, still not mailed that job…now take all of that and multiply it by about a thousand. I don’t know how they did it, but Altrans came through for us each and every time. We couldn’t do what we do without them.”

Jamison Dumas, Mailing Operations Manager

 

Political Mail is a “Special Beast”

In the 6 weeks leading up to the November elections, Pressworks printed and mailed nearly 5 million pieces of political mail all over the highly contested state of Ohio. And that’s on top of its regular print and mail business for the typical busy Fall season.

Jamison Dumas, Mailing Operations Manager, explains that October is already a busy month with marketing departments making their year-end pushes. With 2024 being an election year, it took their workload to a whole new level.

Add to that, the particular nature of political mail.

“Political mail is a special beast,” continues Jamison. “It’s very reactive in nature. Much of the messaging is commentary on a recent event or comment so timing is of the absolute essence.”

“It’s not unusual for an order to come into our designers and the customer to ask if we can get it in the mail that very same day. And while we can’t do that, I can’t tell you how many times I have called Altrans at 2:30 asking if they could get a mailing out the door that day and they made it happen.”

Balancing Cost Savings and Deliverability

In addition to political campaigns, Pressworks works with both government agencies and educational institutions, organizations traditionally known for being budget-conscious. Being able to achieve reasonable in-home delivery times along with savings on postage is a clear advantage for Pressworks, something Altrans has helped them achieve by integrating freight services into the mix.

“We’re able to achieve substantial savings by delivering mail pieces by freight to the postal center closest to their final destinations. In many cases, we’re saving as much as 7 to 10 cents per piece,” Jamison explains. “When you have mailings of 10,000 or more pieces, this becomes a no-brainer.”

In the past, Jamison had used mail consolidators to achieve these kinds of cost savings, but that cost savings came at the sacrifice of in-home dates.

“The problem with consolidators is timing,” says Jamison. “While you’re waiting for the consolidator to amass enough pieces for a shipment, your mailer could be missing a critical in-home window, something especially critical for reactionary pieces like political mailers.”

In fact, the last time Jamison worked with a company that wasn’t using Altrans, election season was a nightmare.

“We were working with a consolidator and honestly, we just couldn’t use them for the political mailings due to the quick timing needed,” he explains. “So we found ourselves hiring temporary drivers and renting trucks to handle the logistics in-house just to get it done. Not only was it stressful, we didn’t have the resources Altrans has so we couldn’t maximize the postage savings for our customers like we do here at Pressworks.”

Expert Advice for Mailers

“Look at the numbers and what best fits your customers’ needs. The cheapest option is not always the best option. Neither is the most expensive. If your customers are like ours, they’re going to prioritize in-home delivery dates and you’re not going to find anyone who can turn things around faster than a third party logistics provider like Altrans,” says Jamison. “I’ve worked with a multitude of logistics options and this has been the most seamless process so far. We are in complete control of the in-home delivery dates and the savings are top notch. ”

If you’re looking for a better solution for your customers’ mailings, or are curious about the potential cost savings a third party logistics provider like Altrans could deliver, contact us today for free consultation.

Founded in 1941 by John Thysse, Thysse provides a broad variety of brand and marketing solutions all backed by a core founding principle— deliver exceptional outcomes. And given its growth from a small garage and a single letterpress in Madison, WI, to Thysse’s current 95,000 sq. ft. facility, one can say that the company must excel at delivering on that promise. Now in its third generation as a family run business, Thysse continues to grow its operations, a large portion of which is still print and direct mail services.

Thysse first discovered Altrans Postal Solutions when one of its marketing firm clients wanted to utilize drop shipping to save on its mailings. A fairly mail-savvy client, they had some great ideas but not necessarily the industry connections or knowledge to know which carriers were best suited for this kind of work. 

“We knew it was vital to use a freight company that specialized in mail because there are nuances on a postal unit dock that most freight companies aren’t familiar with or don’t want to deal with,” says Thysse Mail Manager, Kristina Peer. “If you aren’t comfortable with the United States Postal Service process, you jeopardize the mailing not getting there at all.”

That’s when they contacted Altrans.

Altrans was able to arrange a freight solution that took the ins and outs of drop shipping to Sectional Center Facilities (SCFs) into account, successfully implementing the drop shipping strategy. 

“Seeing the success this client experienced, it was an easy decision to expand the approach to more of our mail customers,” comments Peer.

Thysse utilized Altrans’ expertise to ensure the time-sensitive delivery of several large mailings for another client to promote its events in multiple locations. These campaigns were also highly successful, landing in home on the target dates as promised with a guaranteed delivery rate that kept the projects on budget.

“This client’s concerns weren’t even necessarily about budget, but about getting their pieces into the hands of potential customers on a specific date,” explains Peer. “With their markets scheduled for the weekend, it was essential that these pieces get there before the scheduled events.” The cost savings were a bonus win, making Thysse an even more impressive partner for their customer. 

Do it. Don’t think twice. I may have knowledge of the local offices and companies and how they work, but Altrans has relationships all over the country and has been able to negotiate rates I’m just not able to.” – Kristina Peer, Mail Manager at Thysse

Thysse continues to use Altrans with the bulk of its customers for mailings of all sizes with varied requirements and Peer couldn’t be happier.  

“Partnering with a company like Altrans really lines up with our value set, they offer peace of mind and consistently go above and beyond,” she continues. “I’ve had Jeremy Albright get on a video call and help me restack pallets to lower freight costs. He’s called me after hours to resolve paperwork issues with carriers to avoid redelivery fees and keep mailings on schedule. The whole team has taken care of everything from how to get mail onto a truck, making sure paperwork is in order, to pricing, scheduling and more. That’s the kind of service you get with these guys, they take care of it all.”

Peer has been managing shipments and mail for over eight years and is quite knowledgeable about the process, but still has this advice for other shipping managers when it comes to hiring a logistics company like Altrans:

“Do it. Don’t think twice. I may have knowledge of the local offices and companies and how they work, but Altrans has relationships all over the country and has been able to negotiate rates I’m just not able to. Plus, working with Altrans eliminates the need for me to go out there and get multiple quotes. When I need to do a mailing, it’s as simple as one email or call to Altrans and they do the rest.”

Thysse’s exceptional print capabilities and Altrans’ leading-edge logistics solutions are a great example of how the right strategic partnerships can add value for both the provider and client. Interested in learning more? Contact us for a no obligation consultation. 

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As shipping and logistics become more efficient and consolidated, your company should be thinking about new options for shipping that can save money, bring efficiency and provide better service for your customers. LTL is one method that can deliver this.

Less-than-truckload or less-than-load shipping (LTL) is used for transporting small freight or mailings when the shipment doesn’t require an entire truck. Typically used for shipments totaling 150-15,000 pounds, the shipper pays for only the portion of the trailer their freight occupies, while other shippers and their shipments fill the rest of the space.

Why Use LTL?

LTL has many advantages over other low-cost mailing solutions like consolidation and co-mingling. Most importantly, it is faster and more trackable than consolidation and co-mingling, so if you have a piece that requires a specific delivery window LTL may be a good solution. LTL is also obviously less expensive than FTL, or full truckload, so if your mailer is substantial, but still not large enough to require an entire trailer, you can still take advantage of the benefits of an expedited shipper through LTL.

What Should I Consider When Opting for LTL?

While LTL is a great option for your mailings, like many aspects of shipping, it pays to know the inner workings of the industry, especially when there’s a handoff to the United States Postal Service. When opting for LTL, consider these three tips:

Choose your carrier wisely. Not all carriers are created equal. Understand what regions they serve and the schedules they keep. Ask if their customer service is 100% self-serve or will you be able to get a person on the phone if you have a question or hit a snag with your shipment. And if you need a hand-off to the USPS, do they understand how to do that (hint: it’s not as simple as it sounds)?

Have your postal documentation in order. One of the most common reasons we see for shipping delays is problems with postal documentation. Whether it’s inaccurate postage, missing forms or pallet labels, problems with your postal documentation can halt your shipment in its tracks. Check and double-check that it’s in order before and during the shipping process.

Consider hiring a mail logistics partner. If you conduct frequent mailings or freight shipments then hiring a mail logistics company might be one of the best investments you can make. As experts in their field, they will ensure that the proper carriers are hired for each job, that documentation is in order, and that each shipment is meticulously tracked from start to finish. Additionally, a top-notch partner will save you time and money by consulting with you to ensure that you’re using the right service for each shipment.If you have questions about LTL shipping or other shipments, please reach out. Altrans Postal Solutions has decades of experience in direct mail planning and shipping logistics, and we’re happy to help.

On July 14, 2024, the United States Postal Service (USPS) increased postal rates for the second time this year. While this was announced well in advance and the agency has been increasing rates at more frequent intervals recently, many will still be concerned about hitting postage budget limits before year end.

What are the best ways to manage an inevitable situation drastically affecting your budget?

Keep a clear and open mind.

Price increases are an unfortunate part of doing business. Whether you figured an increase into this year’s budget estimates or not, you can adjust to these changes if you approach it with a clear and open mind. The market will typically justify your company’s pricing with profits following suit. Have faith in your ability to manage your business and be flexible to options that help you stay on track. If a postage increase is the worst thing that happens to your business this year, consider it a great year!

Be creative with your systems and designs

If you are faced with needing to cut your postal budget, look to more affordable piece sizes and weights or consider different delivery options or services. Although a glossy, full-color catalog may stand out in the mailbox, you can also try testing a lighter, flat mailer with a QR code that takes your customers to your website with those same products and see how that performs. Adding more lead time to your campaign and using a different mail service can also help cut costs. Could LTL, comailing or comingling be something you could take advantage of?

Whenever possible, look to changes in your creative or delivery services and save cutting your audience size as an absolute last resort. You may even find that these changes free up budget allowing you to increase your list size and reach even more potential customers.

Review and investigate every aspect of your program

It can also pay to take a second look at your entire approach to mailing, not just the big budget hits. Putting a fresh set of eyes on your lists, designs, schedules, service providers and anything that touches your mail campaigns can open up opportunities for not only cost savings, but delivery efficiencies and performance improvements.

When was the last time you really dug into the details of how your mailers are being produced and delivered? The industry is changing and innovating, and postage increases are nowhere near as simple as they seem on the surface. Most times they are accompanied with changes to service-level discounts that are added or eliminated. That means a class level, service or drop-in point that once made good financial sense for you may no longer, but without being well versed in the intricacies of the postal code, it’s hard to keep up with that.

Think ahead

The bottom line with this increase, and others you will see this and next year, is that costs can and will rise, it’s the nature of the economy. If you didn’t plan ahead for an increase this year, be sure that you keep it in mind for next year’s budgeting. Your best course of action with postage is the same as with all aspects of your business: look for creative ways to cut costs without negatively impacting your operations.

And when it comes to the complexities of mail, bringing in an industry expert to review your lists and systems is a worthwhile investment, especially in the face of changes like what we’re facing now. Our team is always happy to provide a complimentary consultation that brings fresh eyes to your program. We specialize in helping companies catch up to industry trends and find efficiencies that extend budgets a little further.

According to a recent survey by the United States Post Office, 68% of people polled say that direct mail is one of the most credible sources of information in a political campaign. And with $10.4 billion projected to be spent on advertising for this coming election cycle, you can be sure that political mailers will be landing in mailboxes everywhere.

As you (and the candidates) start planning for fall campaigns, here are our top three tips to keep in mind to ensure the best results.

Pick the Right Service

With most mailers being highly targeted and timed, choosing the right service level is essential. If you’re looking for delivery on a specific date, then the faster you can get your pieces into the delivery stream, the better your chances of precise timing. Looking for specific geo-targeting or blanketing a specific region or community? Consider Every Door Direct Mail (known as EDDM) from the United States Postal Service. From your mailing list to your design to your mail delivery services there’s a lot to consider, but there are many companies like this, including Altrans Postal Solutions, that specialize in these services who are ready to assist you.

Pick the Right Carrier

Just like choosing the right service level is essential, so is picking the right carrier. For time-critical pieces, a high-end LTL carrier with a strong reputation for good service is your best choice. But be prepared to get creative, as even these carriers can experience volume overload. Maintaining open communication about your needs and delivery targets can make sure the carrier keeps you informed in the event you need to make alternative arrangements such as delivering the pieces to them rather than relying on standard pickup service.

Plan Well in Advance

As the saying goes, timing is everything, and with mailers, planning in advance, especially for potential pitfalls in schedules, is positively essential for success. From weather delays to excess volume to staffing shortages and holidays, be sure to allow enough time for your piece to make it IN time by padding your schedule for unforeseen circumstances like these.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to political mailers, or any time-critical mailers, planning and knowing your services and carriers are what stand between you and success. Do your research, plan in advance, and communicate with your carriers and customers to set expectations and keep in the know of current factors that could affect your mailings. When in doubt, hire an expert in the field to advise and even manage the job for you. It’s an investment that will surely pay off in the end, in more ways than one.

If you have questions about how to maximize your results for political mail or other shipments, please reach out. Altrans Postal Solutions has decades of experience in direct mail planning and shipping logistics, and we’re happy to help.

In shipping and logistics, we’ve been watching the slow decline of the United States Postal Service for some time. And although many carriers and drop shippers like Amazon have taken a bite out of its package business, there’s one place the USPS still reigns supreme—direct mail.

Who’s Still Using Direct Mail?

If you’ve visited your mailbox recently, you know mail isn’t dead, but most likely it’s not a letter from Grandma waiting for you or even your electric bill. Instead, it’s a hefty stack of direct mail pieces of all shapes and sizes. So who’s sending these? According to direct mail marketer, Postalytics, the top industries utilizing direct mail are:

• Automotive
• Travel
• Financial Services
• Insurance
• Retail and E-commerce
• Home Services
• Real Estate
• Non-Profits
• Education
• Healthcare

And why? Well why not? It’s targeted, personalized, can have a great response rate, be highly trackable and best of all, it’s tangible.

The Lifeblood That’s Draining Your Budget

Direct mail is arguably the lifeblood of the USPS and, if you’re in one of these businesses that relies heavily on direct mail, it’s likely a large part of your budget. So while certainly not taking its last breath by any means, the USPS has definitely struggled in recent years to reinvent itself (Postmaster General Louis DeJoy unveiled a decade-long plan, Delivery for America, in 2021) but that innovation comes at a price that is passed on in the form of regular increases to postage and shipping rates, five of them in fact, since 2021 with more sure to come.

You Can Lower Your Postage and Shipping Costs

So when your business relies on direct mail, how do you fight these ever-rising costs while ensuring your pieces are delivered on time and to their target audience? Check out Four Ways to Save on Your Mailing and Freight. It’s filled with insights from professional mail planning and logistics experts that can help even the savviest of mailers up their direct mail game. Check it out and let me know what you think.