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September 2009
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Vol 2, Issue
9 | |
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Welcome
to the September Issue of the PS
Insider! |
Eco-Corner:
Consumer Choice
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DMA Fighting Do Not Mail
Campaign!
The Forest Ethics Organization has
long targeted commercial companies to persuade
them to use recycled paper and has been quite successful
in lobbying this industry to become environmentally
conscious. Now they are endorsing the Do Not Mail
campaign in an effort to reduce or even
eliminate (yes, that 4 letter word) Junk
Mail.
October 2007, the Direct Marketing Association
initiated the Commitment to Consumer Choice (CCC) to
encourage the direct mail community to become more
responsible in this regard. The CCC mandates
that you notify your consumers that they have the
option to modify or eliminate future mail solicitations
altogether. If you are a member of the DMA, your
organization must abide by this regulation as of October
2009!
There are a lot of questions you have, no doubt,
regarding the impact of this mandate - how it affects
a renewal compared to an acquisition mailing,
for example. The DMA website www.dmaccc.org addresses all of
your questions and more. There is no one
distinct verbiage that needs to be included, as long as
the message is clear. Some of the suggested options
are as follows:
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We make a portion of our mailing list available
to reputable organizations that may interest you. If
you prefer that we not exchange your name with other
marketers, or if you wish to modify future mailings
from us, please call xxx.xxx.xxxx or go to www.yourorganization.org/customerservice.
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We believe in doing our part to help the
environment, and we know many Americans feel the same
way. To view our environmental practices and policies
or to modify or eliminate the amount of mail you
receive from us, go to www.yourorganization.org/environment.
If a member of the DMA doesn't appear to be
upholding this measure, the organization will be
contacted and asked for immediate
compliance. While there doesn't appear to be
any punitive fees for noncompliance, unanswered
requests to adhere to the CCC could potentially
cause suspension or expulsion from the DMA.
If you have any questions about how you can best
include this information in your campaigns, please don't
hesitate to look to PS for help!
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Industry Updates |
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Paper prices on the
rise!
It has just been announced by the major
paper manufacturers that there will be a price increase
on various freesheet, offset and commercial printing
grade papers that takes effect this
month! The immediate increase is an
additional $2.00 per CWT (hundred-weight) on offset
paper. This translates to an additional
$.30/M on a 60# 8 1/2 x 11 one sheet letter.
Envelopes should generally not affected by this increase
since wove sheets, rather than offset sheets are
used most of the time.
In close concert with the above announcement, North
America's two largest coated paper producers are also
planning an increase that will begin in early
October, although the amount has not been
solidified. While coated stocks do not comprise a
significant percent of most direct mail programs, the
increase will impact brochures, self-mailers, calendars,
and collateral materials that are produced in
bulk.
It has long been conjectured in the industry that
buyers accustomed to the cut-rate prices they've
been enjoying due to the global economic
downturn will eventually see prices rise again and this
is the first such indicator. Reasons stated by the
mills for the increase range from a general increase in
commodity prices brought on by anticipated economic
recovery to a weak U.S. dollar. We also
expect future capacity reductions to impact
pricing, as it has in the past, as well. Stay
tuned for more details as they develop!
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| In Other News |
Cumulative client
savings since January 2009 from commingling is now over
$1,390,000!
__________________
August Trivia
Question
There are different lengths of bar codes that
represent a total number of digits. Which
is NOT an acceptable length?
Answer: D) 29 digits
(There are 9 digits in a zip+4, 11
digits in a zip+4 with a delivery
point & 31 digits in an
IMb)
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Production Solutions is being
proactive in preparing for an IMB discount! Is
your direct mail campaign ready? Ask your
account manager for details!
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Which
is it? The PS September Trivia Question
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How many gallons of wastewater are saved by using
30% PCW compared to virgin stock for every 2,000 pounds
of paper used?
A. 450
gallons B. 2,625 gallons C. 5,325 gallons
D. 8,750
gallons
The first person to e-mail the correct answer
to Marie Kosanovich at mariek@psmail.com will win a
restaurant gift card. |
Get
to Know the PS Staff
|
 Drew WilsonProduction
Director
Tenure at
PS: 6 years!
Education: B.S. Business
Management from Roger Williams University, Bristol,
R.I.
Favorite Restaurants:
Capital Grille, Monterrey Bay Fish Grotto, P.F. Changs,
Chipotle.
Favorite Movies:
High Fidelity, Wedding Crashers,
Zoolander, I can't seem to change the channel
when Drumline or Roadhouse are on
TV.
Must Tivo TV: The
Soup, Criminal Minds, Law &
Order, Family Guy, Tool Academy,
Flipping Out (Jeff Lewis is my management
idol).
Favorite Music:
Anything, it depends on my mood that day - Black
Crowes, Dave Matthews Band, Beatles, Van Morrison,
Rusted Root, Neil Diamond, Linkin
Park.
Leisure Interests:
Playing with my dog, Baker, traveling to see family and
friends, the gym, watching TV, people-watching.
People Would be Surprised to
Know: I spent my college internship with
a professional soccer team where one of my many
responsibilities was to be the team mascot (a fox) at
various marketing functions, i.e. the grand opening of a
Dunkin' Donuts. I'm happy to say that I was terrible!
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Thank you again
for choosing Production Solutions as the partner
for your direct marketing
needs!
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