Marketing & Direct Mail Archives - Modern Litho

USPS Catalog Mailing Incentive: Big Savings for Catalog Mailers Starting August 15, 2025

Kyle Caraway — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 18:20:10 +0000

If you’re a catalog marketer, there’s exciting news on the horizon: The USPS Catalog Mailing Incentive goes into effect August 15, 2025, offering substantial postage savings just in time for peak campaign planning and holiday mailings.

What Is the USPS Catalog Mailing Incentive?

The USPS Catalog Mailing Incentive is a new program designed to help catalogers offset recent postage rate increases and encourage continued investment in print catalogs. Starting August 15, 2025, qualifying catalog mailings can receive a 10% discount on postage, with the promotion running through June 2026.

Why Is This Incentive Important?

With postage rates for flats rising as much as 13% in 2025, this incentive offers catalog marketers a rare opportunity for real savings. When combined with additional USPS programs—such as Informed Delivery and Sustainability initiatives—total discounts can reach up to 12%. This can help brands maintain or even expand their catalog programs without sacrificing quality or frequency.

Who Benefits Most?

Catalogs weighing 7 oz. or more may see the greatest benefit, as the USPS is lowering per-pound rates for heavier flats. In some cases, catalogs over 7 ounces could see no net increase—or even a decrease—in postage costs.
Marketers mailing to house files will find it easier to keep up regular customer touchpoints, keeping acquisition and retention strategies cost-effective.

Key Details and Eligibility

Discount: 10% off qualifying catalog postage (potentially up to 12% with other incentives)
Effective Dates: August 15, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Eligible Mail: Catalogs that meet the USPS’s updated definition, mailed as USPS Marketing Mail flats
- 12 pages minimum
- Bound: A catalog is a bound (stapled, stitched, glued or fastened together along one edge)
- Content: Providing an organized listing of products or services offered for sale. A catalog mailpiece may be letter-shaped, flat-shaped or parcel shaped, and is mailed at USPS Marketing Mail®. The product listing must include images, photographs or illustrations of the products or services, descriptive details, fulfillment information and prices or contain an alternate method for the reader to determine prices. Catalogs must contain enough information to allow an order to be placed, e.g., an order form, a phone number, a web address, or the means to access a web address. Catalogs will also enable fulfillment options for the products or services offered for sale.
How to Participate: Ensure your catalogs meet the new USPS definition (see the Domestic Mail Manual and PostalPro for details), and contact your representative at Modern Litho to submit for pre-approval and register your mailing for the incentive.

Why Is USPS Doing This?

The USPS launched this incentive in response to industry data showing that lower postage rates actually increase catalog mail volume and overall postal revenue. This program is also a chance for the Postal Service to evaluate catalog price sensitivity ahead of future rate changes.

Plan Ahead!

This incentive aligns perfectly with fall and spring campaign planning windows, giving catalogers a strategic advantage for the 2025–2026 mailing seasons. Start working with your print and mailing partners now to ensure your catalogs qualify and your campaigns are ready to take full advantage of these savings.

Need help navigating the USPS Catalog Mailing Incentive?
Contact Modern Litho’s postal experts for guidance on eligibility, registration, and maximizing your catalog campaign ROI.

Sources:
1 Accuzip
2 Nahan
3 USPS PostalPro

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2025 USPS Postal Rate Changes: What Catalog, Publication, and Direct Mail Buyers Need to Know

Kyle Caraway — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:41:31 +0000

The U.S. Postal Service will implement new postage rates effective July 13, 2025. These changes will impact commercial mailers, catalog publishers, periodical publishers, and direct mail marketers. Understanding the specifics of these updates can help you plan budgets, optimize mailing strategies, and take advantage of available discounts.

Key Rate Changes by Mail Class

Mail Class	Average % Increase	Notable New Rates (Examples)
First-Class Mail	7.4%	1 oz. letter: $0.78 (was $0.73)
Marketing Mail	7.4%	Automation Letters (5-Digit, DSCF): $0.355
Periodicals	9.4%	Varies by format and presort
Package Services	7.4%
Special Services	7.4%

Source: Printing Impressions, USPS

Highlights for Our Customers

Commercial Mailers & Direct Mail Buyers

Expect an average 7.4% increase across most mail classes, with some presort Marketing Mail tiers seeing increases up to 11.6%.
First-Class Mail (1 oz.) now $0.78; metered letters $0.74.
Postcards rise to $0.62; flats (1 oz.) increase to $1.65.
Marketing Mail Automation Letters (5-Digit, DSCF Entry): $0.355; Flats: $0.732.
Nonprofit rates remain discounted but will also increase.

Catalog & Publication Buyers

Periodicals see a higher average increase (9.4%), making it crucial to review mailing lists and optimize for automation and presort discounts.
Marketing Mail Flats face increases of 13–18%, with SCF (Sectional Center Facility) discounts dropping from $7/M to $3.80/M.
New container discounts may help offset some costs depending on your presort level and mail preparation.

Structural and Policy Changes

Presort Pricing Uncertainty: Presort-level pricing details are pending and will depend on your specific mailing files and configurations.
Discount Reductions: SCF discounts are being reduced for both letters and flats, impacting cost savings for regional mailings.
Elimination of NDC Pricing: USPS is proposing to eliminate Network Distribution Center (NDC) pricing, which may increase origin entry costs for some mailers.
Bound Printed Matter (BPM): Two sets of pricing published as USPS considers eliminating BPM pricing altogether; final decisions are pending.

Strategic Recommendations

Review and Update Budgets: Factor in the new rates and potential loss of discounts, especially for high-volume and regional campaigns.
Optimize Mail Preparation: Take advantage of new container discounts and ensure lists are as clean and automated as possible to minimize costs.
Monitor for Final Presort Rates: Stay tuned for USPS updates on presort pricing, which could significantly affect your mailing costs.
Leverage Promotions: USPS typically offers promotional discounts; watch for announcements to help offset some of the increases.

Action Steps

Connect with your Modern Litho account representative to review how these changes will affect your specific mailings.
Schedule a mailing strategy session to explore cost-saving options and maximize postal discounts.
Sign up for updates from Modern Litho to stay informed as USPS releases final details on presort pricing and promotional opportunities.

The July 2025 USPS postal rate changes present both challenges and opportunities. By staying informed and proactive, commercial, catalog, publication, and direct mail buyers can minimize budget impacts and maintain effective mail campaigns.

For more details or a personalized mailing analysis, contact Modern Litho’s postal experts today.

Click to download the July 2025 Postal Rate Guide.

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Modern Litho-St. Louis Strengthens Market-Defining Direct Mail Capabilities with Key Talent Acquisition

Kyle Caraway — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Rich Graham

Director -Direct Mail Division, Modern Litho - St. Louis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Modern Litho-St. Louis Strengthens Market-Defining Direct Mail Capabilities with Key Talent Acquisition

ST. LOUIS, MO, JANUARY 22, 2025 - Modern Litho, a leading full-service publication and commercial printer, today announces a significant expansion of its direct mail capabilities at its St. Louis location. The company has recently onboarded several key employees with extensive industry experience in direct mail, enhancing its ability to deliver high-quality solutions.

Among the new additions is Richie Graham, a seasoned professional 33-year industry veteran with a strong background in direct mail sales and operations. Graham's impressive track record includes owning and managing a successful St. Louis-based direct mail company, as well as delivering top sales results.

This strategic move brings a wealth of expertise to Modern Litho St. Louis, including:
•Advanced direct mail proficiency
•Sophisticated data processing skills
•Comprehensive warehouse management experience

"We are thrilled to welcome these talented professionals to our team," said Skip Bray, President of Modern Litho-St. Louis. "Their expertise significantly enhances our ability to serve the direct mail needs of businesses and organizations in St. Louis and the surrounding region."

The addition of these skilled team members positions Modern Litho as the premier resource for direct mail services in the St. Louis market. This expansion aligns with the company's recent relocation to a larger 67,000 sq. ft. facility at 5001 Southwest Avenue, which has more than doubled its production space.

"Our new team members, combined with our expanded facility, allow us to offer unparalleled direct mail services," Bray added. "We're now uniquely positioned to handle complex data processing, provide advanced warehouse management, and deliver top-tier direct mail campaigns for our clients."

Modern Litho-St. Louis continues to invest in its workforce and facilities, reinforcing its commitment to serving customers with cutting-edge printing and mailing solutions.

About Modern Litho
Headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri, with operations in St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City, Modern Litho has been serving the print needs of client organizations for more than 85 years. With national clientele in 50 states, the company specializes in high-performance offset print, finishing and distribution of marketing and member communications, advanced variable data print, direct mail, mailing services and signage.

For media inquiries or more information about Modern Litho's enhanced direct mail services, please contact:
Cassandra Atchison | catchison@modernlitho.com | 573-644-7024 | modernlitho.com
###

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USPS 2025 Promotions

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:22:19 +0000

Watch Our 2025 USPS Promotions Webinar

The USPS 2025 Promotions Program is off and running offering postal discounts ranging from 3% up to 6%! The incentives are offered to qualifying direct mail pieces that integrate advanced technology, tactile elements, sustainable materials, and more. These discounts can make a significant impact on your direct mail budget while enhancing engagement and reach.

From adding QR codes, personalization, and augmented reality to using unique paper textures and iterative mailings, these promotions reward creativity and innovation in mail design. Programs include discounts on First-Class Mail® and Marketing Mail®, with postage discount offers for interactive elements, continuous contact mailings, and two new “Add-On” programs offering additional discounts for sustainability and Informed Delivery®.

Connect with your Modern Litho account representative today to learn how to leverage these USPS promotions for your 2025 campaigns and optimize your postal savings. With the addition of one small design element on your next direct mail piece, you could realize 3-4-5 or even 6% savings on your postage!

Click to download our PDF

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July 2024 Postal Rate Changes

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:26:10 +0000

The United States Postal Service has posted updated 2024 rate changes.

The price changes will take effect on July 14, 2024.

First-Class Mail Forever stamp will increase by five cents to 73¢.
First-Class domestic postcards will increase to 56¢.

Percentage increases by class:

1st Class letters
5 Digit: 7.49%
AADC: 8.4%
Mix AADC: 8.93%

Marketing Mail letter
5 Digit: 4.54%
AADC: 4.1%
Mix AADC: 4.4%

1st Class Flats
5 Digit: 8.14%
AADC: 8.94%
Mix AADC: 9.59%

Marketing Mail Flat
5 Digit: 6.9%
3 Digit: 5.5%
ADC: 4.94%
Mix AADC: 3.36%

Click to download the July 2024 Postal Rate Guide.

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January 2024 Postal Rate Changes

admin — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 23:55:39 +0000

The United States Postal Service has posted updated 2024 rate changes.

The price changes will take effect on January 21, 2024.

First-Class Mail Forever stamp will increase by two cents to 68¢.
First-Class domestic postcards will increase to 53¢.

Refer to the following chart for the latest 2024 USPS rates:

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Happy 100 years Better Homes & Gardens

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:18:59 +0000

Celebrate a happy 100 years of Better Homes & Gardens. A makeover might seem like an odd 100th birthday gift. But not when the recipient is Better Homes & Gardens. For its centennial, the magazine received a redesign, complete with a new logo, a larger trim size (9″ x 10 7/8″), and an upgrade in paper stock. What’s more, four covers were created for the September 2022 anniversary issue, each featuring a showstopping cake by a celebrity chef: Ina Garten, Carla Hall, Padma Lakshmi, and Jacques Pépin.

BHG’s centennial, along with its investment in a larger size and better paper, refutes the misconception that print is dead. Rather, “the print business model is changing,” says Samir “Mr. Magazine” Husni, Founder and Director of the Magazine Media Center. “Even companies that are cutting back on magazines are putting out bookazines.” So are titles that aren’t cutting back. BHG’s recent bookazines included Flower Gardening and 5-Ingredient, 30-Minute Recipes, each with a $12.99 cover price. “We’re seeing a lot of magazines coming to the marketplace, but at higher prices,” Husni adds. “They’re no longer an impulse buy.”

Neil Vogel, CEO of BHG parent company Dotdash Meredith, said much the same at the BMO Digital Advertising Summit in March 2022. The company’s print magazines were “going to increase in quality,” he said. “It’s a little bit of a luxury experience.”

At the same time, to offset the costs of the improved paper, BHG cut circulation from 7.6 million to about 4 million, Husni says, getting rid of heavily discounted and giveaway subscriptions. “They are focusing more and more on the customers who count.”

STAYING TRUE TO THE MISSION

On the editorial side, this focus on customers who count is a key reason BHG has made it to 100 years. Originally titled Fruit, Garden and Home, the magazine was a spin-off of Successful Farming, founded in 1902 and still going strong. For the farmers’ wives who were the original subscribers, articles included instructions on pruning fruit trees, canning, and building their own log cabins; today, articles about choosing dehumidifiers, upgrading millwork, and selecting paint colors are more typical. But what the magazine’s target audience is looking for has remained the same: suggestions for creating a better home (and garden, and lifestyle) for their families.

“I think the secret ingredient [to BHG’s longevity] is they stay true to service journalism—meeting the needs, wants, and desires of people. They offer their readers and advertisers a call to action,” Husni says. “Remaining true to the DNA of the publication is most important because everything else is going to change.” The definition of family, for instance, has evolved during the past century, but BHG “has remained in the service of the family. It’s rare in this day and age to see a magazine that can adapt to all the changes and still remain true to its mission.”

This also seems to be the secret to the success of other long-standing magazines still in print. Scientific American, launched in 1845, progressed from articles about a “combined wringer and mangler” (a forerunner to the washing machine) to pieces covering the powering down of the Voyager spacecraft, but delving into scientific and engineering advances remains its mission. Founded in 1865, The Nation continues to investigate and review news and culture, while the apparel and imagery seen in Harper’s Bazaar (founded in 1867) and Vogue (1892) today might have given their original readers the vapors. But each magazine has the same mission today as it did in the 19th century: making fashion trends (if not the couture fashions themselves) accessible to aspirational women.

THE DIGITAL FACTOR

Adhering to their mission while expanding into websites, social media feeds, and other digital offerings have been integral to magazines’ ability to change with the times. BHG, for instance, estimates it has 6.1 million followers on Facebook alone and 8 million monthly readers of its digital and mobile magazine versions as well as 10 million unique visitors to bhg.com each month.

Numbers like those might have led some publishers to go digital only. In fact, several sister titles of BHG, including Entertainment Weekly and InStyle, no longer produce regular print issues. Even they, however, produce bookazines such as the former’s Ultimate Guide to Stranger Things and the latter’s fall fashion and beauty roundup.

“Digital is never a replacement to print. You need digital, but it’s not a replacement,” Husni insists. For one thing, the omnipresence of digital content has led to it becoming a commodity. “If any magazine is just in the business of content providing, there’s no future for them, because anyone can get content in 140 characters online,” he says.

So, while many websites might offer, say, tips for keeping houseplants alive, BHG homes in on the plants and plant issues most common to its readers and presents them in its unique voice. Esoteric fauna and rococo language have no place here. “Its editors are not only creative but also curators,” Husni explains.

And when that curated content is delivered directly to readers in the form of a tangible magazine, one they can hold, keep, file, and easily refer to time and again, the result goes well beyond content. “You’re engaging audiences with an experience,” Husni says.“And that’s why, as long as we have human beings, we’re going to have print.”

Find this article in the Q4 2022 issue of Inspired Momentum

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