Are USPS Postage Rates Going Up in 2020?


The United States Postal Service announced its proposed new price changes to take effect Jan. 26, 2020. While the price of a first-class stamp isn’t changing, the prices of flat-rate Priority Mail packages are going up across the board. The proposed prices, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise the following rates 1.9%:

  • Overall 1st Class Postage
  • USPS Marketing Mail
  • Periodicals

The price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp will not be increasing, it will remain at 55 cents. The single-piece letter additional ounce price would remain at 15 cents. Also unchanged would be the prices of postcard stamps at 35 cents and 1-ounce flats at $1.

Overall, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express will increase 4.1% and 3.5% respectively, but those increases vary by Retail/Commercial, zone and weight.

This rate change for shipping products is timed similar to UPS® and FedEx®, who historically adjust prices each January. On January 6, 2020, FedEx raised prices an average of 4.9%.

The Postal Service, unlike some other shippers, does not add surcharges for fuel, residential delivery, or regular Saturday or holiday season delivery.

The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:

Mailing Services Price Changes

Product Current Proposed
Letters (1 oz.) 55 cents 55 cents
Letters additional ounces 15 cents 15 cents
Letters (metered 1 oz.) 50 cents 50 cents
Flats (1 oz.) $1 $1
Outbound International Letters (1 oz.) $1.15 $1.20
Domestic Postcards 35 cents 35 cents

Domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate Retail Price Changes

Product Current Proposed
Small Flat-Rate Box $7.90 $8.30
Medium Flat-Rate Box $14.35 $15.05
Large Flat-Rate Box $19.95 $21.10
APO/FPO Large Flat-Rate Box $18.45 $19.60
Regular Flat-Rate Envelope $7.35 $7.75
Legal Flat-Rate Envelope $7.65 $8.05
Padded Flat-Rate Envelope $8 $8.40

The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect Jan. 26, 2020. The complete Postal Service price filings with prices for all products can be found on the PRC site under the Daily Listings section at prc.gov/dockets/daily. For the Mailing Services filing see Docket No. R2020-1. For the Shipping Services filing see Docket No. CP2020-5. The price change tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index

Trust Fulco Fulfillment for all of your shipping and postage questions

Fulco Fulfillment advises clients on the most efficient ways to minimize shipping costs through smart packaging and streamlined order fulfillment operations. Call us at 973-361-1700, we’d love to answer your fulfillment questions.


Hand Assembly with Fulco Fulfillment Inc

100 envelopes stuffed? You got it!  1,000 new-hire kits constructed? We have a crew for hand assembly more than ready for that too.

In addition to the warehousing and fulfillment services that Fulco Fulfillment Inc already offers, we will also provide the assembly and kitting services that you have been looking for. Light assembly and kitting, bagging, labeling, sorting and heat-sealing for whatever products that you are trying to distribute are all offered at Fulco Fulfillment Inc. We recognize that keeping your project in one location keeps your costs down and ensures faster turnaround. Do you have a need for kitting and assembly services? Let Fulco Fulfillment Inc’s experts handle your kitting and assembly needs. Fulco Fulfillment Inc. can provide professional and cost-effective fulfillment services that are catered just for your business with our team of fulfillment experts with a combined over 50 years of experience. At FFI, no hand assembly job is too big or too small. We offer high-quality custom hand assembly of detailed projects. Fulco Fulfillment Inc. will store your material, manage your inventory, hand assembly of your kit and ship on demand.

Our hand assembly experts at Fulco Fulfillment Inc. will work alongside the account executive in order to manage the specifications of your most detail-oriented projects from fulfillment all the way to delivery. With over 148,000 square feet of warehouse space at your disposal, we have the room to organize, warehouse and most importantly redistribute your projects without causing any interference to your current work environment.

Gifting and Gift Bag Assembly

When it comes to managing gifting or handling “gift bags”, “goodie bags,” “swag bags,” we are experts (from the basic to the luxurious, for award shows, festivals, street or even industry events). Here at Fulco Fulfillment Inc. we meet your budgetary, delivery and presentation needs from beginning to end. FFI can supply any gift wrapping material needed to add a high end look, or protect a fragile item.   Products are warehoused so we are able to take care of every logistic. We want to ensure that your gifts both look great and are delivered on time.

General Assembly

You only have one opportunity to make that lasting impression, how do you guarantee the success you need to make that impression? With Fulco Fulfillment Inc.’s over 50 years of combined experience we can provide you with cost effective assembly services to help you create that incredible impression with absolutely no stress. Whether your items are assembled for individual shipment or for a large delivery, our experience allows us to excel far and beyond your expectations!

Product Assembly

Our team of fulfillment experts can obtain all of the necessary materials needed for your product or if you prefer can have them shipped directly to us so we can properly kit your materials the way you want to. FFI will assemble your individual pieces and create the finished product with our good ol’ reliable specialized product assembly line.

Whether it is 100 or 100,000 items that need assembling, our team is up to the task!

Manual Collating of Literature and Mailing

Smaller mailings can be collated using FFI’s  “hands on” focus and “attention to detail”.  We handle, the insertion of fliers, product samples, offer cards and a multitude of other items into your mailings can become quite effective, even in shorter term mailings.

Kit Assembly Will Save You Time and Money.

When you outsource your promotional packages, sample kits, demos or point of sale signage assembly and distribution; you are guaranteed to save yourself both time and money. With Fulco Fulfillment Inc., assembling your complex marketing kits or custom sale packages will be in the safe hands of specialists. FFI is one of the best co packers in the Greater New York City area, we know how to hand assemble your products professionally and cost effectively as well. Some of our services include custom hand assembly and co packed packages for any special, seasonal promotion.  FFI also works with customized kits according to where you live, language, contents and destination. No matter what your needs may be, they are are sure to be accommodated by Fulco Fulfillment Inc.

Fulco Fulfillment, The Hand Assembly Experts at your Disposal

Some projects cannot be completed by machine due to odd sizing or multiple pieces. For those jobs Fulco Fulfillment’s dedicated staff and organized facility can get the job done.

Our skilled and flexible labor force has a broad range of experience to assemble the most complex or simple projects, whatever you want to make your products truly stand out amongst the rest.

Small jobs or large, Fulco Fulfillment in Dover, New Jersey can assist you with your hand assembly needs.

Displays
Sales and marketing kits
Polybagging and heat seal services
Glue dots
Giveaways
Trade show goodie bags
Collation
Holiday gift wrap
Any of your kitting applications can be handled by Fulco Fulfillment’s hand assembly crew. Hand assembly can be done on-demand and pre-assembled to pre-stock inventory efficiently and cost effectively awaiting customer orders.

100 or 100,000 items to be assembled,our team is up to the task!

Fulco Fulfillment Optimizes Your Marketing Communication Outlets

We live in world where there is an ever growing pressure in a highly competitive global economy.  Marketing communication professionals can reduce the costs of their services and try to improve the return on their investments.

The experts at Fulco Fulfillment Inc. have incorporated a strategy that marketing professionals can employ when addressing these always changing conditions known as marketing communication optimization.

Here are the three important goals that Marketing Communication Optimization consists of:
  • Increasing the effectiveness of the communication process incorporated at your business.
  • Increasing the efficiency of your communication process incorporated at you business.
  • Ensuring the compliance of privacy and security rules and regulations that are in place.

Marketing communications optimization starts its journey with a comprehensive analysis of what marketing communications materials are.  How available are they and assess how viable they are when it comes to meeting the objectives of your business?  Reach your sales goals and reaching your appropriate target audience.  We here at Fulco Fulfillment Inc. will be your outsourcing solution.  We will help you meet your various goals which will in turn give you a solid road map on how to move forward.  The most effective choice to optimize your marketing communications may be using our available fulfillment services.

Fulco Fulfillment Inc. will evaluate your production processes. We want you to choose the option that will allow you to provide both the best and most cost effective result. Perhaps traditional offset printing would make the most sense for your marketing needs or would digital (Print on Demand) prove to be the better option? What would be the most cost-effective option for your marketing needs?

To put it simply, marketing communication optimization is consisted of carefully evaluating the market materials that are available to you. Fulco Fulfillment Inc. wants to help increase the efficiency of the communication at your business.

Reducing the total costs that are associated with your communication which include printing, fulfillment storage, insurance, etc. are what we want for you. Here are some factors that you should keep in mind when incorporating marketing communication optimization into your company:

  • Quantity in stock
  • Usage History
  • Expected Life and Future Usage
  • Format
  • Production Options
  • Objective of Communication

Our goal here is to select the right understock notification level that is the most suitable, based upon the expected future usage and format. Your usage history can be used to predict how future usage you will have. We’re trying to save you that headache that may appear along the way by sending automatic emails alerting you that your inventory is low and it’s time to reprint or reorder

Think of these characteristics when jumping into marketing communication optimization.

  • An objective of communication with complex documents with a total annual usage of under 1,000 pieces.
  • Use simple documents that have an annual usage of under 5,000 pieces.
  • Having documents with unknown usage patterns and/or frequent changes.
  • Documents which have reached the end of high usage but need to be retained for reference.
  • Review products that are about to enter back-order status.

A more comprehensive evaluation consists of looking at various client communication streams with the joint objectives of increasing effectiveness as well as efficiency of the communication; say for example, increasing the level of personalization of a particular sales package. According to different studies it is shown that there is a 30 percent increase in response rates to a personalized sales package. So instead of sending all prospects the same sales package, each and every response is particularly designed for a specific prospect which will include things such as the personalization of text, variable contents and other design aspects.

The following factors should be considered in this type of evaluation:

  • Documents that are about to enter back-order status.
  • Usage volume and lifespan.
  • The target audience and purpose.
  • Personalization requirements that include variable content and text.
  • The types of delivery method(s).
  • The Design Constraints.
  • Your production options.
  • The best practices.
  • Your competitors’ methods of communication.
  • Cost optimization.

After this evaluation is complete, the type of production techniques that will best suit your pieces will become clear.

Fulco Fulfillment Inc. is happy to offer a marketing communication optimization solution that will help fit your needs in the most effective way possible. We want to help produce your organization’s marketing materials the way you want while staying cost effective in order to bring forth to you the best results. If this sounds like something that may be of interest to you and your business then visit us at https://www.fulcofulfillment.com/ or give us a call at 973-361-1700.

Kitting that Delivers

Fulco Fulfillment Inc. kit fulfillment offers the following kitting services: Flexible labor for one-time, high-volume projects.

Fulco Fulfillment Inc. helps customers economically manage short-term kitting and assembly projects with our scalable workforce of full-time and temporary staff. Quality assurance. Their software system has a kit fulfillment module that programs in kit contents. The system is then used to manage an accurate assembly process, as components are scanned during assembly.

When you are a top quality company, you need to deliver products and services of the quality that will most often times need fulfillment luxury packaging that will set your brand apart from the rest. Whether it may be fulfillment kitting which include product launch kits such as sales kits or promotional, Fulco Fulfillment Inc. (FFI) start to finish service will provide the fulfillment kitting that is right for you. FFI will provide you with the high-quality, creative and intriguing designs you deserve with an exponential turnaround.

Having a welcome kit is a brilliant solution that will welcome new members to a program and provide some key information about member perks as well as deliver the member’s new card along with a special welcome gift! Many financial and hospitality brands from different parts of the world take advantage of these kits in order to create a defining experience for the member which is just as good as the program they are now a part of. With companies like American Express, the Black Card member welcome kitting is quite extravagant, which would make sense considering how highly regarded this program is in comparison to the standard American Express program which would perhaps be designed differently.

Packaging Kits

 Fulco Fulfillment Inc. will help create the kits that will make a statement, each one designed with care and a memorable experience in mind. Fulfillment and welcome kits are focused on the customer itself and the positive impact it will have on them while providing them with valuable information and at time gifts. These types of kits can include the following.

  • Cards
  • Brochures
  • A program or information about the product
  • Welcome or appreciation letter
  • Small gifts

Fulfillment Packaging

Fulfillment packaging can include items such as product launch kits, sales kits or perhaps general promotional kits. These kits have a tendency to be unique structurally which have high-quality decorations and can be interactive to a degree. For sales kit or product launch kits, the purpose is to help the salesperson perform a demo to a retail chain for example or maybe a distributor. It could also be to showcase the launch of a brand new product line. Most importantly the kits in question must deliver a large and instant impact from the moment someone first interacts with it or reveals it in order to catch the attention and to deliver the message and overall keep their interest.

Welcome Kit Packaging

For large companies such as American Express or Visa, they want to provide customers with their member card along with valuable information about the program that their customers have just enrolled themselves in. All of this is contained in a high quality branded package. Clients that specialize in hospitality that specialize in loyalty or reward programs for the frequent visitor also use a welcome kit that includes cards and reward information. The purpose of the packaging is to make the customer receiving this package feel important and special for choosing the clients brand.

Packaging Design

 When you evaluate your packaging design, it means that you are taking into consideration all of the nuances that will affect a user’s experience (UX). Something as simple as a magnetic flap that will snap shut and opens in an extravagant yet simple manner will become a showcase for the contents of the box. Some other packages feature a brochure like opening that is tied together with a nice ribbon and wound around a button. Sometimes the package may be a pop-up design that reveals windows and gift card holder. This and other unique design aspects will provide clients with the ability to choose from numerous possibilities that Fulco Fulfillment Inc. will put together just for you.

A high-quality design in your kits will need an extra layer of protection during the shipping process. An extra outer shipping box may be necessary when keeping clients in mind.

Consistency and Brand Value

When you’re establishing and maintaining a certain brand, consistency will play a vital role. The quality that you provide your customers in kitting and fulfillment will go a long way in building loyalty in your brand.

In conclusion

Kitting is a great way to get the attention of your customers and doing so with a proper design and a little bit of creativity will go a long way for you. Customers like products that stand out to them, it’s the reason they bought your product in the first place so why would you not deliver a stand out kitting package that shows you appreciate them? We here at Fulco Fulfillment Inc. in Dover, New Jersey will put together even the most complicated kitting for you to save time and energy. We want to help you put together the greatest product that you could possibly conceive and truly deliver on what you promised for your customers.

If our kitting services appeal to you then give us a visit at  https://www.fulcofulfillment.com/our-services/kitting/  or give us a call at 973-361-1700. We would be happy to help you with kitting your beautifully designed welcome kits to the highest degree. From everyone at our fulfillment warehouse, we look forward to working with you.

The quality that you provide your customers in kitting and fulfillment will go a long way in building loyalty in your brand.