USPS direct marketing service expands via UPS Store network

The UPS retail network in the United States is joining the US Postal Service effort to encourage local businesses to use the mail for their customer communications. The UPS Store is teaming up with USPS to offer its 4,700 outlets as part of the new Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) service.

The service was launched by USPS back in April, and has so far proved popular according to Postal Service figures.

It allows businesses and non-profits to select certain local delivery routes and send saturation mail to every property on that route without having to track down the individual names and addresses.

Aiming to make it much easier for small and medium-sized businesses to get into local direct mailing, the EDDM service also dispenses with the need to get a special permit from USPS for saturation mailing.

Stuart Mathis, president of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., franchisor of The UPS Store, said the service emphasised the importance of localised marketing for small businesses.

He said: “By working with the U.S. Postal Service, The UPS Store franchise network now provides one convenient destination for the small business community to effectively and efficiently communicate with their target audiences.”

The UPS Store is joining the retail side of the EDDM service – there is also a bulk mail version in which larger numbers of mailings can be dropped off at USPS bulk entry points.

UPS said its retail branches would also help businesses print their marketing places for the Every Door Direct Mail service.

Tom Bellino, co-owner of multiple UPS Store franchises, said the service meant small businesses no longer need to worry about the process of local direct mail marketing.

Bellino, who recently completed a 20,000-piece direct mail project for Chicago-based car washing business Simon’s Shine Shop, said: “We offer standard sizes, handle the bundling, completion of the documentation and coordination with the local post office.”