The U.S. Postal Service, our direct mail industry partner, offers a great prescription to ward off some of the ill effects of today's unhealthy economy.
Like Grandma's old elixir that often sits in the medicine cabinet until it is too late to take as a preventive aid but hopefully will work as a cure to our ailment, the USPS has more than 250 local remedies that serve the needs of mailers and mail service providers alike. This industry elixir is labeled the Postal Customer Council.
The PCC is a grass-roots program of cooperation involving business mailers, mail service providers and the USPS. The Postal Customer Council program is designed to foster and improve communication between the USPS and its customers, i.e. exchange ideas, share successes and get the best information from local experts.
The PCC provides forums for mailers to discuss and resolve mailing issues with local postmasters and find mailing solutions from industry service providers. These objectives are accomplished through outreach efforts that includes newsletters, e-mails, luncheon meetings, expos and special outings.
Today's economic conditions demand that mailers, the USPS, service providers use the elixir of better appreciation of needs and joint resolves to improve our bottom lines. Recognizing that fact, the national PCC held its first PCC Leadership Conference at this month's National Postal Forum. Speaking of recognition, the importance of tighter alliances with mailers through the PCC network was evidenced with the attendance of a number of USPS senior executives, including deputy postmaster general John Nolan and chief operating officer Pat Donahoe.
The USPS thinks much of its future growth rests in active local Postal Customer Councils administering to the needs of all mailers, new and old, small and large. Having become involved with a local PCC, I, too, subscribe to this belief. Check it out for yourself. Call your local postmaster or account manager or go on the Web site, www.usps.com/nationalpcc.
