I just wanted to get this information to those of you who mail internationally.  The United States Postal Service is now offering an international forever stamp.  It is a single price to any country in the world for $1.10.

Other changes are:

As of January 2013 the POSTNET bar-code will no longer be eligible for automation discounts.

Effective January 5, 2013 the revised standards for folded self-mailers will be in effect. For more specific information on new folding standards go to https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=fsm

January 27, 2013 the First-Class stamp will increase to .46.

You still have a few days to buy the Forever Stamps before the rate changes.

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• The POSTNET barcode will no longer be eligible for automation discounts. IMb is required for automation letters and flats. IMb is required for QBRM and permit Reply Mail (PRM) letters.
• Effective January 27, 2013 the IMpb is required for all Parcel mailing except for Standard Mail.
• There are revised standards for folded self-mailers (FSMs) They went into effect on January 5, 2013.  A link to the USPS site is https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=fsm
• January 27, 2013 is effective date for rate increase.
• NEW First-Class Mail International Forever Stamp $1.10 Single price to any country in the world.

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Maybe this post should be blessings all year long. When I went to Europe several years back I could not help but notice that the standard of living is not what we have in the U.S. When I landed in St. Louis, I wanted to kiss the ground and thank God that I was blessed to be born and live in the United States of America. We get so busy in our everyday lives that we sometimes don’t realize how good we have it in the U.S..  We take for granted clean water, schools for our children, and food that is readily available, most of the time in our neighborhood. Yes, there is poverty in our country also and at this time of year we think about sharing and giving to those less fortunate. Being in the mailing and printing business, this is one of the busiest times of year with a lot of non-profit organizations mailing their annual appeals.

If you get an appeal from a non-profit charity that you believe is making a difference in our community, please take a minute and read the appeal and be generous, if possible, for most of us are truly blessed.

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This information is from MailPro, a newsletter issued by the USPS:

“There’s no reason to toss out that old cell phone, PDA, digital camera or other small electronic device.  The Postal Service has expanded a recycling program to approximately 3,100 retail locations so customers can trade in old electronic gadgets for cash.

The USPS is making recycling your old cell phone quicker and easier than ever before.  and the shipping if free. The USPS is working with MaxBack, an electronic recycling company that specializes in reducing waste that ends up in landfills, by either buying back or simply recycling unwanted electronics. Visit sups.com/ship/recycle-through-usps.htm and follow five easy steps to find out how much your old cell phone is worth:

1. Search for your cell phone or electronic device

2. Receive an instant quote and accept it.

3. MaxBack will send you a USPS approved mailing container.

4. Mail it free via priority Mail

5. Once MaxBack receives your item, it will be inspected and your payment processed.

If your old electronic device is worth at least $5.00, free recycling mail-back packaging is available by contacting MaxBack through the USPS website above, making it easy for customers to ship used small electronics (cell phones, PDAs, MP3 Players and digital cameras). When sending items to MaxBack, each package should contain no more than three devices. Cushioning material also should be used when packaging items to prevent movement damage. If batteries are included, detailed packaging requirements can be found in the Domestic Mail Manual, section 601, Mailability, entry 10.20, Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials. This site is availabe at pe.usps.com.

Customers may also recycle used ink jet cartridges by using free mail-back envelopes available at participating USPS locations.

The USPS has a strong commitment to be a sustainability leader,” said USPS Chief Sustainability Officer Thomas G. Day. ” Our network infrastructure and logistical capability to deliver to every residence and business in the U.S. make the Postal Service a logical partner with a premiere recycler like MaxBack.com to maximize this green initiative.”

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I received the following from the USPS this week: Reminder:  January 28, 2013 is almost here…are you ready? Have you converted from POSTNET^® to the Intelligent Mail^® barcode (IMb™)? To be eligible for automation discounts you must use the IMb. 

Several years ago the USPS declared that everyone would have to start using the Intelligent Mail barcode.  Our equipment, like most everyone, would not print the new IMb.  We invested in new inkjet addressing equipment and got rid of our older equipment.  We also went to classes in Atlanta and in Nashville to learn more about the IMb.  We actually started using  the IMb in 2006 but the USPS did not actually require the use of the IMb until this coming January 28, 2013.  Folks the wheels at the USPS turn slow.

I have learned to not get too excited when the USPS makes an announcement about changes in their procedures, rules and regulations.  I think I have plenty of time before they are ready to actually implement them.  In this case, I have had seven years.

However, the IMb is a good thing because it moves the mail through the USPS system much faster and provides discounts on postage.

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I had a great weekend with my daughter and granddaughter being here from Nashville.  Also I got to celebrate my grandson’s birthday last night, who unbelievably turns 15 tomorrow. Family time is so precious because children and grandchildren grow up so fast.  We even got to visit with our grand puppy, a lovable black lab named Doobie.  He is named after the Doobie Brothers.

Now to the Monday part.  I had just gotten out of the shower this morning when my office called to tell me that someone had taken parts off our less than a year old van.  Police reports and insurance notifications and rental companies is not what I had expected to deal with this morning.  However, I am not going to complain too much because all in all I am very blessed.  Things can be replaced but as long as everything is OK with my employees and no one is hurt then I can deal with the other aspects of Monday.

Hope your Monday is going well.

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Flat rates and letter rates all sound like Post Office jargon but knowing the difference can put money back in your pocket and make  delivery much faster. It all has to do with the size of the mail piece. A mailer qualifies for a letter rate as long as it does not go over 6×10.5.  If it goes over that maximum size it is considered a flat. The postage on a flat is almost double that of a letter. If you are mailing a newsletter that is 8.5×11, that is a flat.  If the newsletter is folded to 5.5×8.5 then it qualifies for a letter rate.

To compare:

Presorted Standard Letter rate 1-3 oz. mails for between .199 – .278

Presorted Flat Rates 1-3 oz. mails for between .310 – .504

NON-PROFIT

Presorted Standard Letter rate 1-3 oz. mails for between .087 – .166

Presorted Flat Rate 1-3 oz. mails for between .171 – .356

One cost saving suggestion is if you have several sheets of 8.5×11 and you want your mailing to qualify for a letter rate, use a 6×9 envelope instead of a 9×12 envelope.

At Burns for our customers we look for ways to save postage for our customers so that when the mail goes to the USPS for mailing they are assured they have the very lowest possible postage. Consulting with a mailer before you print can save time, money and speed delivery of your mail.

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Open House Bar-B-Q

This is a picture of our Open House Bar-B-Que at Burns Mailing & Printing, Inc.  If it looks like a family picture it is because that is what we feel about each other…our other family.  Most of us have worked together for many years.  We support each other, yes we sometimes have disagreements, but doesn’t every family.  Collectively among this group is many, many years of printing and mailing experience.  We don’t have a lot of turn over so everyone knows their job and things move through the shop smoothly.

Having graphic design, printing and mailing…all under one roof keeps our customers from running all over town. They are also assured that their mailings meet postal specifications, have the lowest available postage and have fast delivery due to being bar-coded.

We handle the details so that our customers don’t have to worry.

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Last year Burns Mailing & Printing, Inc received our certification issued by the State of TN as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE).  It seems that there is more interest in government organizations and some private sector companies in sending business to minority and women owned businesses.  Now I am not resting on my laurels and expecting a hand out from someone but it is nice that there is more interest in diversity.  Has it gotten me business that I might not have had otherwise, the answer is yes but not to a large degree.  We have one company in Atlanta that works for the State of TN that was looking for a women owned printer and found me on the Governor’sDiversity List.  We have been doing a monthly job for them now for several years.  The mayor of Knoxville recently mandated that the City of Knoxville, TN give more business to minority and women owned business and we just got a purchase order from them.  Our County mayor is trying to be very small business friendly.  I think that the local government is realizing that small business is a big part of how the economy in any given area is doing. We may not have 500 jobs but we have 16-20 jobs and that adds up.

Since I am on my soap box, I just want to remind everyone that no matter what area of the country that you live, it is important to do business with local businesses.  That little shop or store that you love may not be there next year if you don’t continue to do business with them.  Yes, online printing my be a little cheaper but you cannot get the service that a local printer can give you. You can’t sit down with their team and plan your project, look at the paper, get advice for design and pick up your order, in some instances in one day.

To all my customers who continue to use our services year after year, I sincerely thank you.  We have a lot of customer loyalty and after awhile they seem like family.

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Next Wednesday, August 8, 2012, Ken and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.  It also marks Ken’s 50th year in the printing industry. We were 19 years of age.  I know, I know you should not get married that young, but things were different 50 years ago. I was actually a nursing student at East TN Baptist Hospital.  In 1962 if you were a student nurse at East TN Baptist Hospital you could not get married and stay in school.  Ken and I went to a neighboring town and got married and kept it a secret.  Ken had planned on joining the Air Force and start a military career while I finished school.  We decided that we could not stand being apart for two years so I quit school and we left Knoxville for Cocoa, Florida That is where the printing comes in.  Ken got a job driving a truck for Brevard Printing in Cocoa.  He learned how to run the presses by working on Saturday for free in order to get the experience.  Shortly after, I got a job at Pan American Airways at Cape Canaveral and Ken later worked at Cape Canaveral for a printing contractor.  After about five years, we moved to Marietta, GA where Ken worked at Lockheed Georgia in the graphic arts department.  After about two years and the birth of our first child, Kathy, we moved back to Knoxville when the offer of a job presented us the opportunity to come back to Knoxville and be near our family and friends.  Our second child, Joy was born in 1970 and our little family was complete. We never regretted that move.  In 1981 we started our company in our garage.  I supported the family while Ken built the business.  After two moves into leased buildings, we built our own current location in 1994.  In 1990, I left my job as Vice President at Toyota of Knoxville to work full time in the printing business with Ken.  We had two daughters in college and for us it was a big step.  I even borrowed $20,000 and put it in the bank, just in case it did not work out and I needed to pay the mortgage or college tuition.  I later invested that money in the company.

I worked everyday with Ken for 20 years. We ate every meal together, planned the business together and as one of our vendors would describe, “we were joined at the hip”.  We got along so well because Ken had his responsibility and I had mine.  We were too busy to mess in each others business.  Sometimes we did not see each other  until lunch time, as he would be back in production and I would be up front taking care of sales and administration.

All of that came to a screeching halt on February 28, 2010.  Ken was sitting in the living room talking to me when he started to slur his words.  I realized he was in trouble and called 911.  Ken suffered a massive stroke.  He was in rehab hospitals for three months and thankfully after three months he was able to come home.  He is not able to work in the business any longer, but with the help of my wonderful employees, Burns Mailing & Printing Inc. is going strong.

We have a favorite song that we will play at our anniversary party.  It is called Silver and Gold by Claire Lynch. The words just seem to describe our love and our journey. Sometimes we are tested with fire when we least expect it but true love will prevail.

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy. It does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I will end this blog with another special song for us by Vince Gill, called Look At Us.  My favorite line sums it up, “if they want to see what true love should be, then just look at us”.  To Ken, my soul mate, Happy 50th Anniversary!

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