The Greater Portland Postal Customer Council (GPPCC) held a meeting with local commercial mailers, business partners and industry professionals as part of the 2024 National PCC Week. The meeting served as a platform to discuss innovative postal solutions for business growth and to showcase USPS strategies and industry best practices.

A key focus was the Postal Service's 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America (DFA), aimed at modernizing the postal network, improving service across all mail and shipping categories, and restoring long-term financial sustainability. Attendees had the opportunity to discover how this plan has been advantageous for businesses both in Portland and across the nation. They also learned how leveraging the Postal Service can lead to significant time and cost savings for their businesses, and how to effectively use mail to their advantage. The PCC is a crucial partnership between the Postal Service and industry members. It continues to foster success in today's competitive marketplace and provides opportunities for networking and collaboration among business mailers.

USPS vice president pricing and costing, Sharon Owens stated, “Our 10-year Delivering for America plan is significantly enhancing the Postal Service's role in serving businesses of all sizes. With the rise in domestic shipping costs due to factors like fuel prices, labor costs, and packaging expenses, businesses are seeking cost-effective solutions. The Postal Service is more than a service provider. We're partners helping businesses navigate these challenges while ensuring reliable delivery. Today’s PCC meeting highlighted how the Delivering for America plan is providing cost-effective solutions, enabling businesses to thrive in this challenging market."

The DFA plan offers several products aimed at helping businesses succeed, including:

• USPS Ground Advantage: This new ground shipping option provides an affordable and reliable way for American businesses and the public to send packages inside the U.S. It leverages USPS's unmatched last-mile delivery route system and an improved integrated mail and package postal logistics network.
• USPS Connect Local: A new service that gives small to medium businesses access to low-cost, same-day and next-day package delivery to customers in their neighborhood. It allows businesses of all sizes to access the benefits of USPS’s optimized network.
• Transparent Pricing: USPS understands what’s most important to our business customers: speed, affordability, security, customer service and transparent pricing. That’s why we ensure price certainty with no hidden surcharges. Our products also come with added benefits like free tracking, up to $100 insurance coverage, and free package pick-up, giving businesses and their customers peace of mind.
• Informed Delivery: This free service offers customers a preview of mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon and the ability to set package tracking notifications. Plus, with more than 33,000 Post Office locations across the nation, USPS provides convenience and accessibility to all its customers.

At the meeting, satisfied industry partners and business professionals shared their experiences, highlighting how the Postal Service has enabled them to connect affordably with their customers, especially during a period when business costs are continually escalating.

Jeff Hammock, systems analyst, Lithtex Printing Solutions, “Things have changed within the last 30 years. Mail service providers are treated as partners…I’m able to connect with people that can give me answers, and I’ve become more educated over the years on how I can save my customers money. Those are things that are important to my customers.”

Alyssa McDougle, Pioneer Utility Resources, “We do some marketing mail and direct mail pieces. But I work with periodicals [and] we’re in rural utility areas [where] we give these magazines to our customers. A lot of the customers don’t have internet or email, so communicating through the magazine and through the postal mailings are the most important ways to communicate with them. They love it. They love the mail. I love the mail. It’s great!”

As the Postal Service continues to adapt and innovate, it remains a trusted partner for businesses in Portland and across the nation. The GPPCC looks forward to fostering this partnership and contributing to the success of businesses in the competitive marketplace.

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