2. FLATS
The Postal Service is the primary delivery vehicle for subscription publications (periodicals) in the United States. The Postal Service’s Periodicals product line consists of approximately 95 percent flat-size mailpieces. Working closely with the periodicals industry, the Postal Service has identified opportunities for cost reduction, service improvement, and business growth. Over the past year, Product Development has worked with cross-functional groups on such efforts as future flats strategies, package integrity, service measurement and mail irregularity feedback. Product Development also collaborated on several process efficiencies, including the development of customer and operations training packages, and standard operating procedures for processing plants and airmail facilities.

We have established an electronic communications vehicle (ePUBWATCH) that links publishers and printers with Postal Service delivery units to quickly identify and resolve subscriber delivery and service issues. In combination with area marketing and operations functions, quarterly Periodicals Focus Group meetings are conducted with industry representatives to educate, inform, and collaborate on issues designed to facilitate customer service and periodicals business growth. Attendees of the National Periodicals Focus Group Conference describe these events as some of the best industry-focused meetings held to date by the Postal Service.

Product Development looks forward to continuing our business building initiatives through a periodicals Web page and identifying additional areas to increase subscription marketing opportunities for publishers.