|
July 3rd Service
Our office will be OPEN on Friday, July 3, 2015. All Daily Mail Service customers are asked to register their service requirements on iMailConnect.com.
Route service times may be adjusted on July 3rd if a high number of customers are closed or closing early on that day.
All of us wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday.
Top of page
|
|
Meet Our Interns
Lake Michigan Mailers would like to welcome two new interns who will be working and learning with us through the summer months.
James Belson: Programmer Intern. James will earn his Associate's Degree in Computer Programming for Business from Kalamazoo Valley Community College this August. James will be working in our Application Development Group through the end of the summer on several initiatives designed to improve the functionality of our intranet.
Brittany Rhoa: Marketing Intern. Brittany is a sophomore at Kent State University where she is pursuing a degree in Fashion Merchandising and minors in Marketing and Fashion Media. Brittany will be working on a number of marketing and promotions initiatives, and event marketing for us over the next several months.
Top of page
|
|
Celebrating Service Anniversaries
We are delighted to celebrate the service anniversaries of two of our associates in the month of June!
Shameka Taylor - Production Specialist II - 10 years, Kalamazoo
Tasha Giuchici - Receiving Specialist / Route Driver - 9 years, Kalamazoo
In 2005 when Shameka started with us, Youtube.com had just gone live! A year later, when Tasha joined our team, the Nintendo Wii was invented.
Like technology, our hard-working team members are constantly progressing and striving to reach new goals.
We are honored to have you! Congratulations, and thank you for all that you do!
Top of page
|
|
Email Marketing
Tips
A number of our regular readers of Delivery Point commented that our article in last month's issue entitled "Tips for Getting Started with Email Marketing" was very helpful and they asked that we include similar tips in future editions.
So, by popular demand....Our focus this month is getting the most from your email marketing.
MAKE IT PART OF YOUR MARKETING MIX:
It's an old saying but it's true; "If the only tool you have is a hammer than every problem is a nail." Email marketing should be part of your marketing mix - it should not be the only tool in your tool box. Email marketing is a natural companion for direct mail, social media, and other digital marketing. It can and should be personalized to the individual reader. We are all inundated with email marketing messages on a daily basis. You need to use email marketing in moderation and in coordination with other marketing efforts in order for it to be an effective tool for you.
CREATE COMPELLING CONTENT: Admittedly this is easier said than done. What might be of interest to the writer may NOT be interesting to the reading audience. Be brief. Be timely. Offer the reader the opportunity to learn more at their leisure by linking the article to a white paper, video or audio recording.
ANALYZE THE ENGAGEMENT: Engagement analytics are a key benefit of any properly developed email marketing campaign. A simple review of engagement analytics can tell you WHO read your material, WHEN they read it, and WHAT actions they may have taken after reading it. With this information you can createcompelling content in future emails.
If, after reading this, you are still stumped or would like to learn more, please contact David Rhoa at 800-653-3121 Ext. 220 or via email. David has been successfully helping customers use email marketing to engage and inform their customers and prospects for more than a decade.
|
|
Mail Expectations Survey Winner
We are pleased to announce that Becky Kizer, of Center for Hospice Care in Mishawaka, Indiana was the winner of our Mail Expectations Survey drawing. Becky will receive a $100.00 Visa giftcard for her efforts in completing the survey.
We are still working through the data collected in the survey and will report back to our readers in a future issue.
Thanks to all who contributed to this important survey.
Top of page
|
|
 | | Join Our Mailing List |
|
|
|
|
New Electronic Report Improves Tracking of Customer Address Changes
We are excited to announce a new solution designed to reduce your mailing and processing costs associated with mail addressed to recipients who have changed their mailing address.
Electronic Address Data File Report provides participating NCOALINK® MPE customers with a daily electronic report of the RECIPIENT'S NAME, OLD ADDRESS,and the NEW ADDRESS in an easy-to-use electronic format. The report can be retrieved from a dedicated area of iMailConnect.com
Electronic Address Data File Report is available to all customers participating in one of the NCOALINK® MPE solutions detailed below:
- NCOALINK MPE Forwardable Mailpiece
- NCOALINK MPE Notification Via Returned Mailpiece
- NCOALINK MPE Notification Via Returned Photocopy of Mailpiece
Electronic Address Data File Report is available without a contract or minimum piece volume and provides our customers with a number of benefits:
-
Endures compliance with USPS Move Update requirements and avoids the newly implemented Postal Service assessment fee of $0.073 per piece for mailing to outdated addresses. (See related article below.)
- Provides near-real time reporting of moved addresses. Reports are available for download the following business day from the secure side of iMailConnect.com. Report data is held by Lake Michigan Mailers for 21 days from the date of capture.
- Provides address change data without the addition of a participation code in the address area or any changes to the address format.
Electronic Address Data File Report is available for a one-time set-up fee of $25.00 per account or unique department and $0.52 for each record returned.
If you would like more information on this service, please contact our Account Executive Dave Holysz via email or at 800-653-3121 Ext. 226.
Lake Michigan Mailers, Inc. is a nonexclusive Mail Processing Equipment (MPE) Data User Licensee of the United States Postal Service® (USPS). Prices for this service are not established, controlled or approved by the United States Postal Service. The advertising found herein is neither approved nor endorsed by the United States Postal Service. The following trademarks are owned by the United States Postal Service®: NCOALINK , ZIP+4, USPS and United States Postal Service. Specific service pricing and conditions can be found here and will be provided to customer upon initiating service.
Top of page
|
|
Requests Now Being Accepted for SOC II Compliance Document
In today's business environment, outsourcing is an essential tool for improving efficiency and reducing costs. However, outsourcing is only as valuable as the service provider's control methods set in place to protect the client's information.
Lake Michigan Mailers offers the largest integrated network of document management, mail assembly, mail processing, messaging, and distribution services in Northern Indiana and Western Michigan and we understand the importance of safeguarding data and documents. We adhere to only the highest standards for data security and control.
Our internal processes and controls relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, and confidentiality are examined annually by the independent service auditors of Scarpone & Co., P.C., Certified Public Accountants and Consultants and found to meet or exceed the SOC 2 (formally SAS 70) standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for Service Organizations.
Our annual report entitled "Facility and Document Security and Related Policies" will be ready for distribution by the end of June. Once again, we provide this document in electronic format only. Customers wishing to request a copy must have a current and valid nondisclosure agreement with Lake Michigan Mailers on file.
To request a copy, please click here and complete the registration form. If necessary, we will forward a signed NDA for your counter signature.
|
|
Postal Service to Assess Fee for Out of Date Addresses
The Postal Service has announced that they will begin assessing a fee of $0.073 per piece for every piece of mail found in an automation-rate mailing that has not been updated within 95 days of mailing. Regular readers of Delivery Point will recall that we have been discussing the advent of this type of fee for years. Daily Mail Service customers are strongly encourage to contact us to discuss the variety of options we have to meet Move Update requirements, and avoid the possible imposition of this new fee.
Please contact Bob Fugate, Director of Sales and Customer Service for more information on our available options. Bob can be reached via email or via 800-653-3121 Ext. 203.
|
|
Option Free® to Move to Monthly Billing
Option Free® Daily Mail Service customers will move from quarterly billing to monthly billing beginning July 1, 2015.
The change is being made following a number of requests from Option Free® customers to add additional services such as Premier Post® Shipping, ProveDelivery, NCOA Link ® MPE, and Premier Post® Automated Flats. The increased frequency of billing will allow Option Free® customers to take full advantage of these solutions while being able to reconcile service invoices that cover a 30-day rather than a 90-day period. No action is required on the part of the Option Free® customer to accommodate this change.
A special note of thanks to those Option Free® customers who suggested the change. We encourage customers to regularly offer suggestions as to how our services can be improved. Customers with suggestions are asked to email them to David Rhoa, President of Lake Michigan Mailers at drhoa@barcodemail.com.
Top of page
|
|
Company Announces 2015 Scholarship Winners and Expansion of Program for 2016
Lake Michigan Mailers, Inc. announced in May that it has selected Amy Broderick of Lake Michigan Catholic High School in Saint Joseph, Michigan and Brendan O'Brien of Hackett Catholic Prep in Kalamazoo, Michigan as the inaugural winners of the Lake Michigan Mailers Scholarship Program. The scholarship program was first announced by the company in January of this year as a pilot to determine the perceived value and sustainability of the program. During the pilot only applications from Lake Michigan Catholic High School and Hackett Catholic Prep were considered.
The 2015 program awarded two prizes of $1,000 each to qualified graduating seniors who intend to pursue a degree in business, business management, or entrepreneurship from a four-year college or university. The minimum requirements of the scholarship include:
- A cumulative G.P.A. of not less than 3.5 (non-weighted) as verified by the high school
- Meaningful involvement in community service
- Meaningful involvement in school-based extracurricular activities
Amy Broderick is a graduating senior from Lake Michigan Catholic High School in Saint Joseph, Michigan. Amy graduated with a 3.94 G.P.A. while participating in National Honor Society, Key Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, four years on the Varsity Softball team where she achieved All-District, All-Region, Honorable Mention All-State, and Academic All-State for Basketball, Softball, Sideline Cheer, Competitive Cheer and Volleyball. Amy will attend Michigan State University to pursue a degree in Supply Chain Management.
 Brendan O'Brien is a graduating senior from Hackett Catholic Prep in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Brendan graduated with a 3.76 G.P.A. while participating in Boy Scouts of America attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, National Honor Society, Ad Gloriam Dei Club, four years on the Varsity Soccer team where he achieved All-State twice, and All-Conference three times. He was a two-time letter winner for basketball. Brendan will attend Michigan State University to pursue a degree in business.
"The body of work compiled by both Amy and Brendan, along with their individual plans for the future, made them ideal candidates for our scholarship," said David C. Rhoa, president of Lake Michigan Mailers, Inc.
"We feel strongly that our scholarship program should be expanded to other schools in our region," said Rhoa. "We will spend the next couple of months dialoging with guidance counselors at regional high schools to develop the criteria necessary to expand the program. We would expect to announce an enhanced scholarship in September of this year," Rhoa concluded.
The company is currently conducting a survey of high school counselors and those actively engaged in assisting students with the college application process to determine the best methods for implementing the scholarship program on a wider scale.
|
|
Bronson Children's Hospital Walk & Run Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for the 2015 Bronson Children's Hospital Walk & Run - the last Sunday in September (Sunday, September 27, 2015)! The addition of a competitive 5K run last year more than doubled participation. Bronson hosted nearly 1400 runners and walkers to benefit the only Children's Hospital in southwest Michigan.
As southwest Michigan's only children's hospital, Bronson Children's Hospital is committed to maintaining a full complement of pediatric specialists to treat seriously ill and injured children. Your generous support helps ensure the high level of pediatric care that children and their families count on will be here when they need it. By coming together, we can help secure the future of children's healthcare in our community.
Lake Michigan Mailers is proud to have Bronson Health Foundation as one of our 2015 Charity Partners.
We are equally proud to the be the official Volunteer Sponsor for the Bronson Children's Hospital Walk & Run.
Click here to register, create a team, join a team or make a donation today.
|
|
Tell Us How You Use Social Media
We would like to know how you use social media in your personal and business life. Don't worry, we won't ask intrusive questions. Every one who takes our brief survey will be entered into a drawing to win a $5.00 BIGGBY Coffee gift card. 25 lucky survey participants will be awarded gift cards.
TAKE OUR SURVEY
|
|
Be Our Guest Contest
Our Be Our Guest Contest for the 2015-2016 Lake Michigan Mailers Spotlight Series has just ended. We will provide contest winners with their pair of tickets as soon as they are released by Miller Auditorium.
If you would like more information on the Lake Michigan Mailers Spotlight Series, click the logo below:
Top of page
|
|
Lake Michigan Mailers, Inc.
3777 Sky King Blvd Kalamazoo, Michigan 49009
South Bend, Indiana 46628 |
|
|
