Marketsmith, Inc. - Press Release

Leading provider of on, off-line and mobile direct marketing, customer insight, persona and branding expertise to catalogers, retail, investment, business-to-business, manufacturers and other multichannel marketers, Marketsmith, Inc. has created two postal calculators to assist the direct marketing community with the recalculation of the new higher postage rates that will go into effect in the Spring. Postage increases for average mail will be 5%, standard mail will be 43% and package services is 86%. Postage is an important component involved in budgeting for a campaign. The postage increase will naturally effect the demand required for a page/list/mailing to break even.

Both calculators, the Piece Rate Calculator and the Piece/Pound Rate Calculator provide the mailer with vital information required to maximize the profitability of his/her catalog and/or other mailing pieces by computing the effect of higher postage, thus redefining the demand required for a page/list/mailing to breakeven. These simplification tools incorporate two additional presort levels: ADC (added to the current Mixed ADC) and the current 3/5 digit level, which will be split into 3 and 5 digits. Marketsmith also provides a Circulation and Pre-Sort Level Chart to be used in conjunction with the calculators. Both calculators enable the mailer to arrive at the overall impact the postal increase will have on his/her next year's and future budgets. The calculators may be accessed by going to www.marketsmithinc.com/postal_calculator.php.

"Knowing your mailing cost is essential in budgeting and setting demand. You cannot accurately arrive at your break even without factoring in postal spend. My team created the Piece/Pound Rate Calculator and the Piece Rate Calculator for our clients and expanded its availability to visitors to our website to help counter the unpredictability which usually accompanies increased rates. By using our calculators, you can confidently plan and budget for your mailing. Last year, we created and trademarked our MSI Breakeven Calculator—a highly utilized tool, made available on our website. Once you arrive at the number outputted by the Postage Calculator, you can add it to the other costs associated with the catalog, such as paper, printing, creative, etc. and enter it into our Breakeven Calculator—your end number will be your break even. As a team, we are committed to breaking new ground, raising the bar and simply making life easier and more efficient for our clients." stated Monica C. Smith, President and CEO Marketsmith.