The rate increase—the fifth consecutive since the USPS’s 10-year plan implementation—went into effect on Sunday, January 21, 2024, and will replace the rates introduced on July 9 last year.
Industry leader Postal Center International® (PCI®) is proactively supporting businesses in leveraging PCI's comprehensive mail solutions to reduce the impact of the impending increase.
“At PCI, our commitment to client-centric values propels us to consistently deliver innovative solutions and savings strategies to support our clients and prospects. As we prepare for the postage rate increase, we recognize the potential impact on businesses. To this end, our dedicated team is available to provide a complimentary mail assessment aimed at mitigating the effects of the upcoming rate hike as well as enhancing mail delivery results,” said Ismael Diaz, President and CEO of the innovative 40-year-old PCI. “This personalized assessment is designed to identify and pinpoint specific savings opportunities, allowing businesses to optimize their mail and marketing expenditures. We understand the individuality of each business, and as such, we are prepared to work closely with companies to develop customized solutions that align with their unique needs. Our goal is to help our clients meet their business objectives.”
“During the assessment process, PCI's dedicated subject-matter experts undertake a comprehensive and holistic analysis of the client's operational practices. This involves a careful examination of our client’s mail requirements, volumes, and frequency, coupled with considerations of materials and sustainable practices,” said Tom Roberts, PCI’s Senior Vice President of Client Experience.
Roberts said strategies implemented by PCI, including mail commingling, mail presort, and automation of mailing processes, have consistently proven to yield substantial and lasting savings for our clients.
According to its website, the USPS says its rate increases are aimed at reducing the independent federal agency’s operational costs. The rate change request is part of the Postal Service’s plan to achieve financial sustainability and halt a projected $160 billion in losses. The USPS distributes mail nationally, including to protectorates such as the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, as well as internationally.
ABOUT POSTAL CENTER INTERNATIONAL (PCI)
With its roots deeply entrenched in family, Postal Center International (PCI) was started in 1984 by father-and-son entrepreneurs Luis and Arturo Echarte. Four years later, co-founder Susan Echarte joined the operations, which is a leading print, mail, fulfillment, signs, and marketing solutions partner. Led by President & CEO Ismael Diaz since 2006, PCI is renowned as one of the nation’s largest state-of-the-art transactional printing, postal, and mail processing service organizations. The company’s family of brands employs more than 520 associates, with annual sales in excess of $500 million, at its locations in Florida, Texas, and New England, with a footprint totaling more than 500K square feet. PCI delivers exceptional print, mail, signs, fulfillment, promotional, packaging, and marketing solutions for enterprise clients in industries such as banking, financial, healthcare, insurance, hospitality, and government nationwide. PCI is a HIPAA-compliant Certified Minority Owned Diverse Supplier at the state and national levels. It holds multiple security, sustainability, and quality certifications, including HITRUST CSF®, TruSight, FDR, PCI DSS, SOC 2 (Type 2), FSC, SFI, PEFC, and G7.
In September 2023, PCI was selected by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to represent the country’s mail community at the National Postal Customer Council’s Week main event in Boston. Ismael Diaz, after completing his duties as the event’s guest speaker, was recognized with a commemorative US Postal Freedom Stamp, which serves as a poignant symbol celebrating the enduring values and liberties that unite and empower our nation’s citizens.
Also, in 2023, PCI was named South Florida Business Journal’s (SFBJ) Business of the Year Award Winner in the $250 million to $500 million revenue category. That recognition came on the heels of other preeminent SFBJ listings, including #18 on the 2023 Fastest Growing Companies List. We were also recognized with a Sustainability & Green Visionary Award from the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFLHCC) for our dedication to sustainable business practices in our daily operations.