September 3, 2025

USPS Changes Have Arrived — Here’s How Lahlouh Is Helping Clients Adapt and Thrive

As of July 13, 2025, major USPS changes are now active — and if you send Marketing Mail or First-Class Mail, you've probably already felt the effects.

The new rules are driving substantial changes — from postage costs to mailpiece design standards — and they’ve already caught some businesses off guard.

But for our clients at Lahlouh, these changes were no surprise — and more importantly, they haven’t been a disruption.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through:

What changed on July 13th, and how it’s affecting campaigns
What’s at risk if you don’t adapt quickly
How Lahlouh has already helped clients mitigate the impact
Opportunities to reduce costs through USPS promotions
What you should be planning for next in 2026

USPS 2025 Changes: The Key Updates You Need to Know

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Here’s a refresher on what’s now in effect:

Postage Rate Increases

Direct mail across all classes has gotten more expensive. For example:

Marketing Mail Flats increased from $0.91 to $1.05
Marketing Mail Letters went from $0.32 to $0.37

Elimination of NDC Entry Discounts

Mailings that previously benefited from Network Distribution Center (NDC) discounts no longer qualify unless rerouted to Sectional Center Facilities (SCFs) or commingled.

Strict Format Compliance

Mailpiece designs that don’t meet USPS regulations — fold direction, tabbing, aspect ratio, or thickness — now face significant surcharges or classification changes. Even a slight deviation could bump your piece into a higher-cost category.

New USPS Promotions Rolled Out

Multiple promotional discounts are now live, offering up to 6% in savings for qualifying mailings, but only if you're registered and compliant.

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What We’re Seeing Now: Early Impacts

Many businesses are discovering the cost of inaction:

Mailpieces that used to qualify as letters are now billed at flat rates due to minor sizing issues.
Missed promotion registrations have left thousands of dollars in potential savings on the table.
Delivery timelines have been disrupted by improper logistics planning or failure to pivot from NDC to SCF drop shipping.

How Lahlouh Clients Are Staying Ahead

At Lahlouh, we’ve been preparing for these USPS changes for months — and we’ve already helped our clients transition their direct mail strategies smoothly.

Here’s how we’re supporting marketers right now:

1. Ensuring Format and Design Compliance

We’ve updated our design standards to align with USPS's new rules. For every campaign, we:

Review fold direction, tabbing, and aspect ratios
Monitor thickness thresholds
Certify mailpieces before production to avoid surprise surcharges

2. Optimizing Logistics for Cost and Speed

Since NDC discounts were eliminated, we’ve shifted clients to:

SCF drop shipping strategies
Commingling programs to access deeper automation discounts
Hybrid delivery models that balance cost and in-home timing

3. Registering for USPS Promotions

We support clients through the USPS promotion process to help unlock available discounts like:

Informed Delivery (4%)
Tactile/Sensory/Interactive Mail (up to 6%)
Integrated Technology (3%)
Continuous Contact (3%)
First-Class Advertising (3%)

Most of these are stackable with add-ons, giving clients even more bang for their buck.

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4. Focusing on ROI, Not Just Budget

Our strategy isn’t just about minimizing postage — it’s about maximizing campaign impact. By integrating print and digital, improving targeting, and continuously testing offers, we help our clients get more from every dollar spent.

Your USPS Promo Cheat Sheet: What’s Eligible Now (and How to Maximize It)

One of the most overlooked ways to offset postage increases? USPS marketing promotions. These incentives aren’t just fluff — they’re real, tangible discounts you can apply to qualifying campaigns.

Here’s a quick look at the major promotions that are currently active or upcoming in 2025, plus how Lahlouh helps you take advantage of them.

USPS 2025 Promotions at a Glance

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Bonus Add-Ons
Stack up to 2% in additional savings when you incorporate:

Informed Delivery: a clickable digital preview of your mailpiece
Sustainability Practices: using FSC or SFI-certified paper stock

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At Lahlouh, we help clients not only design mail that qualifies, but also plan ahead to stack these savings across multiple drops.

Qualifying Elements Include:

Augmented or Virtual Reality experiences
NFC and Mobile Shopping integrations
Scented paper, specialty inks, or textured finishes
Interactive elements like peel-and-reveal or scratch-offs
Follow-up mailings as part of a larger campaign flow

Don’t forget! Registration is required. All promotions require you to register through the USPS Mailing Promotions Portal before you mail. That means planning ahead — and getting your designs and campaign elements approved in time.

Did You Miss the USPS Changes? There’s Still Time to Adapt

Even if your business didn’t prepare for the changes in advance, it’s not too late. Here’s what you should do next (and what Lahlouh can help with immediately):

Audit your current mailpiece formats for compliance
Review your logistics plan — are you missing SCF opportunities?
Check if your mailings qualify for any USPS promos still open
Estimate your new postage costs — we can help project and budget
Get certified for future campaigns to avoid further surcharges
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What’s Coming in 2026? Even Bigger Changes

The next big wave of updates is expected in January 2026, including:

Zoned pricing for Marketing Mail, based on delivery distances (Zones A–D)
Major classification changes that may impact design and cost
A possible shift to just one annual rate increase, depending on regulatory approval

The smarter your planning is now, the smoother your 2026 will go.

Let’s Make Sure You’re Not Losing Time, Money, or Momentum

Whether you're already feeling the effects of the USPS changes or just realizing the implications, we’re here to help you adapt quickly and effectively.

Here’s what you’ll get when you work with Lahlouh:

Expert format design that meets all USPS guidelines
Fully managed logistics and drop shipping strategy
Campaign planning focused on results and savings

Don’t let unexpected postage costs or compliance issues derail your marketing.

Let’s work together to make your direct mail as efficient and effective as possible.

Schedule your free USPS impact review today:
Contact the Lahlouh team

FAQs

Has the USPS rate increase already taken effect?

Yes — rate changes went live on July 13, 2025. Most mail classes have seen increases, especially Marketing Mail.

What if I missed registration for USPS promotions?

Some promotions are still open or recurring throughout the year. We’ll help you check eligibility and handle registration if there’s still time.

I didn’t update my designs — am I being overcharged?

You might be. If your mailpiece doesn’t comply with the new specs, USPS may be classifying it differently and charging higher rates. We’ll review and redesign if needed.