In brief: Losses deepened at the U.S. Postal Service in the first quarter of FY 2026. Severe winter storms have tightened freight capacity across multiple U.S. states, and a threat to delay the opening of an important new bridge connecting Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, is injecting additional uncertainty into the logistics industry. Paper companies continue to raise prices amid production declines, while paper availability is also being affected by winter storms. Tariffs under the Trump administration continue to evolve following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision invalidating the administration’s emergency tariffs.

A Swedish furniture and home decor giant is celebrating a key milestone with nine months of promotions. Ikea U.S. is launching a 40-week long customer appreciation campaign in celebration of its 40th anniversary. Now through June 29, customers can take advantage of exclusive product offers, gift card giveaways, limited-edition Ikea apparel, and special in-store events. "Since opening our first U.S. store in 1985, we've grown and adapted to meet the evolving needs of our customers," said Jordi Esquinas Gimenez, chief commercial officer at IKEA U.S. "What remains constant is our commitment to making well-designed, high-quality home furnishings affordable and accessible. This campaign is our way of celebrating our customers – thanking them for 40 years of trust and looking ahead to what we can build together in the future."

Your customer’s direct mail is not effective if their recipients don’t read it. The first thing that direct mail needs to do is get noticed. This can be a real challenge. Direct mail is a very effective tool when done correctly. Do you help your customers stand out? The golden rule is list, design, and offer, generally in that order. However, if you stop to think about it, there is a reason for the golden rule. You need to help your customers send mail to the people who want it. Here are 5 ideas to get your direct mail campaign noticed: 1. Variable data messaging: Target the message to the individual or to grouped personas. 2. Use color envelopes: Color is inviting and not used often enough. 3. Use stamps: Many direct mail pieces use indicia’s for postage. 4. Use larger pieces: They can use up to a 6 x 10.5 self-mailer or a 6.125 x 11.5 postcard and still pay the lower letter size postage rate. 5. Add fun taglines: Get recipients excited about what they are going to find in the envelope.