To Tab or Not to Tab Slim Jims
Don Landis, VP, Postal Affairs
September 8 is quickly approaching and you know what that means…the USPS will require 3 tabs on all letter-size booklets, or “slim jims.” When these regulations take effect, catalogers mailing slim jims under the letter-size postage rate must transition from 2 tabs to 3 non-perforated tabs. (Click here for additional information about the new tabbing specifications.) The industry is well aware of the requirements and testing has been taking place and will continue to determine if the 3-tab requirement reduces slim jim response rates.
Arandell Corporation is prepared for the new letter-size booklet regulations and has been heavily involved in testing 3 tabs versus 2 tabs for our customers. [Although we are not currently equipped to tab the oblong digest format (which is only one type of tabbed Letter-Size mail), to meet the new regulations, if we do see a come-back in demand for it, we will certainly reconsider investing in that technology. To clarify, an oblong digest is a digest catalog that stitches on the short side.]