Catalogs continue to strengthen the relationship between print and digital marketing. Whether it’s the nostalgia of flipping through a superstore holiday toy book or the novelty of new e-commerce seasonal gift guides, catalogs continue to spark joy and drive action across generations. Shoppers engage with them at the kitchen table, dog-ear pages, and circle wish list items, but just as importantly, consumers are also guided seamlessly to digital storefronts through QR codes, links, and special offers. That’s why the USPS Catalog Insights Promotion is timely for marketers preparing for the 2025 holiday season.
How Catalogs Amplify Digital Marketing
Printed catalogs aren’t just about nostalgia. They are powerful drivers of multichannel engagement:
- QR Codes Drive Online Action: Many brands integrate QR codes, linking catalog pages directly to e-commerce listings, promotions, or sweepstakes.
- Special Offers Build Loyalty: Exclusive catalog coupons or app-connected deals increase both engagement and retention.
- Physical Touch Creates Impact: At a time when the majority of consumers feel overwhelmed by digital ads, catalogs cut through the clutter and deliver an experience people remember.
- Better ROI Across Channels: Direct mail, including catalogs, boosts response rates in multichannel campaigns, making every dollar work harder.
What is the USPS Catalog Insights Promotion?
The USPS’s Catalog Insights Promotion is the largest-ever postal promotion for catalog mailers. This new program offers an opportunity to get your products in front of buyers in a tangible way, with a printed piece that they can peruse at their convenience. Running from October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the program provides a 10% discount on eligible catalog mailings.
To qualify, catalogs must:
- Be a bound mailpiece with at least 12 pages.
- Provide an organized listing of products or services offered for sale.
- Include images, photographs or illustrations of the products or services, descriptive details, fulfillment information and prices.
- Contain enough information to allow an order to be placed (Order forms, phone numbers, web addresses, or the means to access a web address).
- Enable fulfillment options for the products or services offered for sale.
- No Minimums! Mailers can send any volume and still qualify.
A catalog mailpiece may be letter-shaped, flat-shaped or parcel-shaped, mailed at USPS Marketing Mail or Bound Printed Matter rates.
Add-On Savings to Maximize ROI
Marketers can increase their savings even further by pairing the Catalog Insights Promotion with USPS add-ons
- Informed Delivery® (+1%): Add a digital preview of your catalog in recipients’ daily USPS email digest with a clickable link and receive an additional 5% incentive added for eDoc submission.
- Sustainability (+1%): Demonstrate that your catalog is printed on certified sustainable paper, like Domtar’s SFI® and FSC® options.
Combined, these add-ons can push your postage savings beyond 12%, making catalogs one of the most cost-effective channels in your holiday mix.
How to Take Advantage of the USPS Catalogs Promotion
- Design an Eligible Catalog: Minimum 12 pages, bound, with clear product or service listings.
- Submit for Pre-Approval: Upload a digital sample (front cover + 6 pages) via the Mailing Promotions Portal.
- Register: Enroll in the program through the USPS Business Customer Gateway.
- Mail & Save: Once approved, submit your mailing and claim the CCR code CT for your 10% discount.
With the holiday season approaching, now is the perfect time to refresh your catalog strategy. Pair print with digital channels, integrate QR codes or app-based offers, and take advantage of USPS’s Catalog Insights Promotion to reduce costs while boosting impact.
At Domtar, we believe the printed catalog remains one of the most powerful tools to connect with your customers — and now, thanks to USPS, it’s also one of the smartest investments you can make heading into the busiest shopping season of the year.
Call to Action: Ready to take advantage of the USPS Catalog Insights Promotion? Visit the USPS Mailing Promotions Portal to register and start saving today.
