7 Reasons to Go to NPF this Year

Tuesday, Jun 28th 2022

Here at Satori we’re getting excited for the National Postal Forum. It’s the biggest show for the mailing industry, and we have some fun things planned.

If you’ve been in the mailing industry for any length of time, you’ve probably heard of NPF, and perhaps you’ve attended in the past. With tight budgets it can be hard to justify the cost to travel to a conference. But in the world of mailing conferences, NPF has a huge benefit no matter what you’re looking for. Here are some reasons to consider NPF this year:

  1. Educational sessions
    Call me a nerd, but attending the workshops is my favorite part about NPF. Each year there are over 100 topics to choose from. Even if you’ve attended NPF in the past, there are always new sessions to check out. The topics cover all aspects of our industry, from data analytics to mail piece design to management. I’ve printed this year’s schedule and there really is something for everyone. During some workshop periods there will be ten sessions going at once! Many of the topics are new this year, so you’ll be able to up your mailing game with the latest information from the experts. We’ll have Bob Schimek there presenting From Mail.dat to the Scorecard and Mail Preparation Changes: Impacts on Production and Price Eligibility. I’ll be there as well, talking about Hot Topics in Addressing: An Industry Perspective, and co-presenting Transitioning to Full Service Made Easy with USPS.
  2. The Exhibit Hall
    Talking with your vendors is a crucial part of keeping your business up to date. It’s very likely that most of your current vendors will be there. You can learn about new opportunities and services, see what other avenues are available to explore, and have a chance to stretch your legs a bit. Satori Software will have our mailing specialists on hand in Booth 100, available to show you our solutions and talk about how we can help your business. If you enter the exhibit hall through the left door, you won’t miss us – stop by to see something new!
  3. Networking
    My next favorite part of NPF is all the social connections you can make. A five-minute conversation in the hall can be just as valuable as a full hour workshop. There are so many people in the industry doing interesting things, it’s hard to keep track of it all. Everyone I’ve met at NPF has been very open in sharing their experiences and you can learn so much over the course of a lunch break.
  4. USPS Executive Keynotes
    Here you can hear right from the source where USPS thinks they are headed. These sessions are usually very fun, but if you listen closely you can get a sense for where the postal service is shifting their focus. You can then use this knowledge to set your own company strategy and programs.
  5. Certifications and Certificates
    You can codify all your new knowledge at NPF with a certification or certificate. There are three certifications available this year: Mailpiece Design Professional (MDP), Executive Mail Center Manager (EMCM) and Certified Direct Mail Professional (CDMP). These are great certifications to help boost your resume. If you can’t attend one of these classes, you can still get an NPF certificate for attending any of the educational workshops. The level of your certificate is based on the number of workshops you attend: 8 for Bronze, 11 for Silver, 14 for Gold and 17 for Platinum. This will show your boss how hard you worked at the convention.
  6. Talk with the experts
    All the names in the mailing industry will be at NPF. In addition to talking with experts at educational sessions and on the Expo floor, USPS will also have a consultation center to help walk you through any areas you might be struggling with, from delivery to the Mailer Scorecard. If you’re not sure who to talk to, stop by our booth first. We can help navigate the list of USPS experts to help find you the right person to answer your question, or we might be able to help without leaving the booth. We’re also booking meetings with anyone who wants to dive deeper, so if you have a topic you’d like to discuss, let us know and we’ll make sure the right people are there to help.
  7. Location, location, location
    Nashville is one of the best places to hold a convention like this. Being almost in the middle of the country, it’s easy to access from just about anywhere. It’s far enough south that any lingering winter weather shouldn’t be an issue, and the atmosphere with the music scene will make the after-hours experience fun. The Gaylord Opryland Hotel has been remodeled since the last NPF, there are still plenty of restaurants and other activities to keep you busy.

Will you be at NPF this year? If so, let us know, and we’ll see you there!