Finally have My Study Model Studio Ready To Go.....thanks to you guys

[forthem]

I posted a few weeks ago and now have everything set to go with expanding my study model studio. With the exception of the BRM which I have concluded is my incompetent local post office not knowing basics of what they do. Thanks so much to the advice from so many on this site , it helped more than you could every know. Check me out Great Bridge Study Model Studio - Home. Critique me, the good bad and ugly. It is a work in progress and with the help of a few good people is moving forward. I am switching things around daily and am try to make it better. I welcome any advice on how to get more business. I do finished study models for 26.00 down to rough for 16.00 as well as pay shipping both ways. This is my first attempt at doing non-local since it seems to be more as cost/time affective as riding around burning gas locally. I hope so anyway.

[TheLabGuy]

Awesome, you go girl, tear it up.....Hey, love the website, way to make it simple but eloquent. Now it's time to market yourself, hit the road and phone, don't leave anyone out and contact them all, your doing it. This is great stuff!!!!!

[forthem]

Thanks so much. Shows what you can do on a budget of zero.

[Al.]

Nice website and models. I didnt know there was a market for that.
How much working time do you have in the premium models?

[labdude]

Hi forthem,
Very busy here. I printed out your shipping label. I'll bring it up to our P.O. and see what Buddy says. These P.O. folks sometimes.....
Web site looks great. I'll pm a possible client. If they don't need you now, maybe in the future. I'll let you know of any I can find for SM work.
Great starting prices as well. Future...hopefully not to far away...an increase wouldn't be out of line.

[forthem]

Originally Posted by labdude

Hi forthem,
Very busy here. I printed out your shipping label. I'll bring it up to our P.O. and see what Buddy says. These P.O. folks sometimes.....
Web site looks great. I'll pm a possible client. If they don't need you now, maybe in the future. I'll let you know of any I can find for SM work.
Great starting prices as well. Future...hopefully not to far away...an increase wouldn't be out of line.

Thanks, My post office said that absolutely no way would I be able to use a business reply mail label for anything but post cards and small envelopes. So I got a merchandise return permit, which after mailing out labels and being aproved they called days later telling me I needed to put 530.00 in the account and that the rules had changed months earlier and they were just now finding out about it. I specifically asked about that before paying the fee, which they said no deposit was need. I ended up getting a refund. I'm sure it will be less appealing not to have shipping labels with out a phone call or an e-mail. I still think the BRM is what I need and do not see where it says I cant use it for small packages.

[forthem]

Originally Posted by Al.

Nice website and models. I didn't know there was a market for that.
How much working time do you have in the premium models?

Hope I'm answering you correctly. I've been doing them off and on for 8 years or so. Had a military family and moved way too much to do anything so stopped for a few years. Now circumstances have me planted in one spot and I now have all the time I need to dedicate to it. Works perfect with my situation, if of course I get plenty of work.

[trisha]

Congratulations on getting the ball roll'n! I wish you the best, it sure beats the heck out of punch'n a time clock.
I really like your website. Just an FYI in the heading gurantee should be guarantee, not nit pic'n just knew you'd wanna make the change. I am no English major!
I often get request for SM, if you have some business cards and want to mail me a few I will give you my address via private message if you are interested.

trisha

[forthem]

Thanks for the spell check, I am the WORST when it comes to spelling. I will take any feedback especially when it helps improve. I will definitely send you some cards if you can PM me your address. Thanks for taking the time to check things out for me.

I really appreciate everyone on here and the feedback that I get.
April

[partyteeth]

Welcome forthem! Your website is right -to-the-point, I like it. If you are still having problems with BRM-you are not alone. I've switched to UPS-I print a return shipment label with each box of work completed. I found BRM was too slow. I've also added study models to my menu-used to do them back in high school and have been looking to supplement my business in different ways.Keeps it from getting boring!! Are you using a wet or dry trimming system? If you get too busy with models, I can help you out-just contact me@ indenturedortho.com Best of luck and congratulations on your new adventure! cathy

[labdude]

Here's more info on the BRM to print out and bring to your post office. Highlighted and underlined is the thing you will be doing, for their pea brains to try to understand. This is just incredible. You can go online and see the complete DMM guide for yourself. Go to usps.com. Look under business. Use the search area and type in BRM permit. That will take you to the area that has the stuff below here.
It specifically points out " self mailers". Which are the labels you can either have made, or place on your web site to print out. These guys are just incredibly thick. Now I'm on a mission...this will happen. Buddy is looking into the possiblity of you setting up your BRM online, without having to go to the post office. That is only available at certain post offices however.
We will make this work!
Mike.

Additional Services
Business Reply Mail
Related QSGs 507b, Courtesy Reply Mail (CRM)
507c, Meter Reply Mail (MRM)
Overview For an annual permit fee, a business reply mail (BRM) permit is available for distributing business reply
cards, envelopes, self-mailers, cartons, and labels. BRM allows the permit holder to receive First-Class
Mail and Priority Mail back from customers by paying postage only on the mail returned. The BRM permit
holder guarantees payment of First-Class Mail postage plus a per piece charge for pieces returned by the
USPS (see payment options below). When designing a BRM mailpiece or label, mailers must consult with
their local post office. The piece must conform to a specific format to qualify as BRM, including a unique
ZIP+4 code assigned by the USPS. Proofs for regular BRM should be approved by the USPS before
printing. Proofs for Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) must be approved by the USPS. On page two is
a layout example for a BRM envelope. BRM pieces distributed in automation price mailings are required to
meet automation compatibility standards. BRM templates are available on the Postal Explorer Web site at
pe.usps.com by selecting “Mailpiece Design” in the left frame.
Payment
Options
(507.9.0)
Basic BRM—Annual permit fee of $180.00.

Business Reply Mail Layout Guidelines (507.9.8)
NO POSTAGE
NECESSARY
IF MAILED
IN THE
UNITED STATES
BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 0000 WASHINGTON DC
POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE
JAMES STACK
RUSS GALLERY LTD
476 BROADWAY STE 100
NEW YORK NY 10013-9991
Permit Holder Space: May contain
information such as return address, logos,
distribution codes, and form numbers.
Company Logo: For barcoded
pieces, a company logo is permitted
in the address block if it is placed no
lower than 5/8 inch from the bottom
edge of the mailpiece and does not
interfere with the barcode clear zone.
Business Reply Legend: The
words “BUSINESS REPLY MAIL”
are required above the address
in capital (uppercase) letters.
Immediately below, place the words
“FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO.”
followed by the permit number and
the name of the issuing post office
(city and state) in capital letters.
Facing Identification Mark (FIM): A FIM pattern
(specifically FIM B without barcode or FIM C with
barcode) is required on all BRM postcards and
letter-size mailpieces. The FIM clear zone must
contain no printed matter other than the FIM pattern.
FIM bars must be between 1/2 and 3/4 inch high
and 0.03125 inch (1/32 inch) (± 0.008 inch) wide.
Postage Paid Line: Place the
endorsement “POSTAGE WILL
BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE” (in
capital letters) under the business
reply legend box.
Postage Imprint: “NO POSTAGE
NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES” must appear in
the upper right corner of the mailpiece
and must not extend more than 1-3/4
inches from the right edge.
Barcode Location: The POSTNET or Intelligent Mail barcode may be
located here or in the address block. The barcode must be a
ZIP+4 barcode (delivery point barcodes are not permitted). This area
must be free of any printing other than the barcode. A free camera-ready
barcode positive may be obtained from your local post office.
Horizontal Bars: These bars must be
uniform in length, at least 1 inch long and
1/16 to 3/16 inch thick, and evenly spaced.
The bars may not extend below the
delivery address line, which is located
directly above the line containing the city,
state, and ZIP Code.
Address Format: The
complete address, including
the name of the permit holder
(company or individual), must
be printed on the mailpiece.
Before printing, submit proofs of BRM samples to your
local post office for advice and approval. Take advantage
of this service—it could save you money. Qualified
Business Reply Mail pieces must be approved by the
USPS before printing.
ZIP Code: A unique ZIP+4 code
is assigned to each piece.
Dimensions: Between 3-1/2 by 5 inches
and 6-1/8 by 11-1/2 inches. To qualify for
the card price, cards must be between
3-1/2 by 5 inches and 4-1/4 by 6 inches
and between 0.007 and 0.016 inch thick.
Larger card sizes are mailable, but they
are charged at First-Class Mail letter price.
Ink/Paper Colors and Type Styles:
Not all colors of paper and/or ink and
type styles are compatible with
automated equipment. Contact your
local post office for guidance.
Barcoded pieces measuring more than 4-1/4
inches high or 6 inches long must be at least
0.009 inch thick.

Additional standards apply to QBRM pieces
(507.9.3).

A surcharge is assessed for nonmachinable
letters (101.1.2).
All letter-size reply cards and envelopes (business reply, courtesy reply, and meter reply mail) provided as enclosures in automation
First-Class Mail, Periodicals, and Standard Mail must meet the standards in 201.3.14.