March / April 2025 Edition of MBC Today

 

The March / April 2025 edition of MBC Today (Volume 27 Issue 2) just dropped. AMBC Members and AMBC Trusted Suppliers have access to the full version and the preview version is available to anyone to see at https://ambc4me.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MBC-Today-Volume-27-Issue-2-Preview-Version.pdf.

Thank you to all who contributed to this issue of the retail print, mailbox, packing, shipping, and business center industry's leading publication, keeping both independent and franchise stores across the country up to date, in the loop, and networked together. It's a privilege to produce and edit this publication, but it's because of your hard work that it has such rich content.

I'll share my Letter From the Editor below. Enjoy!

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Dear Readers,

Welcome to the March / April 2025 edition of MBC Today! I'm very excited about this issue and the extraordinary content we have for you to devour.

The most recent AMBC event in Pensacola, Diversify to Fly in 2025, was a huge success. It was one of the very few AMBC events I've missed in my long career in this industry and, let me tell you, the FOMO is real! I was so engaged reading Crysta's wrap-up article that's featured in this issue and am looking forward to seeing my AMBC friends and family again soon at future events, including what looks to be a great Mile High Marketing Summit hosted by AMBC in September in Colorado.

Tommy's article, Let's Talk Numbers, is very informative. Thank you to all of the stores who willingly shared data so that an important industry study could be done and individuals can see where they compare in sales, pricing, margins, and even store size.

I'm thrilled that AMBC is featuring Sydni and Wil in the AMBC Members Spotlight in this issue. It's been my sincere pleasure to get to know them on monthly coaching calls this past year and they are truly killing it at their business. Their ambition, clarity of direction, ultra professionalism in communication, and extremely sharp marketing prowess in utilizing both analog and digital means to reach their clientele through relationship building is so inspiring. I continue to learn from them and consider them to be amazing mentors. They consistently give back in the AMBC Members Facebook Group and have even hosted a free marketing webinar, open to all AMBC Members and AYM High Soarers. I hope you can get to know this power couple better through their feature in this issue.

The article on lithium batteries has been a while in the making, and I must express deep gratitude to all of our friends and colleagues who helped with the research. The advice in it is intended to be conservative and on the safe side, as when it comes to anything hazardous or classified as dangerous goods, it's imperative that shipping stores do not take risks that aren't worth taking. We hope the infographic that's available to download will be a useful guide for AMBC Members and MBC Today readers.

Finally, thank you to Norman for his excellent article and to all of the other contributors who have made this another great edition of MBC Today. This magazine is for AMBC Members and by AMBC Members, so we hope to hear from each and every one of you when you have an idea to share.

With gratitude and care,

Marty Johnson (he/him)

Columnist | Ask Uncle Marty™
Editor & Producer | MBC Today
Founder | Uncle Marty's Shipping Office
Communication & Vision Coach | AYM High Consultants
Co-Host | To-Be-Announced Podcast Launching Soon(ish)
askunclemarty.com · @askunclemarty · #AskUncleMarty