If you run a small business in Ireland that ships physical products, you've likely seen the recent announcement from An Post about stamp and postage price increases coming into effect on Tuesday, 3rd February 2026. For businesses like ours that rely on posting orders to customers across Ireland and beyond, these changes have a real impact on day-to-day operations.
Here's what's changing, how it affects small businesses, and what we're doing to manage the increase while continuing to deliver the same quality service you expect.
What's Changing with An Post Prices
From 3rd February 2026, An Post is implementing price increases across its letter and parcel services:
- National stamp: Increasing by 20c from €1.65 to €1.85
- Europe & Britain stamp: New €3.50 rate (an increase of 85c)
- Rest of World stamp: New €3.95 rate
- Large envelopes, packets, parcels, and Registered Post: Also increasing
For small businesses that send personalised products, greeting cards, prints, and keepsakes — both within Ireland and internationally — these increases affect nearly every order that goes out the door.
Why the Increase Is Happening
An Post has been transparent about the reasons behind the price rise. Letter volumes have declined by 7% in the last 12 months alone, and more than 50% over the past decade. International letters have fallen by 38% over the last three years.
At the same time, costs are rising — wage increases for postal staff, operating expenses, and the investment required to maintain next-day delivery to every address in Ireland at a uniform price.
Unlike many European countries that have reduced letter delivery to once or twice a week or moved to mailbox-only delivery, An Post is committed to maintaining door-to-door, next-day service across the country. That level of service comes at a cost, especially as volumes decline.
Why This Matters for Small Irish Businesses
Unlike large retailers with negotiated bulk rates or their own logistics networks, small businesses typically pay standard An Post rates. We don't have the volume to negotiate discounts, and we can't justify setting up our own delivery infrastructure.
For businesses that offer free or low-cost shipping to stay competitive, absorbing these increases means tighter margins. For those that pass costs on to customers, there's the risk of cart abandonment or losing sales to competitors with cheaper delivery options.
It's a difficult balance — especially for businesses that pride themselves on fast, reliable Irish delivery and eco-friendly local posting.
The Knock-On Effects for Small Businesses
Pricing Pressure
When postage costs rise by 20c per letter or 85c for European mail, small businesses face a choice: absorb the cost and reduce profit margins, or increase prices and risk losing price-sensitive customers. Neither option is ideal, particularly in a competitive online market.
International Shipping Becomes More Expensive
The new €3.50 rate for Europe and Britain, and €3.95 for the rest of the world, makes international shipping significantly more expensive. For businesses that ship to the UK or EU regularly, this creates a real challenge in staying competitive with sellers based in those markets.
Shipping Thresholds May Need to Adjust
Many businesses offer free shipping over a certain order value. With higher postage costs, those thresholds may need to increase, which can affect conversion rates and average order values.
Packaging and Sustainability
Some businesses may be tempted to cut costs by switching to lighter or cheaper packaging. But for premium brands focused on sustainability and presentation, compromising on packaging quality isn't an option.
What We're Doing at Printarelle
As a small Irish business that handmakes and posts personalised foil prints and keepsakes, we're feeling the impact of these price increases too. Here's how we're managing it:
Maintaining Quality
We're not cutting corners on packaging or presentation. Every order still goes out in eco-friendly, protective packaging that reflects the care we put into making each piece.
Absorbing Where We Can
For now, we're absorbing some of the increased postage costs to keep our pricing stable for customers. It's not sustainable long-term, but we're committed to making it work while we explore other options.
Being Transparent
We believe in being honest with our customers. If shipping costs do need to adjust in the future, we'll communicate clearly and explain why.
Supporting An Post's Commitment to Sustainability
While the price increase is challenging, we appreciate An Post's investment in sustainability. They've achieved a 50% reduction in carbon emissions ahead of target, with electric vehicles now accounting for more than 50% of their delivery fleet. As a business committed to eco-friendly practices, we value having a postal service that shares those priorities.
The Bigger Picture: Ireland Still Offers Good Value
It's worth noting that even with the increase, Ireland's €1.85 national stamp remains below the EU14 + Britain benchmark of €2.04 for domestic next-day letter service. An Post is also maintaining services that many European countries have scaled back — next-day delivery, door-to-door service, and uniform pricing nationwide.
That's something worth protecting, even if it means higher costs.
Why Supporting Small Irish Businesses Matters More Than Ever
When you choose to buy from a small Irish business, you're supporting local jobs, local craftsmanship, and local economies. You're also choosing businesses that care deeply about quality, customer service, and doing things the right way — even when it costs more.
Rising postage costs are just one of many challenges small businesses face, but they're challenges we're willing to navigate because we love what we do and the customers we serve.
Every order we post is packed with care, made by hand in Ireland, and sent with the hope that it brings a little joy to someone's day. That's worth protecting, even when the costs go up.
What You Can Do to Help
If you want to support small Irish businesses during this time:
Shop local when you can. Choosing Irish-made products helps keep money in the local economy and supports jobs here at home.
Understand that prices may need to adjust. Small businesses aren't raising prices to increase profits — they're doing it to survive and continue offering quality products and service.
Leave reviews and share your experiences. Word of mouth and positive reviews help small businesses compete with larger retailers who have bigger marketing budgets.
Be patient with delivery times. Small businesses often rely on An Post's standard services rather than premium express options. A few extra days in transit helps keep costs manageable.
Final Thought from Printarelle.
An Post's price increases are a reality for small businesses across Ireland. While they create challenges, they also remind us why supporting local matters.
At Printarelle, we're committed to continuing what we do best: creating beautiful, personalised keepsakes that mark life's special moments. We'll keep posting them with care, using sustainable packaging, and delivering the quality you've come to expect — even if it costs a little more to do so.
Thank you for supporting small Irish businesses. It makes all the difference.
