Holiday Shopping Trends Reshape Retail Direct Marketing Efforts During the Pandemic
Before we explore the latest holiday shopping trends, I want to wish our readers and subscribers a safe and healthy holiday season! The holidays are a special time for traditions—decorating, baking, gift giving, and—my favorite tradition—shopping. For my annual shopping trip, I gathered my shopping list, my direct mail and email ads and coupons, and […]
Postal Service Announces 2021 Postage Rates and Promotions
The postal team at IWCO Direct has been fielding lots of questions about what’s happening with the U.S. Postal Service. As we discuss below, the Postal Service continues to deliver for the American public despite the challenges we all have been facing this year. One of the most frequent questions we receive in the fall […]
PRINTING United 2019 Really Was a “Bigger, Better, Bolder” Look at the Possibilities of Print
The first-ever PRINTING United promised to be “bigger,” “better,” and “bolder” than any print industry conference before it—and we think it definitely delivered. Here’s what Color Technical Support Manager Steve Malec thought of the inaugural event […]
Postage Rates and Promotions Come Into Focus for 2020 Budget Planning
It’s that time of year when the budgeting process shifts into high gear, and mailers start asking about what may change in the coming year’s postage rates. The 2020 rate proposal, filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) last week, was mostly in line with what letter mailers had expected […]
PRINT 19 Stresses Role of Direct Mail as a Valued Premium Channel
This fall, those of us who value paper-based communications have more than one different industry show to choose from. Today, let's look at PRINT 19, APTech's last annual event under the PRINT name, and what it revealed about the state and future of print communications [...]
A Busy Mom’s Advice for Marketing to Mothers of Teenagers
I was recently asked, “What are your plans for Mother’s Day?” and had to check my calendar. My oldest, the teenager, has a basketball tournament. The youngest, a pre-teen, has a softball tournament. The tournaments are an hour and a half away from each other. It is going to be another “pick your favorite daughter […]
Tactile Marketing is Coming Up Roses
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.” Romeo and Juliet fans will recognize the original language, which is now often shortened to, “a rose by any other name smells as sweet.” This expression crossed my mind as I read überflip’s ebook, “10 […]
Trust, Equity, and Loyalty: How Integrated Marketing Campaigns Go Beyond a Single Purchase
The Data & Marketing Association (DMA) defines integrated marketing as “an approach to creating a unified and seamless experience for consumers to interact with the brand/enterprise.” They explain that integrated marketing campaigns “meld all aspects of marketing,” from advertising and public relations to sales and social media, to achieve consistent branding and a […]
Mintel Showcases Innovative 2018 Direct Mail Campaigns
Mintel recently released their report “Innovative Direct Mail Campaigns 2018,” which highlights what they describe as “brands that stood out in the mailbox with eye-catching creatives, exclusive invitations, and functional formats.” Throughout the report, we saw how direct mail campaigns are using technology to link recipients to a digital experience and extend the life of […]
With &THEN 2018, It Looks Like DMA Could Finally Be Turning a Corner
Yet another &THEN conference is in the books. We were all curious what this year’s show would bring with the ANA and DMA joining forces. Their mission: growth in data, analytics, and data-driven marketing by connecting marketing solutions and service providers to help marketers improve their decision making and grow their brands. After 17 […]