Question

Topic: Strategy

How To Create A Soft And Fluffy Direct Mailpiece?

Posted by Anonymous on 9/11/2015 at 5:33 PM ET 250 Points
Yes, SOFT and FLUFFY to the touch!

After years of direct mail marketing with postcards and brochures, I want to try something different.
Our business's USP is that in our field of expertise, we have a "gentle touch". So, I thought, if we could produce a direct mail piece that would simulate this "gentle touch", it would help us communicate our brand to the prospects.

So I would like to find out if it is possible to mail a soft fabric postcard, self mailer, or an envelope.

I can't seem to find any information online about printability and mailability of these products.

And, of course, there is a question of cost.

Currently, our cost per piece is about 30 cents for a large 4-panel fold brochure with targeted EDDM.
I would consider a soft cloth postcard or an envelope if I could get it out for under $1.50. I am not sure if that's considered a parcel, but if it is, the mailing costs would be $0.70, leaving $0.80 for printing and fullfilment. That may be too tight a budget.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 9/12/2015 at 11:09 AM Accepted
    How about white velvet gloves … you might then tell people how you go above and beyond yo offer service that's "the white glove" treatment?

    This gets the message across, it keeps the weight down, and the packaging could be a small, bubble wrap style envelope, which in turn would keep your mailing costs to a minimum.

    Another option might be a soft towel of some kind, one of those antistatic dust cloths (which you might be able to print on). One of the best examples of this I've seen is a freezer cold pack that does double duty as a hot pack (it's microwavable). It's from a chiropractor. I've had it for five years and use it weekly as a cold pack for my lunch bag.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 9/12/2015 at 12:45 PM Accepted
    Here's one: https://www.printablepromotions.com/pl/Ultra-Fiber-Cloth-Postcard-Mailer-wi... (they have other printable cleaning cloths, if that could work for you).
  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 9/13/2015 at 2:16 AM Accepted
    two words: Felt Envelopes

    (Google for suppliers)
  • Posted by dalcid on 9/14/2015 at 11:20 AM Accepted
    15-20 years ago, I sent dm campaigns (parcel and postcard) with fuzzy exteriors via USPS - everything from troll hair glue-ons to felt and velvet exteriors...

    many did not survive the USPS sorting machines, and then others got damaged/ruined from weather, and of course others just did not reach their destination at all. You need to work with your vendor to make sure the delivery part of it does not derail the creative part of it. If anything, I would package the item (yes, I know it can get expensive) to make sure the item gets delivered intact.

    Now, here's an idea: I have seen many hilarious (read: effective) memes and such where the message asks the viewer to blow on the screen or touch the screen for 5 seconds... and then all of a sudden the screen changes to something funny that "looks like" the blowing on the screen could have affected it (ex. footage of a hurricane) or that stroking your monitor could have done something (ex. video of a genie coming out of a bottle/lamp). now apply this to your concept - i think it can happen. i can't speak for cost since I don't know your quantity; but sending a postcard with a URL, and then the creation of the fun destination web page might be price competitive.

    so, that's my contribution - but deffo get all of your info about what can and what cannot be processed through USPS (or whatever mail carrier you are using) because non-standard parcels can get ruined very easily.

  • Posted by Shelley Ryan on 11/9/2015 at 5:38 PM Moderator
    Hi Everyone,

    I am closing this question since there hasn't been much recent activity.

    Thanks for participating!

    Shelley
    MarketingProfs
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