PRINTER news

Print in the Mix Survey Confirms Power of Direct Mail

A September 2008 survey conducted by DMNews/Pitney Bowes validates the claim that targeted direct mail continues to reach consumers and influence their purchase behaviors in a significant way. Some of the findings:

• 85 percent of the survey respondents (1,000 U.S. consumers from 10 major metropolitan areas) say that they review their mail daily.

• Half of all respondents report greater enjoyment reviewing the mail received in their home mailbox vs. e-mail. This includes consumers age 18 to 39, with 52 percent reporting greater satisfaction in reviewing mail received through the USPS compared to e-mail.

• Two-thirds of the consumers surveyed said they are examining their mail more closely for coupons and offers than they did a year ago.

• Half of all respondents say they have requested promotional mate-rials from companies during the past six months. Direct mail is the preferred way to receive offers.

Media Vehicle Used
Preferred Method for Receiving Promotional Materials

Direct mail — 78%
E-mail — 63%
Newspaper Inserts — 52%
Websites — 34%

• Close to 40 percent of respondents say they have tried a new business for the first time because of information received via direct mail. Nearly 70 percent report renewing a relationship with a business because they received a direct mailing or promotional item.

• Nearly 94 percent of consumers surveyed say they took action on promotional offers and coupons received via direct mail over the past year. Coupons offering discounts on groceries are the most likely to be used, followed by coupons for health and wellness products, entertainment and electronics.

To read the complete Print in the Mix research summary and additional print market research studies, go to www.printinthemix.rit.edu. Print in the Mix is a free and easily accessible clearinghouse of research on print media effectiveness, published by the Printing Industry Center at RIT and made possible by a grant from The Print Council (www.theprintcouncil.org).

Caitlyn Laurent has joined Pictorial Offset, Carlstadt, NJ, as its new marketing assistant. She is a recent graduate of Villanova University.

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, has launched an interactive Website—www.graphcomm4deaf.org—which provides information on graphic communications careers for high school students that are deaf and hard of hearing. Funding was provided through a three-year grant from the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation.

Two account executives have joined the sales team at Smith Litho, Rockville, MD. Eric Schissel is now covering the Northeast region, and Michael Mason, the Mid-Atlantic region.

At Fry Communications, Mechanicsburg, PA, Stephen Jared has been promoted to director of sales, directory services sales group.

St. Paul, MN-based Impressions Inc. has named Melissa Munce the new controller. Mike Replinger has been hired as a packaging sales representative covering the West Coast.

Two new customer service representatives have been hired at Evergreen Printing, Bellmawr, NJ. Debi Kendra and Michelle Cooper are now responsible for handling the addition of several new publication customers.

The Print Council announced that Custom Data Imaging, Markham, Ontario; Alcom Printing Group, Harleysville, PA; The P.A. Hutchison Co., Mayfield, PA; and Panaprint Inc., Macon, GA, have joined the print advocacy organization.

At Tukaiz, Franklin Park, IL, Todd Manley has been designated manager of new business and consumer markets. He is supporting the company’s newly launched business-to-consumer venture that offers consumers personalized products such as greeting cards, posters and calendars. PI