If your mailing list includes 24,990 names, and your direct mail package consists of a letter, brochure, reply card and outer envelope, you should order a quantity of 25,000 of each of the printed pieces… right?
Wrong! That may not be enough to allow for spoilage, and you may end up being unable to mail to all the people on your list.
At each step of the way through printing, collation, insertion and mailing, there will be a certain amount of waste – a normal part of setting up and running each piece of equipment. When ordering printing with a firm number in mind, it’s a good idea to order a quantity around 10 to 20% more than you anticipate needing. If you would like to have samples on hand, for self promotion, for example, make an allowance for those too.
It is always safest to specify that an under-run from your mailing list quantity will not be acceptable, so that your printer can advise how many pieces will be required to complete your mailing.
Leave a Reply