phenix_007
09-25-2002, 11:06 AM
I have a great idea for a post card mailing campaign. I'm the techology director at a medium sized print company here in Pittsburgh, PA. We've recent began the procress to purchase what's know as a digital printing press. There's a lot of totally meaningless information I could tell you about the press, but I cut it out and get to the good stuff. With this press we can do what's known as variable data printing. In other words, we can talk a database file and totally costumize a print job. Its more than just the old fashion mail merge, with this we can even change the graphics and some of the layout of the pieces being printed. And this is a 4 color off set print job, not some toner based job.
The idea I had was to create a page where fans could go, select a card layout they like, maybe select what characters they want one it and then either select a standard message or type they own message on it. Then they would also be able to select from a list of who all they want to send a copy of this card out to. Every few days we can print these cards out with each fans information and letter and send them off. The only reason I'm saying every few days is that we have to have a 500 mail piece min to get the bulk rate discounts, then of course where they are going determines the end price for mailing.
This would be an easy way for fans to send out as many post cards they wanted, and they'd all be professional printed on a 4 color off set press. Just another way to prove to the execs at the various firms that we fans mean business. (Of course I'm a fan too!)
Cost wise we could do this fairly cheap, actually cost would be $3 or $4 per sheet, with the additional cost of cutting and mail sorting. Potage should be very cheap, since they will be so many all going to the same zip codes. Another decision would be what size to make them. Around a 5x8 is a nice size, but you can only fit 4 up on a sheet and postage would be a little more. Anything between 3.5" x 5" to 4 1/4" x 6" would count as post card rates. In the fee that would be charged, we would cover the cost a postage as well.
The only questions we have is over trade marks infringements using "offical" logos and character images.
Another side benefit to this, is we are being back by HP for the use of this new technology. If we can pull this mail campaign off, then we will also get additional press coverage in the various print industry magazines about how we did and what the cause was for.
The idea I had was to create a page where fans could go, select a card layout they like, maybe select what characters they want one it and then either select a standard message or type they own message on it. Then they would also be able to select from a list of who all they want to send a copy of this card out to. Every few days we can print these cards out with each fans information and letter and send them off. The only reason I'm saying every few days is that we have to have a 500 mail piece min to get the bulk rate discounts, then of course where they are going determines the end price for mailing.
This would be an easy way for fans to send out as many post cards they wanted, and they'd all be professional printed on a 4 color off set press. Just another way to prove to the execs at the various firms that we fans mean business. (Of course I'm a fan too!)
Cost wise we could do this fairly cheap, actually cost would be $3 or $4 per sheet, with the additional cost of cutting and mail sorting. Potage should be very cheap, since they will be so many all going to the same zip codes. Another decision would be what size to make them. Around a 5x8 is a nice size, but you can only fit 4 up on a sheet and postage would be a little more. Anything between 3.5" x 5" to 4 1/4" x 6" would count as post card rates. In the fee that would be charged, we would cover the cost a postage as well.
The only questions we have is over trade marks infringements using "offical" logos and character images.
Another side benefit to this, is we are being back by HP for the use of this new technology. If we can pull this mail campaign off, then we will also get additional press coverage in the various print industry magazines about how we did and what the cause was for.