Direct Mail
          by Trisha Vendetti, www.lsvinc.biz

Effectively target your customers with a Direct Mail campaign. A Direct Mail piece will make a lasting impression with your existing customers, create awareness for new customers, and reinforce your marketing efforts with a powerful, high quality, direct mail vehicle for reaching desired target markets.

Direct mail programs afford clients the opportunity to spend their time more effectively on their core competencies.

Your market changes constantly. New families move into your business area every day. People earn more money, which means changes in lifestyles and buying habits. The shopper who wouldn't consider your business a few years ago may be a prime customer now. Remember...approximately 20% of families will move this year.  Millions of people will be married and babies will be born.  Be the First to Reach the New Mover, New Mother, Father, Grandparent or Newlywed.

Shoppers don't have the store loyalty they once did. You must advertise to keep pace with your competition. The National Retail Merchants Association states: "Mobility and non-loyalty are rampant. Stores must promote to get former customers to return and to seek new ones".

Many people take their time with the buying process. They compare prices, quality and service. Your Advertising must reach them steadily through the entire decision-making process. Your name must be fresh in their minds when they ultimately decide to buy.

Not every consumer in the market is ready to buy at the same time. You must  advertise to keep your regular customers and to counterbalance the advertising of your competition. It is important to advertise to keep your share of customers or you will lose them to the more aggressive competitors.

Advertising gives you a long-term advantage over competitors who cut back or cancel advertising. Did you know that a five-year survey of more than 3,000 companies found...Advertisers who maintain or expand advertising over a five-year period see their sales increase an average of 100%? As opposed to the companies, which cut advertising, averaged sales decreases of 45%?

The first step toward sales increases and expanding your base of shoppers is Continuous store traffic. The more people who come into the store, the more possibilities you have to make sales and sell additional merchandise. An NRMA survey shows for every 100 items that shoppers plan to buy, they make 30 unanticipated "in the store" purchases.

Businesses that succeed are usually strong, steady advertisers. Look around. You'll find the most aggressive and consistent advertisers are almost invariably the most successful. Advertising works!  Advertising can generate customers now...and in the future.

In a competitive market, rumors and bad news travel fast. Advertising corrects misleading gossip, punctures "overstated" bad news. Advertising that is vigorous and positive can bring shoppers into the marketplace, regardless of the economy.