Tips to drive efficiency and save on envelopes, direct mail and print products.
With a trusted print partner like Tension, you can implement an efficient ordering process that optimizes your budget, resources and time to complete projects quickly and professionally. We’ve included our top suggestions in this post.
Reel in Freight Rates
Working with your print partner to establish a delivery schedule can help ensure that you have the product you need when you need it. This way, you can order envelopes and other print products in bulk to keep delivery costs down.
Full truck freight rates are more cost efficient than half trucks. Rather than ordering materials as needs arise, consider setting a regular shipping date with your print partner, for instance, the third Thursday of each month. Not only can this help you streamline operations, but it can also help cut down on unplanned costs.
Outsource and Automate
Automating and outsourcing your print projects to a partner like Tension can save significant time and resources. Tension’s print on demand service, Tension Direct, embraces lean manufacturing philosophies to help our customers maximize inventories, reduce waste and slash turnaround times.
You can learn more about how it works in our previous blog post, but essentially, you provide the templates for your products — letterhead, business cards, envelopes and brochures — and we provide best-in-class printing for those pieces that are then delivered straight to your door.
Your marketing and procurement teams alike benefit from the service. Marketers can be confident that all printed materials feature consistent branding and messaging, while procurement professionals enjoy Tension Direct’s fully integrated and automated process from order-to-invoice.
Consolidate SKUs
Consider using the same product for a range of needs to consolidate SKUs. That way, you’ll have fewer items to manage, and you can save on shipping and free up warehouse space. For instance, you could:
- Print envelopes with widely applicable language (“act now,” “open immediately”) that you can use for different campaigns and initiatives.
- Purchase a large quantity of one envelope that has a window big enough to accommodate different address sizes.
- Use a common carrier envelope across jobs and businesses. For example, require that all company mailings fit a #10 envelope, which can serve multiple purposes.
Contact Tension
There are so many ways to make process improvements. We welcome the opportunity to help you streamline your direct mail ordering process for maximum efficiency. Contact us today to learn more.
