Part I
Austin & Williams' Director of Production Services shares these tips for ensuring your clients’ direct mail pieces drop on time, every time – no matter how tight the deadline!

10 - Order unusual or hard-to-find paper stock and specialty envelopes in advance of final art approval.

9 - Request approval and release “long lead time items,” like custom dies, converted/custom envelopes, imprinted premiums and accessory items such as embossed labels, in advance of the “standard” print items, which usually can be expedited.

8 - Provide mailing lists to the lettershop or mail house before printed materials arrive to allow the data-processing division ample time to confirm record counts and clean and prep data for inkjet/laser and discount postal rates.

7 - Present actual-size personalized “sample” printouts for client approval in advance of the actual print delivery.

6 – Deliver “shell” components that need to be personalized to the mail division for laser, cutting and folding prior to the other generic/static enclosures.

Click here for tips 5 - 1!

Henry Luhmann, Director of Production Services at Long Island advertising agency Austin & Williams, offers results-oriented, creative project planning supported by years of experience in all aspects of printing and production. To read more about Henry, visit his bio section on the A&W website.