In this day and age, there is a big focus on building a digital presence and forming a strong digital marketing strategy in order to succeed as a business. However, direct mail still proves to be an effective and popular way to reach new and existing customers, with direct mail spend in the UK in 2024 reaching £1.2 billion. For businesses looking to take advantage of direct mail and create an effective direct mail campaign, a mailing house can be an essential part of the strategy and is often considered a key resource. In fact, recent reports from JICMAIL indicate that response rates for well-targeted direct mail campaigns remain significantly higher than for many digital channels, with average response rates of up to 9%.
In this blog, we’ll explore everything there is to know about mailing houses: what they are, the benefits they offer, and the range of services they provide to their customers. We’ll also look at best practices for working with a mailing house to maximise ROI.
What actually is a mailing house?
A mailing house is a company that specialises in preparing, printing, sorting, and sending large volumes of mail on behalf of businesses. Mailing houses often offer a broad range of services and are commonly used to execute direct mail campaigns for businesses of all sizes. Services can include design, printing, postage, data processing, and campaign tracking. Working with a professional mailing house allows businesses to manage larger campaigns efficiently and ensures high-quality execution from start to finish. Many also provide consultancy services to help businesses optimise campaign strategy, targeting, and delivery.
What does a mailing house do?
A mailing house will prepare and dispatch mail at scale on behalf of a business, usually for marketing purposes. Key services provided by a typical mailing house include:
Printing
Mailing houses provide a variety of printing services to their clients. They have industrial-scale printers capable of producing high-quality assets efficiently. Common printed materials include flyers, brochures, postcards, catalogues, and bespoke items such as stickers, signage, and menus. Many mailing houses offer full design support to ensure that campaigns are visually compelling and consistent with branding guidelines. For businesses looking for environmentally-conscious printing, some mailing houses provide sustainable materials and inks, helping companies achieve greener campaigns.
Data Processing
Data processing services include helping businesses manage mailing lists and perform data hygiene tasks such as verifying addresses, removing duplicates, and updating customer information. Accurate data reduces the risk of undeliverable mail and improves campaign effectiveness. For businesses interested in maximising response rates, mailing houses can also segment audiences based on demographics, purchase history, and engagement metrics. Learn more about our data processing services and how they improve campaign performance.
Data Capture
Some mailing houses provide data capture services, securely collating customer responses from campaigns. This may include:
- Response cards
- Surveys or questionnaires
- Applications
Captured data is analysed and presented to the client, providing insights into campaign performance and customer engagement. These insights can inform future campaigns and enable businesses to refine targeting strategies.
Production & Packaging
Mailing houses support the production and packaging of mailings. Services include folding, poly-wrapping, envelope insertion, product sampling, and custom tabs or stickers. Professional packaging ensures mail is received in perfect condition and improves customer engagement. You can also explore our latest packaging innovations for direct mail campaigns.
Postage
Mailing houses can organise postage and negotiate rates with postal services such as Royal Mail. This allows businesses to benefit from discounted bulk postage rates and ensures mail is sent efficiently. Mailing houses can also advise on the best postage options for each campaign, including first-class, second-class, or tracked services. Learn more about postage solutions and how they save costs.
Tracking & Reporting
Many mailing houses provide tracking and reporting, showing delivery rates, undeliverable items, and customer responses. This information helps businesses evaluate campaign performance and plan future marketing initiatives. You can also review our guide to tracking direct mail campaigns for more insights.
Benefits of Using a Mailing House
Using a mailing house provides multiple advantages, including:
Time-Efficient
Outsourcing mail production and delivery saves businesses significant time, allowing teams to focus on core business activities. For companies with recurring campaigns, mailing houses streamline operations and reduce internal workload.
Postal Discounts
Mailing houses pass on discounted postal rates thanks to relationships with providers like Royal Mail. These savings are especially valuable for bulk mailings. For more on how to maximise postage discounts, check our cost-saving tips.
Cost-Effective
Using a mailing house is more cost-effective than in-house production. Costs of equipment, materials, staff, and postage are bundled into a single service, allowing businesses to plan budgets accurately. Explore our full range of direct mail services to see cost options.
Industry Experts
Mailing houses offer access to teams of experts experienced in direct mail, printing, and marketing strategy. Their advice on targeting, materials, and design ensures campaigns are highly effective.
Flexible Contracts
Mailing houses provide flexible engagement models, from one-off campaigns to ongoing monthly contracts, accommodating businesses of all sizes.
All Services Under One Roof
Businesses benefit from an integrated approach, with printing, production, data handling, postage, and reporting managed in one place. This improves reliability, efficiency, and campaign results.
Who Uses Mailing Houses?
Typical users include:
- In-house marketing teams
- Marketing agencies
- Business owners
- Retailers and e-commerce businesses
- Charities and non-profits
How Mailing Houses Work
Once engaged, a mailing house reviews your requirements and manages the entire process, from data processing and printing to packaging, postage, and tracking. Regular updates and reports keep clients informed and ensure campaigns meet objectives.
Choosing the Right Mailing House
Consider the following steps when selecting a mailing house:
- Check their services to ensure they meet your needs.
- Review their portfolio and client examples.
- Read customer reviews and testimonials.
- Obtain a quote to verify costs align with your budget.
- Call to discuss your requirements and evaluate their support.
Direct Mailing Systems, a First-Class Mailing House
Direct Mailing Systems is one of the UK’s leading mailing houses, specialising in cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and large-scale mailing solutions. Whether overwhelmed by in-house tasks or aiming for more professional campaigns, we provide full-service support. Learn more about our production capabilities and fulfilment services.
Call us on 0117 934 1600 or email us at