Printing costs examined

I have been mailing eddm ( every door direct mail ) Through the post office- pick your zip, pick your routes within that zip. You can which routes to mail to by location, annual income or number of family members. I had been using the mailing houses that would print and mail for me. Then I discovered that the USPS has assigned a consultant to my company. I determined that by having them printed myself and dropping them off at the post office I could cut my cost in half. I got lots of prices to have a 12x5 eddm formatted card/flyer printed. At 1st I was dealing with the middle man. The pricing was ridiculous as I was paying the commission the salesman too. I brain stormed with my friend and fellow carpet cleaner. He had just done work the year before for a printing co. He called them We ordered 10,000- 5,000 each ( 2 different flyers) for a fraction of the cost qouted. We paid $729 for 10,000 flyers. I was quoted $1,200 for 5,000! . We decided to market tile cleaning because it's more profitable and not as saturated as carpet cleaning. !

Sounds like a good business move. I didn't know you could target according household income with USPS, that would be a big benefit as the prime customers around here for carpet cleaning is the 70k and up range. Anything lower and they will only consider it if there is a big discount involved.

Targeting tile cleaning is an interesting idea, will be anxious to hear how that works out.

If I remember right, some of the big internet print guys like vista print and such have some generic CC post cards for like 5000 for $250. But not much customization ,like graphics.

I used to do Advo missing child postcard ( they discontinued that advertising program ) for a penny and a half per home, including postcard and mailing, full color, you have to email the graphic, Advo has become Valassis, you should contact them and ask, I'm sure they have something better than what you're paying now ( over 7 cents per home ).