What to look for in a Mailing company*
Rescigno's Mailing Solutions
Chicagoland's Favorite Mailer!
Identifying a mailing partner:
- Referrals from colleagues who have worked with the company; word of mouth is often the best way to find a company which will work for you.
- A visit from a mailing company salesperson.
- A direct mail solicitation.
- Trade shows.
Looking at the company’s profile and capabilities:
After you identify potential partners, ask them to describe the following areas of their business:
- Years in business – Chances are better that a company that has been in business for a long time won’t be going away any time soon.
- Background and involvement of senior management in the business – What are the backgrounds and experience of the people running the company? Are they involved in day-to-day management of the business?
- Reputation in the marketplace – What sense do you get that they are respected in the community by other businesses and their customers?
- Types of customers they service – Are they similar to you in terms of size and type of work you do?
- List of services offered – Do they actually list the particular services you are looking for?
- Computer expertise – How experienced and knowledgeable is their computer department? What kinds of hardware and software do they use?
- Quality control processes – What steps do they take to ensure that mailings are handled properly?
- Postal knowledge – How does the company stay on top of postal regulations? Who is responsible within the company for postal knowledge and how did they acquire that knowledge? Is there a current US Postal Service rules manual (DMM) in written or electronic form on the premises?
- Client Service – How will your account be managed? Depending on the operation, it could be the salesperson, a customer service representative, an operations manager or even the owner.
- What associations do they belong to? Membership in associations usually means the company has access to relevant information to help them run their business, subscribes to a code of ethics, and has a network of knowledgeable professionals to turn to for assistance with challenging issues.
(Rescigno's Mailing Solutions is a member of: ING, MFSA, DScoop, and CADM)
If the company seems reputable, then what?
No matter how good a company looks on paper, verify your impressions:
- Ask for a list of 2-3 recent customers to contact – Ask about their customer service, quality, expertise in postal issues, timeliness, etc.
- Schedule a tour of their facility – A personal visit can help you confirm what you have been told.
- If creative or printing work is to be done – ask to see samples of work which were completed by the company – either original creative work or printing.
Other important items to consider:
As you progress to your first job with a new mailing partner, monitor the following to ensure that the relationship works out:
- Make sure you have a written estimate BEFORE any work is done. Also, there should be written communication between you and the company about any changes to be made to the original quote, along with associated costs or reductions.
- Turnaround – A quick response to your request for a quote and to any questions you have is a positive sign of a good relationship in the making.
- Salesperson as consultant – You should expect your key contact person to be willing to educate you on the finer points of direct mail. What’s working? What isn’t? How does the design you are considering work as a mail piece? Are there changes you should consider to obtain significant discounts?
Always remember, Rescigno’s Mailing Solutions wants your business. We see ourselves as a partner in your success. Good communication is the key to any successful business relationship and chances for that success are enhanced when both parties communicate clearly and often from the first contact forward.
*Excerpted from MFSA (Mailing and Fulfillment Service) website.
