Author: Mia Keay

What is Direct Mail Advertising

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Direct mail advertising is the most highly targeted and easily measurable type of advertising, delivering your message directly to your customer’s mailbox.

  • printed marketing material like postcards, flyers, catalogs and brochures
  • designed to reach your target audience, your customers
  • delivered via the US Postal Service

Mailers can be tailored to connect in a personal way with your buyers. You can use it to inform your buyers about store events like a store opening, special annual sales, announcing a new shooting range or a special vendor event like RUGER Days.

How do my customers feel about direct mail?

Don’t people just consider it to be “junk” mail? No, on the contrary!

First of all, your existing customers are your best source for sales. Once a customer has established a preference for a business, they are 3 times as likely to return. So if you are regularly sending direct mail that informs your customers about something that you know they are interested in – they will be delighted to see your postcard, flyer or catalog in the mail. It is important, even with your existing customer mailing list, to target them with the right message based on their interests.

3 easy steps to send out a custom mailer

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3 easy steps to send out a custom mailer

  1. Define your project
  2. Export your customer list
  3. Create a list of items to advertise

Does it sound too easy? Read on!

1)  Define your project: choose your mailing date, select a mailer type, and then contact OSM at (609) 265-1390 or email OSM  for a quote.

  • Mailing Date: For single page direct mail project, start planning 2-3 weeks before your sale or event. For a multi-pager direct mail project, start planning 6-7 weeks before your sale or event. See examples of our work.
  • Mailer Type: What type of mailer is best for you? Match your mailer to: the type of event you are having, the length of the sale, and the number of items you want to advertise.
  • Postage: Postage is the most expensive fixed cost component of any project. For mailings of 10,000 pieces or fewer, we recommend First Class postage which is generally guaranteed to be delivered in 2-3 business days. For larger mailings (and if time permits) we recommend bulk rate to save costs. Delivery time for bulk/standard rate mail typically ranges between 5-10 business days. We can give you an exact cost savings comparison.

2)  Export your customer mailing list from your POS system and email it to OSM

3)  Compile a list of items by brand, item#, and price, and email it to OSM

  • OSM makes it simple, we have been doing this since 1998 so we are creatively skilled in retail shooting sports advertising.  We have the product logos, images, and descriptions in our massive database.  Just tell us what you want to advertise and OSM will do the rest.  All we need is the brand, the item # and the pricing information.  We get everything else.
  • Do you have co-op advertising dollars available? On average most shooting sports retailers forfeit several thousand dollars in unused co-op advertising funds a year.  Let your product vendors pay for your project. Learn how OSM can manage your co-op from start to finish, at no additional cost.

Our customers love how easy it is to work with OSM. What are you waiting for? Call now to get started (609) 265-1390, or submit this form.

What is co-op and what are co-op advertising funds?

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What is co-op and what are co-op advertising funds?

Manufacturers provide incentives for your customers to buy merchandise in the form of manufacturer rebates.  But did you know that some manufacturers also provide funds which you can use to advertise this merchandise? Did someone say free advertising dollars?

What is Co-Op?

A manufacturer Co-Op Advertising Program (or co-op for short) is designed give independent dealers the opportunity to be reimbursed for approved advertising media expenditures of products.

What are co-op advertising funds?

Co-op funds are usually calculated as a percent of the net invoiced dollars for full priced

products shipped during the current calendar program year. Typically, funds not used for advertising during the current program year will not be carried over for use in the next program year.

The rules vary from manufacturer to manufacturer though – and they change their co-op advertising funds policies from time to time. The ad specs, qualifications, rules, and the co-op claim processing can be complicated and time consuming.

How can I get my hands on this “free money”?

That’s where Outdoor Sports Marketing comes in.  Let Outdoor Sports Marketing help you utilize your available co-op advertising funds on pre-approved direct mail advertising, and process your claims, all at no additional charge.

Using manufacturer co-op advertising funds can significantly reduce your final out-of-pocket costs. We process over $300K per year in co-op claims on behalf of our clients.

Our Co-Op Compliance Manager ensures that your ads are approved by the manufacturers in advance of publication, and we process your claims when the project is complete. Any retailer will agree this is a time-consuming process.

 

Federal Premium July rebates are here

Posted by on in direct mail advertising, vendor rebates

vista-logo

Federal Premium July rebates are here

Starting July 1, Vista Outdoor is offering four new Federal Premium rebates. See other manufacturer rebates here

  1. Original Black Cloud® – Purchase 5 or more boxes (max 20) of original Black Cloud ammunition and get back $7.50/box
  2. Federal Premium ® Free Knife Promo – Purchase 2 boxes of Trophy Bonded® Tip or any other Federal Premium centerfire big game ammunition and receive a free SOG ® Revolver Hunter Knife.
  3. Federal® Ammunition Power-Shok® Mail-in Rebate- Purchase 1 box of Federal Power-Shok rifle ammunition and receive a $2.50 mail-in rebate. Redemption limited to 10 boxes
  4. Sluggin’ Bucks Mail-in Rebate – Receive up to $10.00 cash back when you purchase qualifying Federal Premium® Vital•Shok® slug ammunition.

Get customers in the door by promoting Federal Premium rebates using Direct Mail

Direct Mail Advertising: 79% of consumers say they will act of direct mail immediately. 51% of people prefer direct mail from local shops.Want to increase foot traffic and boost sales now? Advertise Federal Premium ammunition rebates with a Jumbo Postcard and get a jump on the competition!

Direct mail advertising is the most highly targeted and easily measurable type of advertising and is a great way to get rebates and more in front of your customers.

Let Vista Outdoor pick up a portion of the cost with co-op advertising funds

Using Vista Outdoor co-op advertising funds can significantly reduce your final out-of-pocket costs. Our Co-Op Compliance Manager will work with you to ensure that the products you are advertising fit within the co-op advertising program and that your direct mail advertising is approved in advance of publication.

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Colt adds new summer rebate and extends existing customer incentives

Posted by on in direct mail advertising, vendor rebates

Colt adds new summer rebate and extends existing customer incentives

m4_summer

NEW Colt Promotion: M4 Summer Rebate – Buy any new LE6920 Model and get a free Drago Gear Gun Case and a Magpul PMAG from Colt.

EXTENDED TO 8/31
* Buy any new Competition Series, GOLD CUP®, OR DELTA ELITE® and get a FREE Colt range kit worth over $130
* Buy any new Expanse M4 and get a FREE Colt Expanse kit worth over $100

Get customers in the door by promoting Colt rebates

Direct Mail Advertising: 79% of consumers say they will act of direct mail immediately. 51% of people prefer direct mail from local shops.Want to increase foot traffic and boost sales now? Advertise Colt rebates, with a Jumbo Postcard and get a jump on the competition!

Direct mail advertising is the most highly targeted and easily measurable type of advertising and is a great way to get rebates and more in front of your customers.

 

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