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Print Catalogs are Making a Comeback this Holiday Season

Print Catalogs are Making a Comeback this Holiday Season

by | Book Binding & Finishing, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Marketing Solutions

Print Catalogs are Making a Comeback this Holiday Season

Today, the marketing spotlight often lands on digital channels such as social media ads, email campaigns, websites and more. You could go into any browser, type in a brand, company name, or even a specific item and have pages and

pages of information. What the internet offers us today is what catalogs did for the average consumer before we had the world at our fingertips. However, what the internet can’t do is make a tangible connection with your audience – and that is where print shines.

As digital channels become oversaturated, print catalogs are making a comeback for many ecommerce brands. But why? Let’s dive in and see how print catalogs can be used to supercharge your seasonal marketing.

History of Holiday Catalogs

During the Industrial Revolution, mass media channels, such as billboards, catalogs, and posters, helped spread the word about new products, creating a booming consumer marketplace. In 1933, Sears printed and mailed their very first “Wish Book,” which became known as the Sear Christmas Catalog. This catalog redefined holiday marketing and became a tradition that turned into an American Icon.

Catalogs continued to grow and soon other brands joined in or tailored existing catalogs for the holiday season. This direct marketing tactic quickly became one of the most popular holiday shopping methods well into the 2000s.

The Appeal of Print Catalogs

Outsmart Digital Overload

The average consumer is overwhelmed by digital marketing messages daily. Though the end of the year holiday season sees one of the largest shopping surges of the entire year, the overabundance of emails and digital advertising has grown monotonous for shoppers. With digital inboxes becoming overcrowded, brands and consumers are returning to print catalogs with nostalgia, yearning for simpler times.

Timeless Nostalgia of Print

For many consumers today, print catalogs are a core memory of their childhoods. We gathered around catalogs to show parents our wish list; we used catalogs for selling candies and knick knacks for school fundraisers; we browsed home and garden catalogs for décor ideas and holiday decorating. Catalogs bring a sense of nostalgia and with that emotion comes engagement and sales.

A Tactile Marketing Experience

Catalogs are tangible and tactile, providing readers with an interactive, personalized experience. You can spend a night flipping through various sections without digital eye fatigue, mark your favorite items with bookmarks, and pass along to your friends when you’re done. Digital can’t offer the same shared, real-life experience that print marketing can.

Multi-Channel Marketing

Though we’re making the case for print, we know that digital marketing is still king in today’s consumer landscape. Brands can easily connect print to their digital catalogs by using unique links and/or QR codes. Shoppers can flip through your catalogs then scan and purchase online when they’re ready to buy. It’s the perfect blend for the modern buyer!

Targeted Storytelling

Lifestyle brands, such as Patagonia and J.Crew, have used their catalogs to not just highlight products, but to tell a story to their shoppers. Incorporating client testimonials, insider product tips, and the story behind product creations and more can give create more authentic engagement for brands and products, increasing sales and turning customers into loyal fans.

The modern catalog is personalized to your audience, offering a targeted blend of storytelling, products, visuals and synergy that sells.

The Return to Print Marketing

Companies like J.Crew, Amazon, Neiman Marcus and Patagonia are embracing the return of print catalogs, and adding a modern twist. Amazon has had a great deal of success with their holiday shopping catalogs geared towards children. Kids can excitedly get new gift ideas and point out to their parents exactly what they want for Christmas, just like children in the 1900’s used to do with the Sears catalog.

J. Crew, who once filed bankruptcy, has revived their once famous catalogs to successfully increase sales and engagement. Patagonia blends editorial content into their catalogs to tell a story of the adventures of their brand and share real examples of their products in action.

Printed catalogs is proving to be a classic form of marketing with an impact that is truly timeless.

Take Advantage of the USPS 2025/2026 Catalog Insights Promotion

Ready to start investing in your audience through catalogs? There is no better time to start than now with the USPS Catalog Insights Promotion. This limited time offer helps businesses enhance their catalog marketing while lowering mailing costs. Eligible participants can receive a 10% discount on qualifying USPS Marketing Mail® catalogs mailed between October 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, with registration open August 15, 2025 – June 30, 2026.

To qualify, catalogs must:

  • Be at least 12 pages, bound, and include product or service listings with visuals and ordering information.
  • Meet the USPS definition and requirements for a catalog.
  • Complete all required data points and submit a sample for pre-approval in the Mailing Promotions Portal.

This special promotion gives brands an opportunity to boost visibility, engagement, and save on mailing costs—all while continuing the catalog printing revival that connects with customers in a meaningful, lasting way.

 

Make Your Catalog Count with Preferred!

Preferred Direct has over 30 years of experience assisting brands in their holiday catalog needs. From full color or black and white printing to professional binding to priority postage, we have the technology and know-how to bring your print catalog to life.

When inboxes are overflowing, stand out with a beautifully designed catalog with Preferred Direct. Contact our team today to request an estimate and get started on your printed holiday catalog before the shopping season begins!

Contact Preferred Direct Today!

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The Book Report: A Quick-Guide to Commercial Book Printing

The Book Report: A Quick-Guide to Commercial Book Printing

by | Book Binding & Finishing, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Marketing Solutions

The Book Report: A Quick-Guide to Commercial Book Printing

For countless readers, there is nothing that can replace the feeling of turning the pages of your favorite book. However, in today’s digital age, many authors risk losing readers by relying solely on audio books or e-books. With eyes strained from extended screen time and endless scrolling, a well-crafted book is the tangible escape readers are craving to ease digital fatigue and rekindle the joy of reading.
Printed materials are making a comeback and Preferred Direct is here to help.

 

So, what “chapters” of print and bindery services are available to bring your next project to life? Enter The Book Report — a quick guide to Preferred Direct’s book printing and bindery services for modern day authors, publishers and beyond.

 

Preferred Direct Book Binding

The two main types of book printing applications used for most books are perfect bound and saddle stitch printing. At Preferred Direct, we have the latest technologies in stitch and binding machinery for fast, high-quality book printing. Request an Estimate to get started.

Perfect Bound Books

What is perfect bound printing? It is a method of binding printed sheets to a thick, flexible spine, giving a professional and sleek appearance. Perfect bound is the standard when it comes to book options over 200 pages. The sturdy spine offers holds a large amount of pages together and is great real estate for promotional design. You can continue your cover graphics seamlessly across it, and/or add titles, logos, and other text to add to your book appeal on shelf.

Common perfect bound book types include

  • Published Books
  • Yearbooks
  • Large Company Catalogs
  • Textbooks, Workbooks and Manuals

Saddle Stitch Books

Saddle stitch books consist of folded papers nested within each other with wire staples (a.k.a “stitches”) through the spine to neatly secure everything together. It is an economical and polished option for projects up to 120 pages. This lightweight, cost-effective, and professional bindery method is ideal for projects meant to be distributed widely and quickly. It is the go-to bindery option for authors and publishers looking for an efficient, economic application for a limited number of pages.

Common saddle stitch book types include:

  • Magazines & Catalogs
  • Booklets & Brochures
  • Handbooks
  • Guides & More

Preferred Direct Print Options

Once you have decided on your preferred binding style, it’s time to choose the colors and print type. From various colors to paper size options, Preferred Direct has countless ways to make the book uniquely yours.

 

Full Color vs. Black & White:

  • Black & White: Best for text-heavy projects like author books or training manuals.
  • Full Color: Best for graphic heavy pages, images, or bold covers like textbooks.

 

Coated vs Uncoated Paper:

  • Coated Paper: Creates vibrant and high-impact images. Great for catalogs, promo materials and projects with lower page counts.
  • Uncoated paper: Creates a more natural feel and is ideal for writing/text heavy projects, higher page counts, and projects that want the classic book feel.

 

Paper Sizes:

Preferred Direct offers a wide range of sizes for both binding options from as small as 4”x 6” up to 9”x12”, with custom options available upon request. Choosing the right size for your project depends on many factors such as page count, portability, cost, text, and shipping.

Fun Fact: Many women’s clothing catalogs now use 5.5 x 8.5 sizing to fit neatly in a purse and also to qualify for the USPS letter rate, keeping distribution costs down.

 

Finishing & Fulfillment Services:

Preferred Direct goes beyond printing with full-service finishing and fulfillment options to simplify every stage of your book project. We offer:

  • Design & Pagination – Professional assistance to ensure your book files are clean, polished, and print-ready.
  • Print-on-Demand – Order small runs or scale up to 50,000+ copies to optimize your inventory according to book sales and projected demand.
  • Inventory Management & Shrink Wrapping – Secure storage, protection, and tracking of your printed pieces.
  • Shipping & Distribution – Bulk or direct-to-consumer delivery, managed on your schedule.
  • Fulfillment Services – End-to-end handling, with services such as shrink wrapping, so your books arrive on time and in top condition.

 

The Closing Chapter

No matter the size, style, or story you want to share through your book project, Preferred Direct is here to help you create the perfect ending. From professional catalogs and author books to academic books and manuals, our print and bindery services ensure your materials don’t just inform—they leave a lasting impression. Let us help you bind your ideas into something unforgettable.

Contact our team today to start writing your perfect story.

Contact Preferred Direct Today!

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What to Look for in a Direct Mail Printer

What to Look for in a Direct Mail Printer

by | Direct Mail Marketing, Print On Demand, Variable Data Printing (VDP)

What to Look for in a Direct Mail Printer

When choosing a direct mail printer for your organization’s communication projects, there’s much to consider. Not all printing providers have the expertise or equipment to handle the demands of full-color, secure, variable data printing. 

direct mail printerBelow are some key characteristics to look for:

  • Ability to handle a wide array of variable data printing applications
  • Flexibility in how they can receive your data
  • Experience with variable data printing applications in your industry
  • Compliance with HITRUST and HIPAA data security standards
  • Advanced printing technology to ensure the utmost accuracy and print quality
  • Supporting solutions

Ability to handle a wide array of variable data printing applications

Your needs may evolve over time, so look for a direct mail printer that has the knowledge, experience, and equipment to handle all types of variable data printing applications. No matter what your organization requires, at Preferred Direct, we are equipped with the expertise and technology in-house to create all varieties of personalized print pieces.

Flexibility in how they can receive your data 

Find out if the commercial printer you’re considering will allow you to send your information your way. When you work with us, we will accept your information via a secure FTP (file transfer protocol). We aim to make the process convenient for you and secure for your business. 

direct mail marketing estimate

Experience with variable data printing applications in your industry 

Every industry has unique concerns and nuances to address. Therefore, industry experience matters when selecting a print partner for your variable data, direct mail projects. Preferred Direct has vast experience and a proven success record in many industries that rely on direct mail, including those that must meet strict privacy and security requirements.

  • Healthcare providers
  • Insurance companies
  • Financial services providers
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Franchises & Dealerships
  • Businesses and Retail
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Nonprofit organizations

Compliance with HITRUST and HIPAA

Preferred Direct is a HITRUST CSF certified direct mail printer. We approach every project with the HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF), the most widely adopted security framework in the U.S. healthcare industry, in mind. Following HITRUST CSF standards means we handle our customers’ data in a way that meets regulatory compliance requirements and reduces risk. [DM1] We also adhere to the latest HIPAA regulations for protecting sensitive patient data. We apply the necessary security measures so that organizations have compliance with peace of mind.  

Advanced printing technology to ensure the utmost accuracy and print quality

Technology changes at a rapid pace. To ensure you get the best quality outcomes and efficient pricing from direct mail production runs, make sure your direct mail printer has the latest equipment and software. Preferred Direct has cutting-edge digital and inkjet printing technology. Our HP T240 HD press delivers optimal production speed and cost-effectiveness for continuous feed inkjet printing. We specialize in accurate, high-speed lasering and ink-jetting, with the flexibility to communicate custom, personalized messages, thanks to our state-of-the-art equipment, software applications, and skilled team.  This is Why Direct Mail Is Still Effective.

Supporting Solutions beyond printing 

In addition to mailing database management, customization, and printing of your direct mail, we also offer:

  • Match mail
  • Fold
  • Perforate
  • Insert
  • Postal discounts
  • Deliver mailings to the post office
  • Manage inventory

We also offer expert design services to give your direct mail the visual appeal needed to attract your recipients’ attention and engage their interest.

 

Choose the Preferred Direct Mail Printervariable data printing HP

With over 30 years of experience in commercial printing and mailing fulfillment, Preferred Direct is the preferred direct mail printer for many companies nationwide. We have the technology, capacity and drive to assist you in your communications efforts. From design to delivery, we handle your data with care, delivering your direct mail on time and on budget. Contact us today to request a project estimate and let’s get started!

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How Creative Commercial Printing Can Elevate Marketing Results

How Creative Commercial Printing Can Elevate Marketing Results

by | Direct Marketing Solutions

How Creative Commercial Printing can Elevate Marketing Results

Tips for Elevating Marketing Results with Creative Commercial Printing

Creative commercial printing can make a difference in how customers perceive your company. Think about it; every marketing and sales piece that you print represents your brand. The more polished and professional your print marketing materials are, the more prospects will view your business as credible and trustworthy and the more your marketing results improve.

Benefits of Commercial Printing Services and Print Marketing

preferred direct commercial printingPrint marketing pieces by a commercial printing company give people a well-prepared, tangible way to learn about your brand and have your contact info close at hand. In this digital age, commercial print services supplement your online marketing messaging—which makes you more memorable as the print pieces reinforce what customers see online.

Moreover, print marketing collateral helps build awareness of your business’s online presence. By sharing your website URL, email address, and social media profiles in your print communications, you can steer people to connect with you online and more accurately track marketing results digitally.

 

How to Use Creative Commercial Printing Services to Boost Your Marketing Results

Here are some tips for how to get optimal results from print marketing products created by a  commercial printer:

– Partner with a reputable, experienced commercial printing company that understands what it takes to create marketing materials that will have a maximal impact.

– Use a professional graphic designer if you don’t have that expertise and skillset in-house.

– Use a professional copywriter if you don’t have that expertise and skillset in-house.

– Make sure that your brand elements (logo, colors, terminology, etc.) have consistency across your print marketing materials.

– Opt for specialty finishing and binding services to achieve a more professional look.

– Make sure all of your contact information is on your print products.

– Include social media information so that people will know where they can connect with you online.

– Proofread your print marketing materials.

– Consider print-on-demand and inventory management services to save your business money and time.

At Preferred Direct, we offer a full suite of graphic design solutions and advanced print technology. We can create a number of bound booklet print pieces like catalogs, magazines, pamphlets, brochures, and more!

Examples of Print Marketing Materials That Work

Rack cards

Rack cards have many uses and do well where there’s a lot of foot traffic. Some of the locations where you may have seen them include visitors’ centers, restaurants, hotels, and landmarks. Many different types of businesses have success with rack cards. For example, they can help efforts to promote fundraising events, live entertainment acts, charitable causes, tourist destinations and attractions, food festivals, and more. Rack cards are an inexpensive way to attract attention and communicate the most important information about what you want to promote.

Brochures

Brochures deliver a means to include more details than rack cards while still in a print format that’s convenient for people to take with them. They are cost-effective and easy to distribute at events or locations where you want them to be accessible to your target audience. Also, brochures allow you to communicate your brand’s value and essential details about your products and services in a tangible form.

Catalogs

Catalogs are critical drivers of sales and brand loyalty. Often, print catalogs are the catalyst for getting prospects to visit a retailer’s website or visit a store. Also, many retailers have found that sending catalogs to customers who have made online purchases often results in additional sales from those same customers.

Flyers

Flyers offer a simple, short-and-sweet way to grab people’s attention and impel them to learn more about your business. They’re easy to hand out or leave as a take-away at trade shows.

Newsletters

Print newsletters allow businesses to provide more in-depth information to readers than do e-newsletters. Moreover, a print newsletter is convenient for readers to pick up and read it at their leisure. People can enjoy them when they have time and aren’t distracted by a barrage of online notifications and emails.

Direct mail postcards

Personalized direct mail postcards can be highly targeted, enabling your company to reach ideal prospects easily. Moreover, they’re very affordable to produce and mail. As more and more customers are becoming inundated by email marketing messages, print marketing postcards help make brands stand out.

Signs and posters

For local events and fundraisers, signs and posters can help raise awareness and generate word of mouth. When strategically placed within communities, they serve as a powerful grass-roots marketing tactic. Of course, the more attractive they are (professional design and superior print quality), the more attention they’ll attract.

Sales packets

Usually consisting of folders with a variety of sales and marketing collateral, sales packets help move potential B2B buyers one step closer to making a purchase. An exceptional sales packet will reinforce the positive impression your sales team made during their sales visits.

And there’s more

These are just a few samples of the types of print marketing materials that your business might benefit from. Meanwhile, your imagination and creativity expand the possibilities. And you can count on our team at Preferred Direct to help you brainstorm ideas to differentiate your company from your competition. 

direct mail marketing estimate

 

 

The Preferred Marketplace of Ideas

Our collective experience over the past 35 years has reinforced the values that were exemplified at our founding: Service, Value, and Creative Response to Client Concerns. 

We practice those principles every day in every way, embrace new technology and modern materials, and continue to focus on creative problem-solving. We value your collaboration, comments, and service evaluations, and rely on your feedback as we move in new directions. We value the ongoing relationships we have established with our customers. We will Boost Your Marketing with Variable Data Direct Mail and Commercial Printing.

For each project, Preferred Direct will provide a project manager to work with you to guarantee fast, efficient, accurate and confidential processing of information for your commercial printing or direct billing project. Our Commercial Printing and Direct Mail Platform provides for medical billing services, municipal utility bills, statement generation, e-billing, and transpromo marketing, a company’s direct billing is completed in a timely and professional manner.

 

Request a quote online or contact Preferred Direct toll-free today. 1-833-425-7007

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The Versatility of Digital Printing in Your Direct Marketing

The Versatility of Digital Printing in Your Direct Marketing

by | Direct Marketing Solutions, Variable Data Printing (VDP)

The Versatility of Digital Printing

Savvy marketers know that their audience is looking for messages that are inherently speaking to them. In an age of data, people want their information used in a way that will benefit them, not the companies that collect and hoard everything from their nickname to their social security number.Digital printing makes use of digital files rather than a printing plate, and it allows marketers to collate their data so they can change the message of their commercial printing based on the person who receives it. If you’re using variable data, digital printing is usually your best choice.

direct mail servicesPreferred Direct can give you ways to integrate segmentation into commercial printing, so you’re not wasting time or money. Even if you’re using variable data for commercial printing, digital is both fast and cost-effective. It does have a downside, though, in that it can’t always provide the same degree of resolution as other forms of printing. The colors, bleeds, text, margins, and finishing for digital print will be different from traditional options, so marketers may need to focus more on the idea they’re trying to convey. Beyond merely filling in each person’s name, you can do so much more to individualize your more significant point.

Preferred Direct can provide the advice and guidance you need to maximize digital printing. So if you’re attempting to advertise a drop in interest rates, you may want to divide your lists based on the most likely reasons your customers would want to take out a loan. For example, new college graduates may be looking for a starter home while families may be looking for ways to finance their children’s education. Digital printing gives you the chance to alter each image to pique the recipient’s curiosity. 

Print On Demand

Digital printing makes use of print on demand services, making it simple to change information without slowing down the printing process easier. Let’s say it’s time to order directories in bulk to promote a new service at your school. Your larger institution has five locations and slightly different services and pricing for each one. While you could print off a general flyer that lists the information for all five sites, you can also print flyers that are specific to each branch.

This way, people can glance at the flyer to get the information they need rather than having to hunt through the text to find their specific school. Or maybe you want to send out an FAQ regarding a new type of insurance plan, but you want to include a customized quote for each person you send it to. You can use your collated data to generate different quotes for each new piece of direct mail. Whether your list is 5,000, or 50,000, Preferred Direct has the expertise and technology to perform print on demand services without bumping up your budget 

Combining Physical and Virtual Media

Your marketing is an open book for you to fill. However, you’d like it. Following the rules of marketing can certainly get you far, but breaking the rules may get you even farther.

Commercial printing is a tried-and-true way to open a customer’s eyes to a new opportunity, but there are ways to integrate commercial printing campaigns with the rest of your marketing efforts. So if you’re already investing plenty in your digital strategy, there’s no reason you can’t use digital printing to strengthen virtual campaigns for an even more impactful message. Preferred Direct is not only familiar with these techniques, but we also understand how and when to incorporate the best. Here are just two ways we’ve seen marketers get results:

QR codes

Much like commercial printing focuses your marketing on one message, QR codes can do the same.digital printing QR codes

Once the customer scans the image, they’re taken directly to the information they need to know. But QR codes can do even more for a company by giving marketers real-time information about how the customer is using your marketing collateral.

direct mail marketing estimate

Once a QR code is scanned, it’s stamped with both the time of the scan and the user’s general location. This is a great way to understand the true reaction of your customers. If everyone is scanning the code immediately, it’s a sign that your campaign is creating a strong impression. If they’re waiting to scan it, it may signify that customers feel they need more time to peruse the data. It’s a sign that you’re marketing to people who are invested in what you have to offer. And of course, if no one is scanning the code, it’s an indicator that you may need to rethink your marketing segmentation.

That is why it’s important to personalize. Digital printing using variable data allows your to tailor each message using names, birthdays, colors, etc. to create a bigger impact with your print. With this marriage between print and virtual mediums, you’re collecting an awful lot of information about your customer. And yet, somehow, data slips through the cracks of companies all the time.

To avoid asking the same question to your customers, you really need a way to combine all the details you receive — regardless of where it comes from. Print can be a great way to engage your customers first before deploying a pop-up ad that practically demands their email address.

Once you have the information in hand, you can start filling in the details of your customers that ultimately drive their decisions. They may be more likely to fill out a more involved form online once they’ve received information in print form and chose to scan the code.

Preferred Direct two people pointing to a laptop computer with a man in the backgroundYou can then measure the responses from each group to see which one made a bigger impact. If the pamphlet had more interest, you could focus on how to improve the content, so it generates an even higher response rate. Saving Money on Creative Solutions It’s not always easy to justify spending money on commercial printing, especially not when an email is essentially free to send. To make the risk feeling a little less precarious, Preferred Direct can ensure a virtually wasteless campaign.

Our technology includes the HP T-240 HD digital printer and other top of the line equipment, which produce remarkable results. It’s full-color, high-speed, and true roll-to-roll perfection, eliminating the inconsistencies that can make your commercial printing look unprofessional. In other words, we’ve invested in the machinery, so you don’t have to. If you’re considering a piece of direct mail with complex folds, the technology makes it possible to design the folds without direct intervention from staff. This helps us keep our costs down (and yours by extension) while giving us the means for better inventory control.

The Ideal Digital Printing Partner

variable data printing HPPreferred Direct has been in business since 1990. We may not know everything, but we do know quality printing.

Over the years, it was only inevitable that we’d become expert marketing strategists too. We make it possible for you to find smarter ways to use the leverage you’ve already built. Your clientele, mission, initiatives, staff: these are all assets that can make your bottom line go through the roof. If you’re interested in vertical integration, we understand and anticipate your needs long before you even realize you have them.

Creative solutions in digital printing can jazz up even the most basic of marketing, but sometimes it takes an outside eye to notice new ways to lure customers in. No matter the budget or deadline, we find ways to color within the lines you set for us while still providing new ideas and strategy choices. From the initial contract to the last leg of the project, we let you set your level of involvement. And if you happen to change your mind at the last second (maybe you’ve decided that you need A/B/C testing instead of just A/B), we’ve got you covered there too.

Contact us today to receive reliable digital printing services and creative solutions to your toughest marketing questions.

Let's Get Started! Request a Quote Today!

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