Now Showing Envelopes
Envelopes still have top billing despite market changes and economic woes
April 2009 By Melissa BuschEnvelopes are no exception. They can no longer get by as the mere carriers for bills, medical reports and bank deposits. To stay fresh, they must take on other jobs.
Experts agreed that envelopes will forever be paperwork holders, but also have to become instrumental to marketing a business or program.
Banks and credit unions have taken advantage of this idea for years. In terms of envelopes, these institutions have promoted creative expression.
“It’s a free advertising tool,” said Terry Pennington, vice president of Midlothian, Texas-based Ennis, who also is in charge of its Trade Envelopes facilities in Carol Stream, Ill. and Tullahoma, Tenn., Block Graphics and Calibrated.
“These aren’t just drive-in envelopes, they are ways for banks and credit unions to market their car loans and mortgage programs. You’re taking the message away with you and it’s there to remind you,” he said.
Pennington explained that envelopes are used to portray a company’s image. Due to the importance of branding and first impressions, envelopes have become more colorful and offer more features than they did just a few years ago.
“Our printing and converting capabilities have allowed us to keep up with this trend by offering more features and four-color envelopes with bleeds,” Pennington commented.
To help customers take advantage of this, Trade Envelopes recently unveiled its new Financial Products artwork brochure containing designs and images that clients can take and show to their customers.
“It’s an excellent sales tool for our customers,” Pennington noted.
The banking industry also has been a great market for JBM Envelope Company, located in Lebanon, Ohio.
JBM’s best products, in particular, are drive-in envelopes, said company president Marcus Sheanshang.
“We were the first envelope company to focus on four-color process designs for drive-in envelopes. We understand the best way for JBM to be successful is for the end-user to find value in what we make,” Sheanshang explained.
The company is excited about its new coin bangtail envelope that provides banks with an excellent opportunity to cross-sell other items to their customers.
“Strangely enough, one of our seed customers found the concept useful to have a vendor buy the coupon for advertising space,” Sheanshang stated. “It was a win/win situation. The vendor was able to sell more of a specific good while the seed company was able to not only lower its costs but make its customers more aware of other products they sell.”
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