Tray Inc. Joins Monumental Sports as Print Partner

Tray Inc. is pleased to announce partnership with Monumental Sports:

"We are proud and delighted to be associated with Monumental Sports and its tradition of excellence in the DC area," said Brian Burlace President and Chief Executive Officer, Tray Inc. "We look forward to using our extensive array of printing resources as we work to support their exceptional brands. We are an ideal match for their many events that demand high quality and quick turn times."

Thank you to Bob Rossi for the warm welcome!

I am pleased to have Tray Inc. join the Monumental Sports team as a valued print partner for the Washington Capitals, Wizards and Mystics. Tray has been a terrific company for over 44 years in the D.C metro area. I am looking forward to working very closely with Tray to enhance and deliver our branded messages. Tray will produce all of our Capitals and Wizards game day programs as well as assist us with our everyday needs such as concourse signage, commercial printing and promotional products. We look forward to a long partnership with the Tray team.

 - Bob Rossi Director, Corporate Partnerships at Monumental Sports & Entertainment

 

L to R: Barry Trotz, Mile Thibault, Michael Mollot, John Long, Randy Wittman

 

 

That’s a Wrap – Time to Prepare for the Holidays

Summer is on its way out the door, so you have a plan for holiday season, right? “But, it’s only September?!” you might be saying. Correction – it’s already September. Mid-way through September, might we add, and that means that if you haven’t started planning for your holiday mailers yet, you need to stop puttering around on blogs and get going already! Here’s a little nudge to get you going on the right path:

Aim to Send in Early to Mid-November. You want to get the attention of prospects early, before their mailboxes are overflowing with direct mailers – at which point most of those well-planned pieces will go straight from mailbox to trash bin, never having been seen. Begin prep work on your holiday pieces now, so that you can be sure they are clean, neat and finished by November. Be sure to contact your direct mail company early in the process to set deadlines and goals.

Be Jolly. You may be thinking Football season and bonfires now, but mentally fast forward to Thanksgiving as you prepare your piece. The holiday season is supposed to have a warm, festive feel so make sure your piece reflects that.  Add something fun and interesting to your mailer, or an incredible offer, to standout among all the other shiny glittering offers in the mail box. It is the season of cheer, so give your prospects something to be cheerful about!

Create, Send, Repeat. Repetition is key during the holiday season. Shoppers and customers are busy and distracted with the chaos of the season, so you have to give them a gentle reminder every now and then. If you’re first mailer goes out early, you’ll have plenty of time to send multiple rounds without pestering your prospects.

Befriend the Internet. Using direct mail to drive online traffic is a tried and true effective marketing technique. Be sure to include information about your online presence on your mailer. That way, you’re not only targeting the traditional brick and mortar shoppers, but the internet-savvy demographic, as well. Boom. That’s what we call the DM one-two punch.

How have you started planning for the holidays? Tell us in the comments! 

Color Your Mailer Successful

Your direct mail piece says a lot about your business. Literally – name, contact information, a call-to-action, but it’s also saying something more. Something you may not have even realized yourself. It’s subliminally stirring up an emotion within your prospects. How? Color.

The colors you use on your mailer could be sending a stronger message, or a conflicting one. Don’t believe us? Studiesshow that full-color ads are 26% more likely to be given further attention than their black and white counterparts. So, it’s no wonder that smart marketers use color strategically to enhance their message.

Here’s the breakdown:

Red - Stimulates the appetite and encourages action. Red is often used for restaurants and to target impulse shoppers.

Blue – Although the most popular color, blue is preferred by men. It promotes a sense of productivity and security and is seen as being non-invasive.  

Orange – Want your product or business to seem like a better value? Orange is the way to go.  

Green – Green is primarily associated with health, nature, and, of course, wealth.

Grey – When used in moderation, grey offers a sense of intelligence, conservatism and solidity.

Black – Represents sophistication and power, but can quickly become overwhelming to the senses. Use wisely!

Pink – Pink may just be the most complicated color in the spectrum. It evokes different reactions from men and women and induces various effects. Women feel empowered around the color pink, men become calm and less aggressive. It is used to both calm and energize. Additionally, pasties and sweets “taste better” when served on a pink plate due to the color’s ability to induce sugar cravings.

And two words from the wise:

• If you’re targeting a younger crowd aim for bright, vivid colors. If you’re focused on the elderly, go for subdued hues.
• Choose only a few contrasting colors. The greater the contrast the more impact it will have.

Now that you know the insider secrets, are you sure your colors are saying what you want? If you want your next mailer to have maximum punch using color marketing, talk to us about creating the perfect piece to suit your needs!