I have a love for letterpress, actually, it’s more of an addiction. Some might think that letterpress is an art of the past but, I think, it’s making a fantastic comeback. There are tons of great online boutiques that feature letterpress cards, invitations and even calendars. My favorite resource right now for unique letterpress gifts is Hammerpress. They offer some really off-the-wall cards and calendars—my favorite is the beard postcard.

Now, for those of you who are hardcore letterpress lovers like me, I happily introduce you to the Letterpress Lovers Club. If you join this club, the awesome people at Sunlit Letterpress will send you a cool letterpress treat, like stationery or note cards, every month! For me it doesn’t get much better.

What are some of your favorite letterpress or other unique art resources?

The key to a successful promo item is gifting something memorable and hard to throw away. This spring and summer selection has some great promo items that are sure to make your customers smile. Some of my favorites this season include a super cute and highly functional picnic basket. This item isn’t cheap, it runs about $55, however it’s a giveaway you can’t forget.

A more affordable favorite is a grill/cooler combo that runs around $30! Both the grill/cooler and picnic basket make great giveaways or prizes for summertime promotions.

Have you received any cool promotional items lately?

I receive a lot of direct mail. And, it takes a lot to get my attention when it comes to direct mail. So, I will hold on to and remember anything that sparks my interest. Just recently, I received a great dimensional mailer from 3dpapergraphics.com that I want to share.

Now, I wouldn’t recommend mailing it in an a window envelope the way I received it but, I was tickled when I opened the piece and out “popped” three more pieces. I admit, I was startled at first but then I realized how fun, creative and attention grabbing this direct mailer is. It’s definitely a great idea to keep something like this in mind if you’re struggling with the same lackluster mailers.

Have you received any creative or fun direct mailers lately?

Despite theories that direct mail will one day cease to exist, I’m still a firm believer that print – when properly executed – is far better than using digital media alone. I was recently forwarded this article from the Wall Street Journal that echoes the same feelings.

Marketers are discovering the value in coupling print with digital media. While digital media may be less expensive, it lacks the personal touch that can be added to a printed piece. When combining the two, they can compliment each other and prove to be a more effective solution.

We have used this approach for our “Name that Super” campaign currently running for our client Phoenix Environmental Care. We found that combining a website with several e-blasts and direct mail has resulted in a great response we might not achieve by just e-mail or direct mail alone.

What do you think? Is snail mail on the endangered species list or will it always have a place in the marketing mix?