Sending Product Samples by Mail
Mailing Samples is an absolute MUST for marketing your product!
People love to try before they buy. If you have a product to offer, sending samples by mail is a surefire way to get a get a great ROI and encourage recipients to seek you out and buy your product. Offering something tangible to customers who are bombarded with digital content will ensure that customers remember your product and feel positively about the fact that you went out of your way to allow them to sample it.
What makes marketing samples different from other types of mail?
Mail marketing samples may qualify for a flat rate through the USPS
They don’t necessarily require packaging
Packaging requirements are not as strict
They may qualify for quantity discounts
The option to send items as EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) means you don’t need a targeted mailing list
However, if you do want a more targeted approach, you can acquire a targeted direct mailing list from CITYMAIL.
Letter Size Requirements:
Min: 3”x5”
Max: 6”x11”
Max Thickness: 1/4”
Mailing Your Marketing Sample as a Letter:
If your sample is relatively small, mailing it as a letter is a very affordable option to consider. Types of product samples best for letter-sized marketing could include: fabric samples, small lotions, oils, perfumes or cosmetics. Anything that can fit within the size limits (see mail size reference).
Automated Flat Size Requirements:
Min: 5”x6”
Max: 12”x15”
Max Thickness: 3/4”
Mailing Product Samples as Automated Flats:
Automation can also save on postage as long as US Postal Service guidelines which allow pieces to fit through automation equipment are adhered to. If your mail marketing sample is flat in nature, packaged in a rectangular shape, has flexibility,and meets the size requirements for an automated flat (see automated flat size reference to the right) this could be the right approach for you.
Marketing Parcel Requirements:
Min: 3”x5”
Max: 9”x12”
Max Thickness: 2”
Marketing Parcels are an actual type of mail recognized by the USPS that can qualify your trial-sized products for a flat rate:
Unlike other types of USPS parcels, marketing parcels labeling must be ambiguous. For example, recipient should be listed as “Current Resident” or “Postal Customer” rather than by specific name.
Beauty products, housekeeping goods, sample design materials—as long as it fits within the requirements, you can mail it as a marketing parcel and get your trial-sized sample into the hands of the public!
Mailing Product Samples as Lightweight Parcels
Meet the catch-all for odd package sizes. If you want to mail a sample that doesn’t seem to fit within the requirements of any of the options above, you might have a lightweight parcel on your hands.
Lightweight parcels must be under 16 oz, but there are no size requirements.
Warehousing and Fulfillment Service for Sample Mailing
The easiest way to go about mailing samples is to find a warehousing and fulfillment service for your product. CITYMAIL offers a turnkey approach to mailing trials.
Sample storage. Samples products are stored in a clean, organized environment
Choosing the Correct Parcel Size. CITYMAIL can do this for you. We’ll work closely with the USPS to ensure that you packages mail at the right size and with the right discounts.
Mail Scheduling. Mail scheduling takes a hands-off approach to mailing your product samples. Simply tell CITYMAIL when you’d like your samples to go out, provide the quantity and location and we do all the picking and packing for you!
Save on postage. After your initial shipment, CITYMAIL handles all of your other postage needs. We always find the lowest mailing rate possible for your product.