The Direct Mail Information Service provides a number of useful reports on all aspects of direct mail. You can download a selection here.

DMIS In Brief May 2006: New from the Direct Mail Information Service. Latest statistics on direct mailing volumes for 2005, extracts from the forthcoming Consumer Direct Mail Trends 2006 and information on the problems SMEs experience with direct mail.
| Download |

DMIS Direct Mail Media Pack: Everything you need to know about direct mail. How to do it. Who uses it. How much it costs. What response to expect. Plus invaluable fact sheets and case studies from numerous different business sectors. This is a fantastic FREE resource that addresses all the key issues.
| Download |

DMIS Letterbox Factfile: The results of the Direct Mail Information Service's annual survey of the use of and attitudes to direct mail - both business-to-business and business-to-consumer. This is the definitive source of all the statistics you need on the subject.
| Download |

DMIS Response Rates 2005: Response Rates Survey 2005 - The Direct Mail Information Service's definitive guide to response rates for different sectors - both B2B and B2C.
| Download |

DMIS SMEs Use & Understanding of Mail Media 2002: Do you wonder if you are "doing direct mail right"? Are you struggling with creative, design, print or fulfilment? According to this survey of smaller businesses who use the medium, you are not alone. This report looks at why and how small-to-medium sized businesses implement direct mail and the issues that they face.
| Download |

DIRECT MAIL TRENDS: DMIS Business-to-Business Report 2003: A complete survey of business to business direct mail. Includes invaluable information on business recipients' attitudes toward, expectations of, treatment of and response to the direct mail they receive.
| Download |

DMIS Consumer Trends 2004 Report: Every two years DMIS studies the trend in both consumer and business-to-business direct mail trends. This is the latest report on consumer trends: which sectors are mailing, which consumers are in receipt of mailings, how much, how often and general attitutdes towards the medium.
| Download |

CUSTOMER LOYALTY:

DMIS Automotive Sector Loyalty Report: This report focuses on loyalty in the automotive sector. Includes invaluable information on why customers are loyal to manufacturers, dealers, service providers and break down recovery services. A useful 24 page report for evaluating your marketing strategies and is an essential read for those responsible for increasing sales and maintaining customer retention.
| Download |

DMIS Telecommunications Sector Loyalty Report: Key factors that drive loyalty within the telecommunications sector. Be it quality, service or other issues, over 60% of customers feel loyal to a telephone/mobile, cable or satellite TV company. This 22 page report discusses how you can increase loyalty through direct mail.
| Download |

MEDIA DEVELOPMENT STUDIES:

DMIS Automotive Sector Development Study: Includes invaluable information on the automotive industry's marketing activities, objectives of campaigns and if direct mail was used; why was it used, how and if it worked. An essential insight into marketing trends for all car dealers and businesses operating in the automotive marketplace.
| Download |

DMIS Travel Sector Development Study: This reports on the perceptions and uses of Direct Mail amongst advertisers in the travel industry. A useful guide for travel agents, tour operators, hotel owners and for other marketeers interested in the travel sector. Read about details on advertising spend, influences on marketing methods used, the objectives of using Direct Mail and whether campaigns worked.
| Download |

SECTOR INTELLIGENCE:

DMIS Automotive Intelligence 2002: DMIS' automotive survey looks at how customers decide which model to buy and which dealer to buy it from. It finds that direct mail is more influential on trial and purchase than press advertising, that dealer mailings are more likely to be opened and read than manufacturer mailings and that consumers genuinely welcome car mailings, especially those offering test-drives, promotions and incentives. 20% said that receiving mail from a dealer will encourage them to visit the showroom.
| Download |

Home Shopping:

• 58% of consumers are aware of home shopping Direct Mail and 42% are influenced by it.
• Nearly three quarters of consumers (74%) state that Direct Mail about special promotions would encourage them to make a purchase; as would catalogues (70%) and brochures/leaflets (54%) that are sent through the post.
• 83% of consumers bought as a result of receiving Direct Mail, 21% ordered a catalogue/brochure and 5% responded in some other way.

| Download |

Insurance:

• 71% of consumers are aware of insurance Direct Mail with 27% claiming they are influenced by it.
• 38% would like information on special promotions. 30% say that this would encourage them to take out a policy and 27% to change their policy.
• 65% opened and read all or most of the insurance Direct Mail items they received with 22% taking out or changing a policy as a result. An additional 3% responded in some other way.

| Download |

Leisure:

• Although press and TV advertising achieve nearly double the awareness of Direct Mail, mailshots are the strongest medium for encouraging a purchase; with nearly one quarter (24%) of those consumers influenced participating in a leisure activity as a result.
• Direct Mail containing special promotions would encourage participation in the majority of consumers (51%). 47% would be influenced by invitations to special previews/events, 43% by information on dates and venues and 41% by brochures showing the range of activities available.
• Data quality is high in the leisure sector. 91% of items are correctly addressed and nearly two thirds say the mailings are relevant.

| Download |

Loans & Mortgages:

• Of those consumers receiving Direct Mail about a personal loan from a bank or building society 21% applied. The same type of mailing from a mailing house encouraged 14% to apply and mailings from the consumer's main bank/building society also achieved a 14% response.
• Banks and building societies are the most trusted of personal loan providers with 16% of consumers having taken one out in the last year or intending to do so in the next year.
• 49% say that offers and discounts in Direct Mail encourages them to take out a loan or mortgage.

| Download |

Restaurants & Hotels:

• 40% of consumers use Direct Mail to find out about restaurants and hotels. Mailshots are the third most important source, behind word of mouth and press ads.
• 27% say they take advantage of special offers sent via Direct Mail, 21% would be swayed depending on the offer and a further 21% say Direct Mail gains their interest if it looks good.
• Those over 55 years old (38%) and ABC1s (34%) are more likely to visit an independent restaurant (compared with 20% and 26% respectively eating at chain outlets). Consumers in the family life-stage of 35-44 years old are more likely to stay in hotels than average.

| Download |

Retail:

• 29% of consumers are influenced by retail Direct Mail, ranking the medium second behind TV adverts which influence 45%.
• On average 39% of consumers have made a purchase as a result of receiving retail Direct Mail and a further 17% visited a shop/store.
• Consumers are more likely to buy or visit a store if the have money-off coupons (79%), a loyalty card (49%) or have received Direct Mail (40%).

| Download |

Savings:

• 32% say they are influenced by Direct Mail from banks and 20% from savings/investment companies.
• 81% of those who bought as a result of receiving Direct Mail spent over £600.
• Nearly one quarter of consumers have invested in a scheme as a result of receiving Direct Mail at some point; and of those who have bought via a mailing, three quarters would consider buying other policies from the same company.

| Download |

Travel:

• Over half of consumers who have received travel Direct Mail have responded by making a purchase; with over a third responding to ferry, overseas package holiday, hotel, railway and UK package holiday companies.
• The average expenditure on travel as a result of Direct Mail is £727.
• 71% of consumers would like to receive information on special promotions, 68% brochures containing special deals and 56% general travel/holiday brochures.

| Download |