7 Surprising Small Business Statistics

Although generally on this blog we talk about custom envelope design and/or how they can be used for marketing, we occassionally like to talk about issues and news related to small businesses. The majority of our customers tend to be small businesses, and PrecisionEnvelope.com is a small business (According to the SBA, technically any company with less than 500 employees is a small business). So we recently were doing some research regarding small business and we just happened to come across a collection of surprising, interesting and just plain shocking American small business statistics. Check them out, and let us know what you think in the comments!

• 52% of All Small Businesses are Home-based: When you've got a great idea but no money, sometimes your only choice is to work out of your home. In fact, dozens of hugely successful companies (including Apple and Mattel) started out of the home.
• Fastest Growing Small Business Sectors are auto repair shops, beauty salons & dry cleaners: If in your neighborhood it feels like there's a beauty salon or dry cleaner on every corner, now you know why!
• Over Half a Million New Business Are Started Each Month: In total 543,000 small businesses are started in the United States each month.
• The #1 Reason Why Start Ups Fail is they Scale Prematurely: While having a long term business plan is great, expanding the business before it's ready can lead to you closing the doors.
• 50-70% of Small Businesses Fail within the First 18 Months: While those first few years are the toughest, if you can get past that your liklihood to succeed will increase significantly.
• But 86% of Small Business Owners Believe They Can Do Anything they Set their Minds to: Sometimes a great idea and a can do attitude is all you need to make it work!

Small Business Failure Rate by Industry:

• Manufacturing: 48.4%
• Services: 47.6%
• Wholesaling & Agriculture: 47.4%
• Retailing: 41.1%
• Finance, Insurance and Real Estate: 39.6%
• Transportation, Communications and Utiliies: 39.4%
• Construction: 36.4%

(Sources: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/09/failure-rates-by-sector-the-real-numbers.html. http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/09/small-businesses-infographic/, http://www.businessinsider.com/small-business-owners-are-optimistic-2013-6)

Custom Printed Envelopes: 5 Things You Need to Know Before You Buy

Before you go looking to buy custom envelopes online, there's a few things you'll need to know so that you don't overpay, or worse yet, waste money on unusable envelopes. Not to scare you, but I've heard many horror stories of companies that bought custom envelopes from a company they found online, only to receive 1000s of envelopes that were printed wrong. And good luck getting a refund! So in order to help you prepare and make your envelope ordering process as smooth as possible, here's my 5 things you should know before you buy:

• Only Use High Resolution Artwork: If you're uploading artwork online, make sure that it is a quality, high-resolution image. The problem with alot of these websites is that they will just print whatever artwork you upload, resulting in low quality envelopes. Some envelope printers might work with you if you've only got low resolution artwork, but it's not a risk worth taking.
• Check for Price Breaks at Larger Quantities: You may only need 1,000 envelopes, but if you can get 1,500 for only $10 more, it's a deal too good to pass up. Even if your business doesn't need that many, it's always good to have a few extra envelopes in storage. 
• Ask About Coupon Codes: All of these online envelope printers are running some type of deal or have coupon codes available. Some of them might even offer free shipping on custom envelopes or other deals! Be sure to always ask before you buy. And don't forget to check websites like RetailMeNot for more coupons. 
• Always Request a Proof: Better safe than sorry, I always say! Whether it be a digital proof in the form of a PDF or a physical one, a proof will give you one more chance to look over the artwork and make sure everything is correct before you print the whole batch.
• Shop Around: Make sure to always check for a great deal! There are many people out there offering printed envelopes, so you'll want to find a great price. But more than going with the lowest price possible, make sure that company you go with is reputable and they know what they're doing. 

Direct Mail Beats E-Mail by 66% (INFOGRAPHIC)

 

 

Share this Infographic on Your Website or Blog: http://www.lorrainegregorycorp.com/images/html/Image/direct-mail-online-marketing-infograph.jpg

 

 

Direct Mail Beats E-Mail by 66%

Direct mail is #1, even in a digital world. See how direct mail marketing stacks up against online advertising.

 

• 59% of people enjoy receiving mail about new products, but only 43% enjoy recieving E-Mails about new products.
• 78% of households either read or scan direct mail they receive.
• 11.55% of marketing emails are opened.
• Only 16% of your Facebook fans will see your post. 

 

Which Tactic Generates the Most New Customers?

 

Direct Mail - 34%. Email - 24%

 

 

LIKE Us on Facebook and Get 12% Off Your Order Plus you Could win $250

 

 Like PrecisionEnvelope.com's Facebook page  and get a coupon code for 12% off any printed envelope order (no order minimum!). Plus, when you like our page between now and October 31st, you will be automatically entered to win $250 towards any envelope order!

LIKE Our Page Now!

5 Creative Custom Envelope Designs

Whether you're launching a new direct mail marketing campaign or just need a fresh batch of envelopes for your usualy correspondence, a creative envelope design can help you spread brand awareness and even earn you new business. The standard for printed envelopes of course is the logo in the upper left corner, but does it have to be? Check out these creative custom envelopes and see if they inspire you!

 

Window Cleaners

The best ideas are always the simplest. And these envelopes for a Dutch window cleaning company really hit the nail on the head in the best way possible!

 

 Google Map Inside Envelope

everyone prints their address on their envelopes, but how about your Google Maps location on the inside of the envelope!

Candy Door to Door

Seriously, everything is improved with candy, envelopes are no exception!

Pop Up!

This clever pop-up uses the envelope as part of the card.

 

Rip it Open

This one might be a little dark, but you can't deny that it is clever.

 



Can Small Businesses Afford a Direct Mail Campaign?

Direct mail campaigns are expensive. Or at least, that's the misconeption amongst many small and is preferred by most consumers).
business owners. If we're talking an apples to apples comparison between, let's say, e-mail and direct mail, then yes direct seems expensive (of course, as long as we're making the comparison, it should also be noted that direct mail has by far the highest response rate,

No matter where you fall on that debate, the question is whether or not you can afford a direct mail campaign. As with all marketing mediums, a certain amount of optimization is necessary in order to improve key metrics like response rate and ROI, but with a certain amount of leg work, direct can generate new customers for your business in a way that e-mail simply can not.

So how can you know if your business can afford to run a direct mail campaign:

1. Calculate your ROI: While you can't be 100% certain how your campaign will perform, research can give you a great idea of what to expect. For instance, a study by the Direct Marketing Association states that on average direct mail marketers earn $12.57 for every dollar they spend.
2. Speak to your printer: If possible, work with a printer who has experience in executing direct mail campaigns. There's a good chance that they've worked with businesses similar to yours, and can tell you what kind of return you can expect in your industry.
3.  Run a small batch first: If you're still unsure how your mailer will be received, try running a small batch before sending it out to everyone on your list. You can then make adjustments to your campaign before sending it to the rest of your list.
4. Don't Mail to Everyone: If you've got a huge mailing list, keep in mind that this offer may not be right for everyone. When you can get more specific, and target your offer to a very select group, you're more likely to improve your conversion rate.
5. Consolidate & Save: Generally speaking, when you work with one printer for your envelopes, mailers, labels etc. they'll usually cut you a deal. When you're getting prices from printers, make sure to see who will work with you to help make sure that you're maximizing ROI.

Contact Precision Envelope if you are interested in creating a direct mailiong campaign or to buy printed envelopes today.

The 5 Often Overlooked Things Every Small Business Must Have

According to SBA.gov there are 23 million small businesses in the United States, and combined they
account for 54% of all U.S sales. As the website puts it, corporate America continues to downsize as the rate of small business start-ups continues to grow (and just as important, the failure rate for small businesses has declined). Now is an excellent time to start a small business. And if you've got an idea and the drive, a small business can be a very big thing.

But it can be difficult to know what you need to get started. Even with reading tons of books and speaking with successful business owners, some of the details can go overlooked. Which is exactly why I've come up with a list of 5 of the often overlooked things every small business needs. Now, keep in mind that this is not a complete list of what every start up should have, just a concise list of 5 things you may overlook. If there's any other essentials you feel should be added to the list, please add a comment!

• A Website: Personally, before I work with a company, I will check them out online. And if I can't find any website, I'm much less likely to give them my business. It's 2013- Even if very little (or none) of your business comes from the Internet, you need to have a website. Remember, it doesn't have to be too flashy, just something simple featuring your business information.
• A Logo: A great logo can make your brand stand out (it might even convince someone to work with you rather than your competition. If your business doesn't have a logo, you can usually get one created for you, sometimes for as little as $5.
• Envelopes & Letterheads: Similar to how a logo can help you with branding, branded envelopes and business letterhead can give your business a professional look. These sort of little touches can demonstrate your professionalism to your customers.
• An Up to Date Mail List: Odds are you interact with several new people every day, and you should be keeping all of their information in a frequently updated mailing list. Whether you're running direct mail campaigns or you simply want to send out holiday cards, a good mailing list can be an invaluable asset and can generate tons of new business.
• Business Cards: Business cards allow you to make an impression every time you're out. Attending a meeting and not having business cards is a big faux pas. Luckily they are relitavely inexpensive.