Grip Marketing: FAQ

Grip postcards are jumbo-sized (9" X 5") or (10" X 6") with full color processed art on both sides. Jumbo sizing ensures your card will stand out more than the standard (4" X 6"). We print only on a thicker, stiff, ultra white premium card stock with a special nontoxic coating on both sides making them more durable, classy, glossy, and increasing color accuracy to close to 100%.

How does your service save me time and money?

With our turnkey direct mail and low wholesale prices. Simply select your targeted mail list and one of our convenient postcard templates. You can use these templates as they are or you can customize them. After selecting your mail list and creating your mail pieces, Grip takes care the rest of the process, too, including printing, sorting, addressing, and mailing. Just leave it all to us! Since we mail your cards directly to your customers, you don’t pay shipping costs. In addition, we keep your order information in a secure database that makes subsequent mailings turnkey and hassle-free. When you use Grip, you'll never to have deal with a printer, have your employees addressing mail, applying postage stamps, or waiting for an ad agency to return your phone calls. And we do it at low wholesale prices! We save you time and money, that way you have more time to make your business more successful!

How can your service help me make money?

In the past, for most business owners, the direct mail advertising process stifled creativity and design, and suffered from the restrictions of too many vendors, paperwork, and expense. With our turnkey approach, we not only help you to make money on the front end by giving you the most powerful advertising tool available today, targeted direct mail, to effectively market your business and increase sales, we also save you money on the back end by producing your mailpieces for low wholesale prices.

How do I plan a successful direct marketing campaign?

Create your targeted prospect list. You can upload your own customer list and/or purchase one of our targeted prospect lists. To learn more about our targeted lists, click on PrimeList™.

Grip's creative designs arrest the consumer at the mailbox and stop the page from turning. To learn more about the design process, click on Customize Your Design.

Because we’ve mailed over 10 billion mailpieces, we’ve learned which offers work and why offers fail.To learn more about offers, contact us toll-free at 866-627-0400 or click on Email us.

Initial offers get initial people’s interest, and make overnight sales. But what about the people who didn't respond to the initial offer? Follow-up offers entice them to make a purchase. There is more to direct marketing than a one-time offer. When consumers don’t take advantage of an offer, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t interested, only that perhaps they just don’t have a need for your services at the moment. By sending them additional mailings they are more inclined to contact you when they do have the need for your product or services. This is called keeping the consumer TOP OF MIND. To learn more click on PrimeList™.

Does Grip create the layout and design or can I create it?

You decide. We create award-winning results-driven postcards. Select your mail list, choose your promotion, select artwork from our Art Library, and use Grip's Creative Planning Group to create your layout, design, copy, offer, map, positioning, and tone. Before we begin, however, we must gain insight from you about your company. InsideOut™, Grip's strategic interactive thought process is designed to analyze your business and provide direction, foresight and insight, from which all marketing and sales promotion springs forth. Click here learn more about InsideOut™. Or you can design your own postcards, just send us your images, copy, layout, logos, camera ready artwork, map, offer and positioning.

Can you help me reach new customers?

Yes. We offer a multi-sourced consumer database that contains more than 170 million individuals in over 100 million U.S. households and national coverage of over 14 million business names representing over 13 million businesses. Targeted lists increase the impact of your marketing campaigns by eliminating waste and increase your ability to reach new customers. For more information click on PrimeList™

Do I have to use your customer lists?

No. You can use your own list, choose one of our lists, or merge your list with one of ours. Our unique merging capability allows you to create lists for different types of mailings. We support many software packages including, but not limited to, Act, Lotus Organizer, Goldmine, Peachtree Accounting, Excel, FoxPro, Access, Sidekick, QuickBooks, Outlook, Outlook Express, or any dBase or tab delimited or comma delimited files.

How do I submit my customer lists?

It's easy and kept 100% confidential - GUARANTEED! All you have to do us extract your customer data from your database and place that file in an accessible folder or on your desktop. Then simply attach your extracted data file to an email and send it to: mailmanager@gripmarketing.com.

NOTE: You MUST identify your ACCOUNT NAME, and your Grip Marketing Work Order NUMBER if available to assure proper receipt and to avoid costly delays in your mailing. Additional information such as your business address, phone and any other specific data instructions are extremely helpful and help us expedite your mailing.

The image must be a 35mm, 2 1/4, 4 x 5, or 8 x 10 inch photographic print or a transparency (positive/slide). Prints must be unmounted, and no larger than 8x10 inches. We cannot reproduce from a negative or from a piece of previously printed material (reproductions from previously printed material can be made at additional cost, but please note that the quality will suffer)

Neatly printed or typed copy must be accompanied by a layout, sketch or mockup with selected typestyle and supporting artwork (line art, graphics, logos, photos,etc.) to show us how the postcard is set up. Please make sure that your layout passes postal regulation guidelines.

Logos and Camera Ready Artwork

Logos or camera ready artwork must be specified pantone, RGB, CMYK if they are in color, or black and white line art.

Maps and Directions

Map images must be 300dpi or better and must be specified pantone, RGB, or CMYK. Directions must be clearly typed and provided in email or any computer software format.

How can I submit my layout, photos, artwork, etc.?

Submission guidelines can be found by clicking here on File Submissions. Please read the guidelines carefully, as incorrect submissions will delay your order or may result in added costs.

How long will it take from start to finish?

Our quick turnaround time normally runs about 30 days. The first order sometimes takes a little longer, but future orders tend to go more quickly. Allow a couple of extra days for your first order. Turnaround times seasonally vary, and are not guaranteed. Please check with your Customer Care representative for current turnaround times. Delays in processing your order can be caused by:
    • Items missing (image, copy, layout, logo, artwork, map, directions, payment, etc.)
    • Delays in faxing or emailing back your proof approvals
    • Numerous changes to your copy, layout, etc.
    • Numerous proof changes
    • Holidays, weather, equipment failure, etc. at your end or ours

Can my order be completed any faster?

Grip's Rush Service can cut the turnaround time in half. The cost is double the total price of your order excluding postage. Please note that copy, art, or layout changes can delay the delivery time of a rush order. Color proof service is not available on rush orders.

Order by phone, fax, mail, or email.

What do I need to place an order?

Image, copy, layout, logos, artwork, maps, i.e., anything you want to go on the postcard, signed acceptance of your order, and payment.

What happens after I send you my order?

All of the information about your company, location addresses and billing instructions, special instructions, and your work order are entered into our computer system so our specialists can track it through the various stages of production, design, printing, and postal delivery. Your order will indicate the production specifications you requested and any additional production charges you may incur. A Customer Care representative may contact you with questions we may have regarding your order and recommendations on how to improve your order. If paying by credit card, a credit card authorization form along with a copy of your work order is sent to you via fax or mail. If paying by check, a copy of your work order is sent to you via fax or mail. After we receive signed acceptance of your order from you via fax or mail, and payment, production begins and there is no cancellation beyond this point. Please refer to your work order number when you fax, email, or call us.

Payment must accompany your order. We accept checks, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, or money orders (U.S. dollars only). Please do not send cash. Payment of postage in advance is required on all orders. Grip will add a service fee to those orders whose postage is paid by credit card, as postage costs are a pass-through.

What kinds of proofs do I get?

A layout proof of frontside and backside will be faxed to you and a full color proof is available to you FREE online on our website. A password will be provided to you for access to your secure online proofs. You will receive an approval form with your proofs. Your approval authorization must be received before we can proceed with your order.

What if I don't have an internet connection or a fax machine?

We can mail your proof to you, however, this will delay processing your order. Access to a fax machine is available at your local copy or mailing center and access to an online computer is available at E-Cafes in your local area.

How do I reprint a successful postcard?

Reprints are available at a reduced price. Copy, layout, and typeface changes are additional. Talk to a Sales representative toll-free at 1-866-627-0400 or email us by clicking on Sales Dept.

How do I get my artwork returned to me?

Upon request, all submitted materials, such as camera ready art, transparencies, and disks are returned to you. We suggest you send us duplicates of your materials as Grip takes no responsibility and assumes no liability for loss or replacement.

How can you offer this service at such a low price?

We "gang" your order with other companies' postcards on sheets of 100,000 so you receive the benefits of ordering a quantity of 100,000, even when you only order 10,000 postcards.

Is there a minimum order?

Postcards have a minimum order of 10000, however, not all 10,000 must be mailed at once. You can drop 2,500 pieces 4 on four different occasions. The minimum can be waived for a service fee. See your account rep for details.

What is branding?

Branding consists of your name, logos, personality, associations, strategy, and positioning.

How can I create my brand?

Together we research and analyze your industry, your competition, your partnerships and your markets. We develop marketing programs that emotionally bond the consumer with your brand. At Grip we create brands and revitalize underperforming brands.

What other services and products does Grip offer?

We offer a wide range of services from Graphic Design to Corporate Identity, stationery, corporate communication and sales brochures, trade show exhibits and collateral material, and point of sale displays. From Sales and Marketing Strategy and Strategic Planning to Information Design, Internet and E-commerce Strategy. For more information on all of our services just click on Services.

Call us toll-free at 1-866-627-0400 or Email Us to contact a Customer Care Representative!