Washington Direct Mail Ltd

WDM is certified to the internationally recognised standard for information security — ISO 27001. We adhere to this standard to guarantee that your data is securely transferred to, stored on, processed within, and deleted from our systems. Additionally, we are registered as data processors with the Information Commissioner's Office.

WDM boasts decades of expertise collaborating with B2B and B2C data supply companies. We partner with you to develop the ideal customer profile to enhance your marketing message, subsequently sourcing the data from the most appropriate supplier on your behalf. Should you prefer to source your own data, we also provide a consultation service to assist in pinpointing the correct targets for your campaign.

Every data file we receive will be thoroughly checked and enhanced as part of our standard service. This includes correcting the case, removing unnecessary punctuation, splitting address lines, adjusting postcode formats, and identifying international addresses. These enhancements not only improve the professionalism of your mail piece but also guarantee that we can secure the maximum postal discounts by utilising clean, accurate addresses.

We are experts in intricate data manipulation — our motto is “Embrace the Complex”. We consistently work to precise data specifications and frequently provide insightful recommendations as well. The degree of complexity can vary significantly from one client to another.

When gathering data from your mailing list via surveys, vouchers, or coupons, you may utilise our PO Box address so we can receive the mail directly, or you can deliver it to us in bulk. We offer assistance in designing your forms to ensure they are easily scannable, allowing for automatic data capture using OCR technology. Additionally, we can accurately capture handwritten responses and employ barcodes to link each response to the original sender from the data file.

If you need to maintain a PDF record of every mail item sent, whether as a necessity or simply for convenience, we can produce both individual and bulk indexed PDFs. Our service allows for custom naming conventions, and we ensure secure storage or safe transfer back to the client.

Our in-house design team caters to an extensive range of projects, from straightforward static designs such as flyers and business cards to comprehensive catalogues, brochures, and questionnaires. Our skilled professionals are also equipped to create original artwork for intricate variable data assignments. Whether you're launching a new business or contemplating a rebrand, we offer bespoke logo design and corporate branding services to elevate your brand identity.

When dispatching a mailing, it is uncommon for the same message to be relevant to an entire contact list. The most effective results are gained by customising each mail piece to the individual recipient. We can produce a bespoke document that enables you to deliver a targeted message to every recipient while still benefitting from the economies of scale associated with a single bulk mailing.

Achieve substantial postage discounts by utilising either Mailmark or OCR services while adhering to a strict set of guidelines for designing your mailing piece. Failing to comply with these regulations could result in your mail being redirected to a more costly service. We guarantee that every job we handle possesses the correct PPI (Printed Postage Impression), accurately defined clear zones, a return address, and is machine-readable, ensuring you receive the most cost-effective postage rates available.

A personalised mail piece consistently outperforms generic alternatives. The more tailored your communication, the better your outcomes. With digital printing, every mail piece can be unique, allowing you to effectively customise your message for each recipient. For instance, you could send to your entire contact list while offering different promotions for lapsed customers, existing clients, and prospects. You can adapt the message based on the average order value and showcase a client’s preferred products or suggest complementary items. This approach enables you to benefit from the cost advantages of larger print runs, such as reduced postage rates, while still achieving superior results through targeted marketing.

Our B3 litho press is perfectly designed for delivering top-quality generic print. This press is ideal for short to medium run lengths, seamlessly integrating with our complete cut-sheet finishing and mail fulfilment services. We specialise in producing generic booklets, flyers, and postcards suitable for inkjet printing, as well as personalised letterheads for laser printing. Our press operates without chemicals, employing vegetable and water-based inks, and we exclusively utilise FSC certified papers. This commitment underscores our dedication to being an ECO-MAILER and maintaining our ISO 14001 certification.

Our range of production laser printers is primarily utilised for transactional mail, including detailed invoices, council tax bills, rent statements, and rent increase letters. Additionally, we specialise in printing direct mail materials. This encompasses letters printed on litho-printed letterheads and carrier sheets for poly-wrapped mail items, such as brochures or catalogues. In fact, for any mail piece where the personalised element is exclusively in black, it is more cost-effective to lithographically print the base stock in colour and subsequently overprint in black.

If your mailpiece is standard and requires just a name and address to be added, then inkjet printing is the most cost-effective and rapid printing solution available. We can personalise postcards, one-piece mailers, brochures, or non-window envelopes by adding the contact information at impressive speeds of up to 30,000 pieces per hour.

As the name implies, Washington Direct Mail began as a specialist in mail fulfilment services, and this continues to be our primary focus today. Established in 1983, we have earned a reputation as a reliable trade supplier to numerous commercial printers. This long-standing experience has enabled us to cultivate robust partnerships with a diverse range of businesses across various sectors. Consequently, we have developed a trusted network of suppliers to handle any print projects that we cannot carry out cost-effectively in-house. We possess the expertise to identify the best commercial printers to achieve the desired quality at competitive prices.

We provide a comprehensive range of services in-house, executed by our highly skilled operators using top-quality equipment suitable for every task:

• Booklet Production
• Laminating Services
• Guillotining
• Folding Techniques
• Die Cutting
• Collating
• Binding Solutions
• Gluing Methods
• Creasing Services
• Perforating
• Drilling
• Hand Finishing

We stand by the quality of our reliable outsourced suppliers.

• UV Varnishing
• Embossing
• Foil Blocking
• Perfect Binding
• Horseshoe Gumming

We’re very proud of our transactional mail capabilities, which have been a core service since opening in 1983. We can receive data files in almost any format, create complex documents, print and enclose at high speed using 2D barcodes to guarantee pack integrity, and provide high level reporting. We have several solutions to automate the secure data transfer, data processing, print file generation, and reporting.

Utilising envelopes for your direct mail piece enables you to secure the most competitive postage rates while delivering the polished appearance of transactional mail. We employ the same barcode and camera technology that we apply in transactional mail, along with weight checkers to ensure that each envelope contains the precise items required. Additionally, our cameras can facilitate matched mailings (matching up to three personalised inserts or aligning two personalised inserts with a personalised envelope) or support selective feeding (up to six generic inserts).

Certain tasks are not ideal for machine fulfilment, and for these, we provide a highly experienced hand fulfilment team. If your mailing includes a non-standard insert (such as a t-shirt or a pen), more than eight inserts, a very short run, or any other unique requirement, our team is equipped to manage it effectively. Additionally, we offer pick and pack services where we store your products and create customised packs based on your order history, ensuring a personalised experience for your customers.

Enveloping your direct mail item in clear polythene offers the recipient a glimpse of the package's contents prior to opening, which can be immensely beneficial. Polythene is significantly lighter than traditional envelopes, helping to keep the overall weight of the package below postal price increase thresholds (typically 100g or 250g). Additionally, it boasts exceptional strength, making it ideal for heavier direct mail items, such as substantial catalogues. For those seeking a more eco-friendly option, potato starch wrap provides a fully biodegradable alternative to polythene, ensuring your mailing solutions are both effective and environmentally sustainable.

Letter
Up to 240x165x5mm and 100g

Large Letter < 100g
Dimensions: Up to 353x250x25mm for non-machine readable items and up to 345x245x10mm for machine readable items, both up to 100g

Large Letter 101-250g
All large letter dimensions remain the same

Large Letter 251-750g
All large letter dimensions remain the same
Packet

The most cost-effective solution for distributing generic mail pieces across entire postcodes. Following several unsatisfactory experiences with leaflet distribution companies, we have committed to exclusively using the Royal Mail Door to Door service for leaflet distribution. While it may come at a slightly higher cost, we guarantee reliable delivery, making it significantly cheaper than addressed mail. We will handle the approval of your artwork with Royal Mail and ensure that all print materials are correctly labelled and dispatched to the appropriate distribution centre at the scheduled time. Please note, we typically require a minimum of three weeks' notice to secure a delivery slot when choosing this service.

We collaborate closely with a selection of trusted suppliers, each capable of meeting a diverse range of requirements.

Just like UK postage, the more items you post, the greater the opportunity to sort the mail and secure more economical rates. For smaller quantities, we simply categorise between the EU and the rest of the world. For larger volumes, we have the capability to sort by country or access point. If you're sending substantial mailings to a specific country, we can facilitate a direct entry mailing for you.

We offer Business Reply and Freepost accounts, allowing you to utilise your company name alongside our PO Box for the seamless delivery of response mail back to WDM. Should you require the replies to be directed to a different address, we can assist in establishing accounts with Royal Mail and provide the necessary artwork for your reply mail piece.