Major Surplus & Survival Promotes “Lots of ‘Free’ Offers!”
Major Surplus & Survival recently mailed a slim-jim catalog offering a variety of premiums with the purchase of select merchandise. The company offers an extremely diverse selection of military, outdoors and survival gear. The front cover headlines “Lots of ‘Free’ Offers! Best Prices Ever…” with a collage of items such as an Emergency Preparedness Kit ($14.95), a Pop Tent ($59.95) and a selection of Ammo Cans ($12.95/$14.95 for 30/50 calibers – limit 10 per customer). Free gift items are scattered throughout multiple pages and include an Infrared Tasklight with the purchase of a 50mm Discovery Monocular ($279) or a Magnum Hat with any Magnum Boot order ($64.95 - $129.95). The 60-page book is organized in sections including First Aid, Military Collectibles, Sleeping Bags and Food Storage. Products range from a used Genuine British Bobbie Helmet with a reproduction badge ($49.95) to a full body Boy’s Camo Suit “For The Young Hunter” ($29.95) and an M-Tech Grenade Knife ($9.95). Numerous pages are dedicated to MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) storable for 5 to 7 years; these include “The Basic” ($59.95 - 12 meals per case) and Freeze-Dried Food packets with flavorful meals like Scrambled Eggs with Ham ($4.49). Orders can be placed by phone, mail, fax, online at MajorSurplus.com or at the retail location in Gardena, California.
Food for the Poor Make Plea for 50 Pounds of Rice
Christian relief nonprofit Food for the Poor mailed a new package asking for donations to purchase rice for starving communities. The envelope reads “50 lbs. of Rice Enclosed,” which is the amount of lifesaving food a donor can supply with a $10 donation. A see-through window displays the enclosed magnet freemium in the shape of a bag of rice, personalized to read “A Gift From the (name) Family,” above the organization’s logo and web address. Inside, the contents resemble previous mailings from Food for the Poor, including a letter detailing the story of a Haitian woman named Roman Vilbrun and her struggle to provide food for her family. “Roman’s malnourished little ones spend hours gathering a meager amount of crabs that offer little nutrition.” This unhealthy diet leads to bloated bellies caused by intestinal parasites, including worms. A 14” x 8½” foldout picture of one of Vilbrun’s sons shows a somber-eyed boy with a bloated belly, gazing desperately towards the camera. The backside reiterates the dire need of proper nourishment in Haiti, again using the Vilbrun family as an example. The segment ends by reminding recipients that “by simply sharing our blessings with those in need, our collective Christian charity has the power to save countless lives.” The reply form features an ask ladder of $10/$15/$20/$30/$60/other, with a simulated handwritten font reminding recipients that every $10 donated provides another 50 pounds of rice. A “Prayer Request” card is attached to the reply form.
American Rivers Changes Creative, Keeps It Bold
A recent mailing from conservation organization American Rivers continues to set the mailer apart from other nature/wildlife nonprofits in creative approach. The eye-catching bright yellow envelope grabs attention with four words: “What a DAM Shame.” The swear-word pun is used throughout the letter, first in its opening paragraph, “You might drive past one every day, and not even notice the ‘dam’ thing is there,” and again in closing “Yes, what’s happening in our rivers is a ‘dam’ shame.” The prime objective of the group is to remove dams which obstruct the natural flow of rivers, and threaten wildlife and human safety. An enclosed insert provides a list of dams nationwide that American Rivers either has taken down, is in the process of taking down, or which are slated for removal. Previous mailings played on a B movie monster theme (“A 15-Foot Tall Monster Lurks in a River Near You...”), and the reply form retains the headline “I will help take down the 15-foot monsters!” The ask ladder is $15/$20/$25/$50/other with a number of incentives given to $15+ members: Roger the River Otter, a 14” plush, a “Go With Flow” t-shirt, a one year subscription to Upstream magazine, and the American Rivers Annual Calendar.
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