Dahle’s Big & Tall Offers Free Shipping, Discount
Dahle’s Big & Tall Spring 2008 catalog features free shipping and 20% off all orders by a certain date. The apparel merchant offers casual and professional menswear in sizes LT-6XT and 2XB-8XB. Competitor Casual Male Retail Group Inc. acquired Dahle's direct business and seven of its stores this month. The cover of the catalog has a picture of a man wearing the Axis Panel Shirt ($75). Beneath the image, the book proclaims “Free Shipping! Free Returns! Plus, take 20% off your entire purchase!” Inside, a wide selection of sportswear and active wear is accompanied by a complete selection of dress clothing including suits, sportcoats, dress pants, and dress shirts. Dahle’s carries brands such as Levi’s, Cutter & Buck, Columbia, and its own proprietary labels, Copper Canyon, Ossomani, and Catalyst. Products include EZ-Care Short Sleeve Wovens ($36.99 - $39.99) by Copper Canyon, the Trail Meister Shoe ($65) by Columbia Sportswear Company, and Catalyst Premium Jeans ($59.99). Orders can be placed by phone, online, or by mail.
American Refugee Committee Emphasizes Clean Water
American Refugee Committee (ARC), an international nonprofit organization focused on helping refugees and displaced people, recently mailed out a 4” x 6” invitation style package emphasizing the importance of clean water. The outside of the plain white package is decorated with only the ARC logo and the cursive text “Address Labels Enclosed.” Inside, are a fold out reply form, black and white personalized address labels, and a reply envelope. The front of the tri-fold reply form depicts three young children filling buckets at a well. Below the image is a quote by 20th century poet W.H. Auden: “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” Inside, a personalized letter from ARC’s president discusses the importance of clean, disease-free water with statements such as “It’s hard to imagine that in the 21st century, children are dying from water borne diseases…” and “With only $100, ARC can provide an entire community with water…” The postscript at the bottom states “Drinking water should not be life threatening in the 21st century. Please donate today!” To the right is an ask ladder of $20/$25/$50/$100/other. A shocking statistic on the back of the reply form states “In the poorest of countries, one child out of five doesn’t reach the age of five mainly because of infectious diseases provoked by poor water quality.” There is also a disturbing comparison of how the amount of water used in the U.S. to flush the toilet once equals the amount of water a child lives on per day in sub-Saharan Africa (five gallons).
Audible.com Insert Presents Free Audiobook, Trial
Digital bookseller Audible.com targeted electronics and gadget fans with a recent package insert offering a free audiobook and 30-day trial membership. The company was acquired by online book, music, and electronics provider Amazon.com in March 2008. Audible.com offers over 40,000 downloadable titles, including various audio editions of books, magazines, newspapers, television shows, and radio programs. Its books are compatible with Amazon’s electronic reading device, the Kindle, and it is also the primary provider of audio programs for Apple’s iTunes store. The two-panel, 4-3/4” x 7” piece was inserted into a package from home tech retailer Brookstone. Photos of book covers and an iPod accompany text inviting recipients to “Download and listen to a best seller Free!” A red starburst graphic offers a “30 Day Free Trial” and a custom web address directs consumers to Audible.com/freebook7. Inside are more details about the service, including the monthly fee of $14.95 for continued membership and one audio credit per month after the trial ends. Also inside are snippets of praise for Audible.com from magazines such as Newsweek, Mac Life, and PC World.
The direct mail promotions appearing in Mail Stream are tracked and written up by ParadyszMatera, a media brokerage services company, through its MarketRelevance(tm) Promotion Library. Click here to visit their site: ParadyszMatera.com.
