Elvis Catalog Presents Gifts from "The King"
For shoppers who are "taking care of business in a flash," the 24-page Holiday 2004 book is filled with gift ideas for the lover of all things Elvis including a large collection of Presley’s recordings, taped performances and movies, as well as Christmas ornaments, figurines and apparel. While the majority of items are priced under $50, there are big-ticket selections scattered throughout, including a framed "That’s All Right" gold record ($135), a 50s-inspired leather bomber jacket ($229.99) and an Elvis Brunswick regulation bowling ball ($125), which will "make the ultimate paperweight" if you don’t bowl. For customers who want to feel like a part of Elvis’ inner circle, a replica of the King’s own "Crazy" bracelet is available in 14kt gold for $2,000. Items that deserve a mention for sheer creativity are the line of Elvis Roses ($49.99 for 1/2 dozen, $69.99 for 1 dozen), available in three colors: pink with the printing "Always on My Mind" or "Burning Love," red with "Love Me Tender," and white with Elvis’ image and signature. Free shipping is offered on orders of $75 or more, which can be placed via mail, Internet, fax or toll-free phone number 888-ELVISROCKS. Freedom from Hunger Offers Calendar Freemium
Freedom from Hunger, the nonprofit dedicated to sustainable self-help solutions for women in order to fight hunger and poverty, has added a new freemium. 
The 9" x 6" package alerts prospects to the freemium above the address panel and prominently displays the gift, the 2005 wall calendar "Self-help for a hungry world," through a window on the back side of envelope. Each month of the 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" calendar features photographs of women helped by the organization, and illustrates a particular theme of the organization such as "Teach a woman to fish," "Knowledge saves lives," and "Results that endure." Further information about how the theme is put into action accompanies each image. The calendar is referenced in the donation letter implicitly ("It’s January and a mother in Bolivia welcomes the New Year by preparing for her children a hearty meal that, only a year ago, she couldn’t afford"), as well as explicitly. The package contains a reply form with a $25/$50/$75/$100/$250/other ask ladder, encouraging others to join Freedom from Hunger in "providing health, hope and dignity."
Musical Greetings from National Pen Corp.
National Pen Corporation, a business-to-business mailer best known for conducting volume sales of personalized promotional pens, mailed an atypical musical offer before this year's holiday season. 
The packages do not contain a sample writing instrument, as usual, but instead present a sample of the company's personalized greeting cards with a special surprise. A holiday card and a CD described as a "timeless 12-song treasury of holiday music" are enclosed, with the latter personalized with the recipient's name (in some pieces; others are marked "Imagine Your Imprint Here"). Teaser copy on the outer envelope, surprisingly, promotes the cards but offers no clue about the musical component; it reads, "Pre-Season Sale: Save 50% on Holiday Greeting Cards! Your Sample Enclosed!" The sample card is embossed and features metallic gold accents. The companion envelope is also lined with gold foil, and marked diagonally across the front, "FREE foil line envelopes with your order!" Lastly, a sample sheet of six gold foil seals featuring snowflakes, Christmas trees and stars, illustrates the types of seals that are sent with each order, one per card and envelope. The full price range for these bulk order holiday cards runs from $74.50 for 25 cards ($2.98 each) to $1,390 for 500 ($2.78 each), with several price levels in between. However, many buyers pay much less. In addition to the volume discounts, all orders placed within roughly 10 days pay 50% less, while orders placed within roughly three weeks pay 35% less (deadlines vary but dates are explicit within each promotion). The order form offers several choices, including five card designs shown on an insert, a customized message on the CD, and whether to pay now or be billed.
The direct mail promotions appearing in Mail Stream are tracked and analyzed by ParadyszMatera, a media brokerage services company, through its MarketRelevance(tm) Promotion Library. Click here to visit their site: ParadyszMatera.com.
