Have questions about direct mail, printing, or mailing equipment? Start here. If you don’t see what you need, call us at 410-749-1885 or use our online contact form and we’ll walk you through it.
Getting Started with Mail Movers
Who is Mail Movers?
Mail Movers is a full-service direct mail, digital printing, and mailing equipment provider based in Salisbury, Maryland. From our production facility, we help businesses and nonprofits across the Delmarva Peninsula plan, print, and mail postcards, letters, newsletters, invoices/statements, and more – plus save money with presort, commingle, and USPS Full-Service Certified preparation.
What is the best way to get started on a direct mail campaign?
The easiest first step is to talk to us about your goal – more donors, more customers, more appointments, etc. From there we’ll:
- Help you choose the right audience (your list, a new list, or Every Door Direct Mail®).
- Recommend a format (postcard, letter package, newsletter, etc.).
- Outline postage options, timing, and an estimated budget.
You can start by requesting an estimate, placing an order, or simply sending your project details through our contact form. A real person in Salisbury will follow up and help you make a plan.
What types of organizations do you work with?
We regularly work with nonprofits, banks and credit unions, healthcare providers, home services (HVAC, plumbing, pest control), realtors, schools, and local governments, as well as small and mid-sized businesses across many industries. Whether you’re mailing a few hundred appeal letters or tens of thousands of postcards, we’ll size the solution to your budget and deadlines.
What areas do you serve?
We are located in Salisbury, MD and primarily serve the entire Delmarva Peninsula – including the Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware, and Virginia’s Eastern Shore – but we can also handle projects that mail outside the region. If your mail is entering the USPS system, there’s a good chance we can help.
How do I get an estimate?
You can:
- Use our online Request an Estimate form and upload any files you have.
- Call us at 410-749-1885 to talk through your project.
- Email or use our Contact Us form with details like quantity, size, colors, list source, and in-home date.
The more details you provide (quantities, sizes, postage class, in-home date), the more precise your quote will be – but if you’re not sure, send what you know and we’ll fill in the gaps.
Lists, Data & Targeting
Can you provide a mailing list, or do I need to bring my own?
You can do either:
- Use your own list: We’ll clean it (CASS™, NCOA, DPV®, duplicate removal) and get it ready for USPS and postage discounts.
- Buy a targeted list through us: We can source consumer (B2C) and business (B2B) lists and target by geography, demographics, income, homeownership, business type, and more.
- Use Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM): If you just want to hit every address on specific carrier routes, we’ll help you pick the routes and handle all the prep.
Can you clean up and deduplicate my existing mailing list?
Yes. List cleanup is a big part of what we do. We:
- Standardize addresses to USPS format (CASS).
- Update records for people and businesses that have moved (NCOA).
- Remove obvious duplicates so you don’t mail the same person twice.
This improves deliverability, reduces wasted postage, and helps your campaign perform better.
What is the minimum quantity I need to mail?
For most discounted USPS mail:
- Marketing Mail (Bulk Mail): Minimum of about 200 qualified pieces or 50 pounds of mail.
- Presorted First-Class: Minimum of about 500 qualified pieces.
If you’re under those thresholds, we can still help – we’ll just talk through the best class of mail and options for your situation.
Postage, Classes of Mail & Delivery
What’s the difference between First-Class and Marketing Mail (Bulk Mail)?
In simple terms:
- First-Class Mail: Faster and more premium. Typical delivery is about 2–7 business days and forwarding/returns are included. Good for invoices, statements, time-sensitive notices, and high-value pieces.
- Marketing Mail (Bulk Mail): Slower but cheaper. Typical delivery is about 2–10 business days and forwarding/returns are not included unless you pay for special endorsements. Ideal for most promotional mailings.
We’ll help you choose the right class based on your budget, content, and timeline.
How long will my job take once I approve the proof?
Turnaround depends on the complexity and quantity, but a standard digital postcard or letter mailing can often be printed, addressed, and entered into the mail stream within 2–3 business days after final proof approval. More complex projects (multi-piece letter packages, unusual formats, very large quantities) may take longer. We’ll give you a clear timeline before you commit.
Can you track when my mail is delivered?
Yes. For most direct mail campaigns we can add Intelligent Mail barcodes and use tracking tools to monitor when mail is scanned in the USPS system. If you add our MMScope omnichannel platform, you’ll also get a dashboard showing projected in-home dates, call tracking, and online engagement tied to your mailing list.
Design, Files & Proofing
Do you offer graphic design services?
Yes. We have professional designers on staff who can:
- Create a new, USPS-compliant mailpiece from scratch.
- Clean up or adjust your existing artwork for better print and postal performance.
- Make sure key elements (address, indicia, barcodes, tabs) are placed correctly so your piece qualifies for the postage you expect.
Can you work with my designer or agency?
Absolutely. We routinely work with outside designers, agencies, and in-house marketing teams. We can provide templates, postal design guidance, and file-prep tips so they can build artwork that prints well and sails through USPS acceptance.
What file formats do you accept?
Our preferred format is a high-resolution, press-ready PDF with fonts embedded and bleeds included. We can also work from native design files such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop when needed. If you’re using online tools like Canva, we recommend exporting a print-ready PDF with crop marks and bleeds turned on.
What resolution should my photos and graphics be?
For sharp results, images should be at least 300 dpi at the final printed size. Web graphics pulled at 72–96 dpi will usually look soft or pixelated when printed. Whenever possible, send original, high-resolution image files rather than screenshots.
Should my files be in RGB or CMYK?
For print, CMYK is the safest choice. We can convert from RGB, but some very bright or neon colors cannot be reproduced exactly on press. If exact brand-color matching is critical, let us know and we can talk about Pantone® (spot color) options, proofing, and expectations.
What is a proof and why is it important?
A proof is your last chance to catch problems before we print and mail. It shows:
- How your artwork will trim, fold, and address.
- How your variable data (names, addresses, personalized content) will merge.
- Any postal elements like indicia, barcodes, and addressing zones.
We will not proceed to production without your approval on a proof. Carefully checking it avoids expensive reprints and mail delays.
Variable Data & Personalization
What is variable data printing?
Variable data printing (VDP) lets us change text, images, and other elements from piece to piece based on your data. At the simple end, that might be a personalized name, address, and salutation. At the advanced end, it could include different offers, images, or charts depending on the recipient’s past giving, purchase history, or demographics.
Does personalization really make a difference?
Yes. Personalized campaigns typically generate much higher response and conversion rates than one-size-fits-all mail. While the cost per piece is higher, the cost per response is often significantly lower – which is what actually matters for ROI. If you share your goals and data, we’ll tell you honestly whether basic or advanced personalization makes sense.
What do you need from me for a variable data project?
At a minimum we need:
- A clean data file – usually a .csv or Excel file with each field (name, address, gift amount, etc.) in its own column.
- A sample or description of how you want the data to appear in the piece (e.g., “Dear <First Name>,” or “Thank you for your <Last Gift Amount> donation”).
For more complex projects, we may also ask for additional files like personalized images or variable charts. If you’re not sure how to set this up, send what you have and we’ll show you the best way to structure it.
Printing, Production & Equipment
What types of printing do you offer?
We specialize in high-quality digital printing for:
- Postcards and EDDM® flats
- Letters and envelopes
- Newsletters and booklets
- Brochures and self-mailers
- Appeal letters and fundraising packages
- Invoices, statements, and other transactional documents
Most projects are printed and finished in-house so we can control quality, timing, and costs.
Can you help with postage meters and mailing equipment?
Yes. Mail Movers is an authorized Quadient dealer. We sell and service postage meters, folder-inserters, address printers, and software solutions for businesses that handle mail in-house. If you’re not sure what you need, we can evaluate your mail volume and workflow and recommend the right system – plus provide local installation, training, and service.
Billing, Payment & Logistics
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, company checks, and all major credit cards. For qualified customers, we can also set up a business account; talk to our team for details.
Can you handle printing only, or do you have to do the mailing too?
We can do either:
- Print & mail: Most clients have us handle everything – data, design, printing, inserting, and USPS entry.
- Print only: If you want to handle addressing and mailing yourself, we can print and ship the finished pieces to you.
We’ll be direct about when it makes more sense (and costs less) to let us handle the entire workflow, especially once you factor in USPS rules and discounts.
What if I still have questions?
That’s what we’re here for. Call us, email us, or send your project details through our online forms. We live and breathe direct mail and printing every day – you don’t have to.
