How much does a retail direct mail campaign cost?

A 2,500-piece EDDM campaign for a retail store typically costs approximately $1,500–$1,800, including printing on 14pt gloss cardstock and USPS postage at $0.247 per piece. Grand opening campaigns often mail 5,000 pieces or more to maximize awareness in the first weeks.

Does direct mail work for retail stores competing against Amazon?

Yes. Local shoppers who receive a postcard about a sale at a store 5 minutes away make a different decision than they would browsing Amazon. Physical mail creates a different type of purchase intent. The key is a specific offer (20% off one item, buy-one-get-one) rather than a generic 'come visit us' message.

When should retailers use direct mail?

Grand openings, seasonal sales (back-to-school, holiday, clearance), and new product arrivals are the three best uses. Retailers who mail quarterly see better sustained traffic than ones who only mail for major holidays.

What offer should a retail store put on a postcard?

A specific dollar-off or percentage discount tied to a visit drives more response than brand messaging. '20% off any one item with this card' is easy to understand and acts as a coupon. Offers with an expiration date (within 4–6 weeks) create enough urgency to act without feeling manipulative.

Retail & Local Shops

Bring in more new retail customers.

Local shoppers aren't choosing Amazon over you. They just don't know about your sale yet. EDDM postcards reach every household in your trade area and put your offer in their hands before they decide where to shop.

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customers in-store

from a single 3,200-piece EDDM drop. 2.9% response rate. Cost per new customer: $0.63.

Your neighborhood is the best list you'll ever have. EDDM delivers to all of it, no data fees required.

customers, one EDDM drop

3,200

postcards · $0.63/customer

2.9%

response rate

Campaign Types

Four campaigns that drive retail traffic.

Grand Opening

Mail 2 weeks before opening + opening week

Your grand opening is your biggest marketing moment. A postcard reaching every household within 3–5 miles announces your location, your concept, and a reason to visit, before they hear about you by accident.

"Now Open: [Store Name]. 20% off your first purchase. Bring this card."

Seasonal Sale

Mail 2–3 weeks before the sale begins

Back-to-school, holiday, summer clearance, and spring arrivals give local shoppers a reason to choose your store over an online order. A specific offer with a clear date range drives traffic during your highest-revenue windows.

"Summer clearance: up to 40% off storewide. [Date] through [Date]. Bring this card."

New Arrivals & Product Launch

When new inventory arrives or a new line launches

Existing customers come back when they know something new is waiting. A postcard mailed to your surrounding neighborhoods gives both regulars and new customers a reason to visit, and leads with your best-looking product.

"New arrivals just landed. Be the first to see them. Exclusive preview this weekend."

Loyalty Drive

Quarterly, between major seasonal pushes

Lapsed customers are cheaper to reactivate than acquiring new ones. A welcome-back postcard targets households that visited once and never returned. It turns one-time buyers into regulars.

"We miss you. Come back for 25% off your next visit. Valid through [date]."

How It Works

From trade area to in-store traffic in four steps.

Select your trade area

Use our route selector to pick the carrier routes within driving distance of your store. See exact household counts and pricing before you commit.

Choose or upload a design

Start from a proven retail template or upload your own file. Free design review on every order before anything goes to press.

L&B prints and delivers

We bundle by route, complete USPS paperwork, and drop at the post office. You don't lift a finger.

Count the postcards

Use the postcard as a coupon at checkout. You'll know exactly how many new customers it drove. No guesswork.

Pricing: 6.25×9" Standard

Print starts at $41.50.
Postage is $0.247/pc.

No setup fees. Campaign review, USPS bundling, PS Form 3587, and post office drop-off are included with every order.

See all sizes & pricing

6.25 × 9" · 14pt Gloss · Print Only

500 pcs

$207.50$0.415/pc

1,000 pcs

$415.00$0.415/pc

2,500 pcs

$721.97$0.289/pc

5,000 pcs

$1,183.50$0.237/pc

10,000 pcs

$2,197.50$0.220/pc

15,000 pcs

$3,094.50$0.206/pc

+ $0.247/pc USPS postage added at checkout

Seasonal Timing

Mail before the moment, not during it.

Postcards delivered 2–3 weeks before a shopping occasion outperform last-minute drops. Plan your calendar around when decisions are made, not when registers ring.

Summer / Back-to-School

Mail: late June

Target the pre-back-to-school window when families are actively spending. Categories: clothing, school supplies, sporting goods, specialty.

Fall / Holiday

Mail: October

Biggest retail window of the year. Two-drop strategy: grand announce in October, reminder the first week of November.

New Year / Valentine's

Mail: January

Underutilized by most retailers. Post-holiday shoppers are actively seeking deals. Clearance and new arrivals both perform.

Spring / Easter

Mail: late February – March

Outdoor, home, garden, and apparel all perform. Coordinate with the first warm weekend for maximum walk-in traffic.

Retail Templates

Start from a proven design.

Grand Opening: First Impression

Storefront image · coupon offer · hours + address

Seasonal Sale: Deadline Drive

Bold sale headline · feature product · date range

New Arrivals: Product-Led

Full-bleed product photo · new arrivals copy

Loyalty: Welcome Back

Personal tone · welcome-back offer · return incentive

Browse All Retail Templates

Your neighborhood is ready.
Are your customers?

Free campaign review. We'll map your trade area and recommend the right offer for your store.

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