Holiday Mailing Schedule

[Gary Parker]

I am approaching my first full year of using direct mail as a marketing tool. Last holiday season I did not mail from Thanksgiving until after New Years. I market to absentee owner, probate, inherited and will start 30,60,90 or NOD soon or right after the holidays. For all of these lists in general I mail to the new people on the list then continue to mail except for absentee owner where I get a new list annually.

I would like to know what others do with their direct mail schedules during the holidays.

[Account Closed]

I'm a low volume mailer (less than 5000 pieces a year). I always get calls during the Thanksgiving weekend, starting Friday am. Last year I got a call on Christmas Eve. I get a lot of calls on Sunday. If you think about it, some people don't have the time or mental space until they have time off from work, and lots of people don't take full blown vacations during the winter holidays. The slowest time for the phone the past two years has been the two weeks both before and after Labor Day. I think it's the combination of summer vacation followed by back to school/work.

I wouldn't target the holidays as a mailing time, but it doesn't stop my regular mailings.