Facts about Direct Mail

6.8 million items were mailed in 2005
These were split between 78% consumer mailings and 22% business mailings
The overall volume of direct mail has increased by 139% in the last 13 years
£2,467 million was spent on direct mail advertising in 2003
Direct mail expenditure has increased by 165% in the last 13 years
Direct mail expenditure in 2003 was split between postage at £1,019 million and production at £1,448 million
It is estimated that consumer direct mail generates nearly £27 billion worth of business every year
For every £1 spent £14 is generated

Receipt and Treatment

The average British household receives 14.1 items of direct mail every four weeks
60% of consumer direct mail is opened, 40% is opened and read, 13% is kept to read later or passed on by somebody else
37% of consumers had responded to direct mail at least once in the past 12 months, with 41% saying they had ever made a purchase
AB Households receive considerably more direct mail than the average UK household (an average of 370 items per annum)
Overall, 9.8% of direct mail is requested by consumers
The average consumer spent just under £590 through direct mail in 2003
Of the £27 billion, over 41% - or £11 billion is spent on clothes, while books account for £2.8 billion and electrical goods £1.8 billion
Geographically those in the north spend more through direct mail, accounting for 73% of the total (nearly £27 billion) compared to 27% in the south

Satisfaction and Acceptance

75% of consumers do not want to receive between 50%-90% of their direct mail
80% of consumers are either "very" or "quite" satisfied with the products they buy through direct mail
64% of consumers said that value for money was the main benefit of buying through direct mail, whilst 60% said convenience
52% of consumers like to receive special offers or money-off vouchers through the post

*Direct Mail Information Service 2004