Storytelling in Marketing: Ford’s New Campaign 

Storytelling in marketing is more than a fad; this method of reaching consumers is powerful. This style of marketing translates well across multiple mediums, including video content, print advertising, website content, and on social media. Ford just launched a bold, storytelling-forward campaign—its biggest marketing effort in over a decade. Here we will dive into Ford’s latest effort and what makes it special. 

“Ready, Set, Ford” Emphasizes Humans, Not the Product 

Ford’s latest campaign is a global undertaking called “Ready, Set, Ford”, which showcases the human beings that make up the Ford community. The campaign’s first television advertisement depicts various Ford vehicles enhancing the lifestyles of their owners. From off-roading to rounding up cattle to racing, Ford’s campaign puts the lifestyle of its car owners front and center.  

The ad closes with a well-known quotation: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right” from the company’s founder, Henry Ford. According to Ford’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ford’s new message aims to put people first, not its products. There will be a series of ads—some of them global—over the next couple of years that showcase how a Ford vehicle adds value to various types of lifestyles and activities. For instance, some Ford vehicles are equipped with unique features like GOAT (Goes Over All Terrain), which is ideal for those in farming or those who enjoy off-road activities. There’s also a feature called “Pro Power Onboard”, which will be highlighted in ads to show this feature’s usefulness for job sites, camping, and charging electronic accessories.  

Ford’s new approach to story-driven marketing offers a message of optimism and resilience while celebrating the individuals who own their vehicles.  

Ways to Implement Storytelling in Marketing 

Storytelling is a broad marketing style that can be scaled to suit the messaging needs of any business or organization. It can be as simple as highlighting customer testimonials on direct mail pieces or in video content online. Storytelling can involve showcasing communities where businesses are located or places and people that non-profit organizations serve. For higher education, storytelling translates well when celebrating the professional milestones of former students or research breakthroughs from university departments. Storytelling is highly customizable so that it can align with your existing identity and messaging.  

Pel Hughes offers a suite of services to help you emphasize storytelling in marketing including cross media content, graphic design, direct mail, and personalized messaging. Give us a call at (504) 486-8646 to learn more.  

Small Business Marketing with Promotional Products 

Catching a customer or client’s eye is challenging in today’s competitive business market. Small businesses often operate with small margins and face steep competition for market share. One way to capture the attention of consumers is develop a robust customer outreach strategy that includes marketing with promotional products.  

Marketing with promotional products has a profound psychological effect on consumers that drives brand recognition and consumer loyalty. Following are some interesting psychological effects of marketing with promotional products.  

The Effects of Promotional Products on Consumers 

#1 Increase Reciprocity 

Marketing with promotional products increases the likelihood that consumers will engage with your brand or your business’ services. Promotional products evoke an urge for consumers to reciprocate with a purchase. This is because small gifts and acts of generosity spurn reciprocal behavior among people.  

#2 Boost Brand Recognition 

According to the Advertising Specialty Institute, 85% of consumers will remember the business that provided them with a promotional product. Nearly 60% of consumers will keep these products for more than a year, too. 

#3 Establish an Emotional Connection 

Developing consumer trust and loyalty hinges on establishing an emotional connection with your brand. Marketing with promotional products is a great way to develop a bond between customers and your products or services. Consumers view promotional products as thoughtful and positive. In fact, almost 80% of recipients experience feelings of appreciation after being given a promotional item.  

Best Promotional Items for Small Businesses 

The world of promotional products is vast and can fit any small business owner’s budget. Pel Hughes offers thousands of high-quality promotional items at affordable prices. Following are some of our favorite products for small businesses.  

Reusable Grocery Bags & Totes 

It almost seems like there’s no such thing as too many reusable grocery bags or totes—especially for working mothers and busy families. People use reusable grocery bags for more than just trips to the supermarket; they use them to drop of food items to neighbors and friends, pack a picnic for their families, or for excursions to parks, lakes, and beaches. Having custom reusable bags and totes with your logo on them are excellent tools for brand recognition and consumer loyalty.  

Below are some links to our favorite reusable bags and totes: 

 Non-Woven Grocery Tote Bag 

Insulated Large Non-Woven Grocery Tote Bag 

Tumblers and Mugs 

As more people move away from disposable bottles and sodas, insulated tumblers and travel mugs are increasingly valuable to consumers. Custom tumblers and mugs are a great way to show appreciation for your customers with an item they can enjoy using on a regular basis.  

Following are a couple of our picks: 

26 oz. Tumbler with Lid and Straw 

18 oz Cypress Collection Stainless Steel Tumbler 

11 oz Coffee Mug with Handle 

Pens 

Pens are a perfect compact and budget-friendly option for marketing with promotional products.  

Here’s a couple of our favorites: 

Jotter Pen 

Cache Touch Stylus Pen 

Magnets 

Magnetic clips and magnets are another affordable option for fostering brand recognition through promotional products. These items are perfect for office file cabinets as well as refrigerators.  

Below are two customizable options: 

Magnetic Fridge/Office Clip 

Large Magnetic Calendar 

In addition to a stunning array of promotional products, Pel Hughes offers graphic design, direct mail, database services, campaign automation, and cross media marketing. Call us today at (504) 486-8646 to get started on your next campaign.  

Buying Behavior of Millennials

Did you know that millennials make up almost a third of the global population? Sandwiched between the Analog and Digital Ages, millennials are a generation with unique consumer needs and buying behavior. Understanding the tastes, needs, and buying behavior of millennials will help marketers engage with this generation. Following is some helpful information on millennials and their purchasing habits.  

Who are Millennials? 

Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996. In the United States, the generation comprises nearly 75 million people. As they approach middle age, millennials are in their peak spending years.  

What are common characteristics of millennial buying behavior? 

As millennials approach the middle of their lives, some key traits of their buying behavior stand out when compared to other generations. In a nutshell, millennials prioritize wellness, longevity, nostalgia, convenience, and openness when it comes to shopping.  

Wellness & Longevity 

Millennials came of age with massive amounts of information at their fingertips through the world wide web. With the rise of social networking and other digital mediums like YouTube and podcasts, millennials enjoy taking deep dives into topics, brands, and consumer goods so that they can make informed decisions. As many millennials wrestle with career ambitions and parenthood (often at the same time) wellness is certainly on their minds. Millennials spend considerable amounts of discretionary income on supplements, healthier alternatives to popular snacks, and personal care products.  

Nostalgia 

Most millennials were well into their teenage years before the Internet became a worldwide phenomenon. This generation has very clear and nostalgic memories of life before endless notifications, social media, and mobile phones. Because this generation is sandwiched between two distinct eras, millennials tend to gravitate to nostalgia in brand messaging. They also appreciate throwbacks to products and food items from their youth—albeit with healthier ingredients.  

Convenience 

Millennials engage in online shopping more than any other generation. It’s important to remember that millennials grew up in the Mall Era, where many-a-weekend were spent browsing merchandise Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, and Hot Topic while enjoying food court lemonade and cookies. Today’s millennial has chosen to prioritize the convenience of online shopping over meandering around brick-and-mortar retail centers.  

This generation is often saddled with busy schedules as they contend with raising children and caring for aging family members at the same time. They are also deep into their careers where they work long hours and endure lengthy commutes.  

For marketers, it’s important to acknowledge the millennial’s need for convenience and predictable shopping experiences.  

Openness 

Other generations have labeled millennials as “too open”, but that openness has led to market-disrupting industry. An example of the effect of openness on consumer spending is the booming wellness market for women enduring perimenopause and menopause. The market for menopausal support products, famously overlooked by brands in the past, is expected to reach nearly $30 billion by the end of the decade.   

Tips for Engaging with Millennial Consumers 

Deploy Direct Mail Campaigns 

If there ever was a generation to giddily receive direct mail, it’s millennials. Direct mail is the perfect avenue for tapping into millennial nostalgia while promoting convenience. A personalized direct mail campaign with purchase incentives like discount codes is a great icebreaker. Inserting QR codes that route recipients to customized digital shopping carts is a great way to tap into this generation’s need for convenience, too.  

Develop a Robust Cross Media Marketing Strategy 

Engaging with millennials on the print and digital fronts is a great way to grab their attention. E-mail marketing paired with direct mail is a great strategy for announcing new products and sales.  

Embrace Openness in Your Messaging 

Crafting brand messaging that conveys authenticity and vulnerability is a great method engaging with the “most open generation.”  

Pel Hughes is a full-service printing company that offers direct mail, graphic design, cross media marketing, campaign automation, and database services. Call us at (504) 486-8646 or click here to request a quote.  

Branding Trends to Watch in 2025 and Beyond 

Exciting branding trends are emerging in 2025 that will likely carry over into the upcoming years. Merging AI, nostalgia and respect for unique typography, beautiful color stories, and immersive media, these branding trends could breathe new life into your logos, digital graphics, packaging, and direct mail campaigns.  

Exciting Branding Trends You Need to Know About 

Eco-Friendly Aesthetics and Packaging 

A focus on sustainability in branding materials and packaging will continue for the next several years. An eco-friendly aesthetic involves recycled textures, soft earth tones, and minimalist, clean designs.  

In addition to appealing to consumers, eco-friendly aesthetics and packaging are typically budget-friendly for businesses.  

Pel Hughes offers printing services for packaging including corrugated boxes.  

Multi-Sensory Experiences and Packaging 

Evoking as many of the senses as possible will likely be a mainstay of branding for the next few years. Multi-sensory experiences can involve using unique scents in brick-and-mortar stores, virtual/augmented reality online, and textured packaging.  

Flexible and Dynamic Brand Identities 

For the foreseeable future, brands large and small will focus on flexible brand identities that can translate cohesiveness and recognizability across digital and print mediums.  

Strategic and Eye-Catching Color Placements 

As brands begin to focus on developing sensory experiences for consumers, eye-catching color (particularly in gradient form) will be a focus—especially online.  

An Emphasis on Unique Typography 

Some of the biggest brands of consumer goods are reviving the art of typography one logo at a time. From luxury perfume brands to common household items, investing in unique typography is a way to create a more recognizable aesthetic.  

Incorporating Tactile Experiences on Digital Channels 

While the digital world can’t replicate a tactile experience, graphic designers and developers can use layered graphics and three-dimensional images to produce a more immersive experience on websites, digital shopping platforms, and apps.  

Hand Drawn Elements 

Hand drawn elements like slogans and taglines add a level of craftmanship to digital media that mimics the consumer experience of in-person shopping. Elements that appear hand drawn add whimsy and playfulness that benefits big brands and small business alike with eye-catching, mood-boosting design.  

How Pel Hughes Can Help You Implement New Branding Trends 

Pel Hughes is a full-service printing company that offers a suite of services to help businesses and organizations thrive. We offer direct mail and direct mail retargeting to help merge your digital identity with print messaging. Utilizing state-of-the-art printers, we can incorporate tactile and sensory elements into your campaigns with embellishments like raised varnishes and spot UV. Direct mail retargeting is a great way to engage with thoughtful interactions with consumers who have expressed interest in your brand online.  

In addition to print, we offer cross media marketing and graphic design. Our team can help you develop a recognizable brand that resonates with consumers in both print and digital messaging.  

Check out our blog to learn more about our services or click here to request a quote.  

Targeted Mailing Lists & Direct Mail 

Targeted mailing lists are the engines behind compelling and effective direct mail. A targeted mailing list makes it possible to improve personalization, segment your audience, and keep your brand messaging relevant for your recipients.  

With AI and machine learning, mailing lists are carefully curated, which makes them more effective than ever before. 

Top Benefits of Targeted Mailing Lists 

Improved Personalization 

Personalization has been a mainstay in marketing for several years now. Modern consumers are not only receptive to personalization, they expect it. In fact, over 50% of consumers feel that their direct mail should be tailored to their spending habits and demographic behavior.  

Targeted mailing lists make personalization easier. First, targeted mailing lists are highly curated for accuracy and routinely updated with the latest data on consumer purchasing habits and trends. These mailing lists can be segmented into specific demographics like gender, age group, income level, and neighborhood. Sorting data into segmented lists means that a business can launch multiple direct mail campaigns with messaging aligned to very specific groups.  

Integration with Cross Media Marketing 

Integrating direct mail with online brand messaging drastically increases engagement with your business. By creating a thoughtful consumer journey across multiple marketing channels, you can build a loyal consumer base, a strong brand identity, and boost revenue. 

Targeted mailing lists can contain data on the online activity of your direct mail recipients. For example, how often consumers click on promotional sales within e-mail blasts or how often they make online purchases. All of this data can be used to segment your audience into groups for future direct mail campaigns.  

Mailing Lists Have Applications in Non-Profit Marketing & Educational Institutions 

While targeted mailing lists are beneficial to for-profit businesses, this technology is useful for non-profit organizations and educational institutions, too. For example, segmenting a non-profit’s recipients by donation values, those who attend events, and those who volunteer can help craft messaging that produces higher engagement that helps your organization thrive. Similarly, targeted mailing lists by major and demographic data and tailoring messaging for those audiences can drive enrollments and showcase specific programs at educational institutions.  

Targeted lists are likely here to stay. Advancements in AI and machine learning along with data collection can be valuable additions to marketing for businesses and organizations alike.  

Pel Hughes offers database services, direct mail, and campaign automation to businesses, organizations, and educational institutions throughout the United States. Call us at (504) 486-8646 to request a quote.  

Content Marketing Tips for Higher Ed 

Higher ed content marketing is no easy feat. Attracting students to your college or university is challenging because the competition is steeper than ever. Developing a robust marketing strategy that marries modern digital platforms with traditional channels can help generate interest in your institution. When it comes to engaging with prospective students, content marketing is king. Following are helpful tips for developing dynamic content for higher ed marketing.  

Four Content Marketing Tips for Colleges and Universities 

#1 Understand the Need for Great SEO 

Today’s students rely heavily on search engines—especially when they investigate higher ed institutions and degree programs. Ranking well on search engines is particularly important when attracting prospective students from Gen Z and Gen Alpha. All of your institution’s web pages should be optimized, have relevant tags and keywords, and contain original content. Additionally, maintaining a regularly updated blog is critical for ranking well among leading search engines like Google, Duck Duck Go, and Yahoo.  

#2 Know Your Audience 

Your institution’s ideal audience is going to be diverse. Not only are you trying to attract students for different academic majors and degree programs, your students will also belong to a mixture of age groups. It is critical to understand the personas of people who will peruse your website, read direct mail pieces, and view social media content. Incoming undergrads will belong to diverse ethnic, religious, and regional communities while returning students and graduate level scholars will belong to older demographics. These personas can also be further segmented to special interests and sociological ideologies.  

Developing a thorough understanding of your audience and its various personas will help guide your content marketing in the future. Advanced technology can also make it possible to personalize your content to specific segments of your audience both digitally and in print. For example, direct mail campaigns and e-mail blasts can be tailored to audiences segmented by area of study, age groups, genders, and so much more.  

#3 Develop A Content Marketing Plan 

Effective content marketing involves careful planning and research. From delving into what topics actually pique the interests of students to producing a content calendar that ensures you have regular content for prospective students to engage with; planning is the backbone of any great content strategy.  

#4 Emphasize Storytelling 

One of the most compelling forms of content is storytelling. This content form resonates with diverse audiences because it is authentic and engaging. Storytelling can involve testimonials from current and former students, narratives on research breakthroughs, and faculty profiles. Emphasizing storytelling can also help sell the experience your institution offers. Experiences are compelling to Gen Z and Gen Alpha who are looking for ways to explore interpersonal growth, develop social skills, network, and align with like-minded individuals over shared interests and passions.  

What makes storytelling especially beneficial to your content strategy is that it is powerful across many mediums including direct mail campaigns, blogs, course catalogs, podcasts, social media posts, and videos. 

Pel Hughes is a family-owned full-service printing company that offers direct mail, cross media marketing, database services, and campaign automation. We work with universities and colleges throughout the United States. Check out our website and blog to learn more about how we can help you produce an enticing content marketing strategy.  

Direct Mail For Banks: Content Tips for Your Next Campaign 

 Direct mail for banks is a wonderful tool for consumer outreach and boosting revenue. As one of the most well-received forms of advertising, direct mail can make a big impact on your brand identity. While direct mail for banks is a good thing, it is important to be aware that the quality of your content matters. Following are some helpful tips for making the most of your next campaign.  

Content Tips for Banking Direct Mail 

#1 Provide Helpful Information 

Effective direct mail for banks contains helpful copy for potential customers. Your campaigns are a great time to introduce new clientele to your services. If your bank offers free checking, mobile apps, automatic bill pay, and other useful tools or services, mentioning them in your direct mail copy is wise. Helpful content helps establish lasting relationships with consumers.  

#2 Build Trust 

Successful banks build trust with their consumers. Afterall, consumers are entrusting your institution with a very precious resource: their money. In addition to producing helpful direct mail content, including testimonials from existing customers is a great way to develop trust with new clientele. Including testimonials is one of the most compelling ways to grab attention and legitimize your brand.  

#3 Be Concise with Easy-to-Understand Language 

Using too much industry-related jargon can be off putting to consumers. It’s important to use copy that is easy to understand for people unfamiliar with banking and finance. People are also living very hectic and busy lives so the more concise your content is, the better it will be received.  

#4 Offer Resources for Additional Information 

Since space is limited on direct mail, you can always direct your recipients to sign up for e-mail newsletters, follow your bank on social media, and to links that offer more resources and information on your programs and services. Implementing QR codes and personalized URLs is a great way to provide additional information.  

Routing mail recipients to e-mail, social media, and your website is smart because you can track the response rates of your direct mail while creating more avenues for communication with potential customers later.  

Pel Hughes Offers Direct Mail for Banks 

Pel Hughes is a family-owned, full-service printer that works with banking institutions throughout the United States. We offer an array of tools and services to help banks thrive including direct mail retargeting, cross media marketing, graphic design, database services, and campaign automation. Give our team a call at (504) 486-8646 to get started.  

Save Money on Marketing with Pel Hughes 

Did you know that you can save money on marketing by working with Pel Hughes? It’s true. Pel Hughes offers cost-saving marketing options with direct mail, cross media marketing, and much more. During times of uncertainty or downturn, businesses take a hard look at their budgets. Often times, sizeable savings can be found by adjusting a brand’s marketing strategy. Below are some helpful tips to save money on marketing.  

How to Save Money on Marketing 

#1 Focus on Quality not Quantity with Direct Mail 

Sometimes it can be tempting to send out high volumes of mailers. When it comes to looking to save money on marketing, focusing on quality over quantity of mailers is a wise move. Rather than sending mailers to every household in a neighborhood, you can refine your audience to demographics that tend to align with your ideal customer. This can involve only sending mailers to certain age groups, genders, or income levels. It’s also important to utilize database services such as those offered by Pel Hughes that remove duplicates and cross reference recipient information with reliable consumer databases. 

#2 Take Advantage of USPS Discounts and Promotions 

The USPS offers a few discount programs every year. In recent years, the USPS has rewarded businesses that deploy sophisiticated direct mail campaigns—particularly those that offer sensory elements like scents, textured paper, and sound. You can learn more about USPS discounts and promotions by clicking here.  

#3 Utilize Campaign Automation  

Not only can campaign automation reduce labor costs, it’s a helpful tool for setting (and sticking to) budgets. Pel Hughes offers Storefront, a campaign automation platform that can store digital copies of signage, campaign templates, and other corporate materials. Storefront allows businesses to set specific permissions for staff members to ensure that team members do not exceed their allocated budgets for marketing/advertising materials.  

#4 Consider Using Advanced Technology to Increase Revenue 

Advanced technology like direct mail retargeting can improve sales by making direct mail more effective. Direct mail retargeting involves sending physical mail to users who engage with your brand or business online. For instance, a consumer adds items to a shopping cart but doesn’t complete their purchase. A retargeting campaign can be generated in minutes and mailed to their physical address offering a discount on the items left behind in their shopping cart to close the sale.  

Taking steps to save money on marketing is a great way to shore up resources in harder times. Our team at Pel Hughes is here to help. From database services to campaign automation and smarter direct mail strategies, our company offers several cost-saving measures. Call us at (504) 486-8646 to discuss your next direct mail campaign.  

Marketing for Banks: New Mover Mail Campaigns 

New mover mail campaigns are great tools that improve marketing for banks. One of the best times to attract new customers is just after they relocate. To help illustrate this point, consider the following statistics and facts:

  • On average, 60,000 people move a day in the United States.
  • When consumers relocate, they will make about 70 decisions on where to conduct business within the first 90 days of moving.
  • The average cost associated with moving is about $9,000.

Moving is an overwhelming experience, but it is also a wonderful opportunity for businesses and consumers to connect. Sending new mover mailing campaigns is a helpful way to reach out to consumers in search of banking services.

What Makes a Great New Mover Mail Campaign

When it comes to marketing for banks looking to connect with new movers, the best approach is to be welcoming and helpful in your brand messaging. New mover mailers should implement personalized messaging by using technology such as VDP (variable data printing) so that their mail is addressed to their legal name.

Based on demographic data, your mail can also include messaging that is helpful for specific income levels and age groups. For example, new movers in older age groups would benefit from mailers that offer financial planning services and investments while younger demographics are more likely to respond to affordability and convenience with services like mobile depositing, automatic bill pay, and banking apps for their devices. By segmenting your audience by their needs, your bank can showcase the services most likely to benefit recipients.  

Tips for Marketing to New Movers with Mail Campaigns

Below are some helpful tips for increasing the effectiveness of your new mover campaigns:

  • Act quickly. Send your mailers to new movers shortly after their relocation. New residents of your community will be making several decisions within their first couple of weeks after moving.
  • Offer a welcome package such as a discount on services, free consultations with financial professionals, or coupons to other local businesses such as cafes or dry cleaners.
  • Lend helpful advice about your services and programs such as overdraft protection, free checking, or higher interest savings accounts.
  • Provide your website URL, a point of contact for e-mail, and/or a QR code for consumers to learn more about your services and programs.

How Pel Hughes Can Help

Pel Hughes provides marketing for banks and financial institutions throughout Louisiana and beyond. Our suite of services, including direct mail, cross media marketing, campaign automation, and graphic design can help you put your best foot forward with new movers. Give us a call at (504) 486-8646 to speak with a member of our team.

Direct Mail Retargeting for Banks and Financial Institutions 

As with many other industries, direct mail retargeting for banks shows great promise. According to the USPS, direct mail retargeting boosts conversions by 20% when compared to conventional direct mail campaigns. If you’re curious about how direct mail retargeting for banks works, read on for a helpful breakdown from Pel Hughes.

How Direct Mail Retargeting Works for Banks

Direct mail retargeting is a sophisticated form of print advertising that merges your digital presence with your physical one to consumers. Using advanced software, retargeting involves sending automated mail to consumers who interact with your bank via your website. Retargeting can be triggered by consumers signing up for e-mail notifications, inquiring about your services through digital customer service platforms, or when they create an account with your financial institution. Essentially, a potential customer will receive a thoughtful follow-up to digital communication/user action by mail within a few days of engaging with your bank online.

Retargeting campaigns are especially useful for new customer outreach, consumer education about your programs and services, and for setting your institution apart from your competition.

Benefits of Direct Mail Retargeting

Retargeting offers unique advantages to banks and financial institutions. First, retargeting fosters a real-life connection with consumers. Receiving mail is a markedly different experience when compared to digital communications. In fact, mail has a powerful effect on consumers because it produces a sensory experience that digital interactions cannot compete with. Touching and reading physical pieces of paper activates parts of the brain related to memory, positive emotions, and trust. Simply put, retargeting campaigns can help you establish a memorable and positive experience with consumers.

Another great advantage to direct mail is the fact that physical mail doesn’t encounter spam filters and pop-up blockers. Consumers are inundated with brand messaging on the web, social media, and e-mail, which leads to a new phenomenon called “digital fatigue”. Fortunately, direct mail retargeting is the perfect workaround to reach consumers in a less overwhelming way.

Other benefits of direct mail retargeting for banks include: 

  • Higher ROIs than conventional direct mail and e-mail
  • Improved open rates because direct mail is viewed as more trustworthy than digital communication
  • Merge the physical and digital presences of your bank or financial institution
  • Tailored messaging based on a consumer’s digital activity, specific needs, and unique interests

How to Implement Direct Mail Retargeting for Your Bank

If direct mail retargeting piques your interest, give our team at Pel Hughes a call. We are a full-service printing company that provides direct mail retargeting services to businesses throughout the United States, including banks and financial institutions. We utilize advanced technology such as campaign automation and database services to help you hit your marketing and advertising goals. To learn more about direct mail retargeting, click here or call (504) 486-9646.