You’ve received them before—an unsolicited package that has something in that you just have to open. Because of it’s lumpy nature, this form of direct marketing is called “lumpy mail.” Sometimes there’s something interesting but usually it’s just trash and trinkets. Still, it grabbed your attention and you opened the package, right?

Response rates for lumpy mail are often significantly better than those for other forms of direct mail, offsetting additional costs.

But what’s the perception of the recipient? Here’s recent Outsource Marketing intern Jillian Raney‘s take:

Yesterday was a learning experience for me at the office. I was introduced to “lumpy mail.” Gathering the mail, I discovered a white “lumpy” package addressed to us. Exciting right?! Unfortunately, I learned that not only was there nothing exciting about what was actually in the package, it was an incredibly irresponsible way to do direct marketing.

What I took away from this was the waste from the packaging, only to send us a cheap pen that butchered our brand. Perhaps if they gave us an option to opt out, and maybe used recycled materials, we would have been more excited to see this particular piece of mail. I consider “lumpy mail” irresponsible marketing.

With its extra packaging and typical throwaway inserts, lumpy mail is clearly more wasteful.

So what do you think of direct mail that works better but wastes more? Do you love it or hate it?

Comment below to weigh in.

We’re proud to receive recognition as a King County’s Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction once again this year.

We are honored to join five other Issaquah businesses that were recognized for their sustainable efforts including  The City of Issaquah, The Issaquah School District, Timber Ridge at Talus, Rowley Properties, and Pogacha.

This marks the fifth year we have been honored with the award, making us one of nine other companies in King County on the “Honor Roll.”

The following post was written by Jillian Ranney, an intern at Outsource Marketing.

I recently discovered The College Sustainability Report Card, a website that grades the sustainability efforts of universities and colleges across the US and Canada. I’m talking a true-blue report card here. Much to my delight, I was able to find my alma mater, WSU, and see what action is being taken around campus. It is incredible to learn what percentage of the food budget is actually being bought from local vendors that are grown, raised, produced, or processed within 150 miles of the campus.

Here’s what the schools were graded on:

• Administration
• Climate Change & Energy
• Food & Recycling
• Green Building
• Student Involvement
• Transportation
• Endowment Transparency
• Investment Priorities
• Shareholder Engagement

Most of these areas apply to business, as well. Take a look at the site and then tell me, would your organization get a passing grade?

Follow Jillian on Twitter, or connect on LinkedIn.

Each year, King County recognizes organizations that have made recycling and waste reduction a priority, so we’re honored to make the “Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction” list once again this year.

Instead of us telling you how, here’s an excerpt from the webpage listing this year’s recipients:

Outsource Marketing is a fourth-year Best Workplace that is building on past recycling and waste reduction efforts. In 2009, Outsource Marketing rebranded their business to better reflect its responsible approach to business and marketing. Most messaging is done electronically at Outsource. Instead of printing letterhead, notecards and envelopes that might go to waste, the new brand made it possible for it to print small, customized quantities in-house as needed. Old letterhead stationery was turned into notepads. A series of videos were also created to focus on recycling in the workplace.

Outsource Marketing’s printed collateral system consisting of a folder, mini-brochure and multiple insert sheets and cards was replaced by a customizable brochure that is printed and bound in-house using plain string. It has also been formatted so it looks great when delivered digitally. Outsource Marketing has increased its use of collaborative online tools, video conferencing, instant messaging and other technologies to increase waste-free communications. Each staff member has signed a “green pact,” promising to reduce, reuse and recycle where possible. In addition, Outsource Marketing continues to implement responsible, green marketing efforts for its clients.

Advice to others: “A project without a leader won’t get done. Appoint a ’green czar’ to lead initiatives and provide support to develop an empowered group. Take a look at marketing materials with an eye toward waste reduction. “

Would you like your organization to be a bit greener? Contact us and we’ll be happy to share a few tips with you.

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Well, here’s “The 7 Keys to Responsible Marketing in 2 Minutes,” featuring the characters you’ve grown to love (or hate) in our Responsible Marketing web shorts.

View on YouTube

There ya go—with a video that short, now everyone has time to learn about Responsible Marketing. Share away.

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Here’s an interesting Google Earth tour on the topic. Right after I’ll get to my real post.

View on YouTube

Okay, so I’ve decided it’s time for me to get something off my chest.

You see, I’ve been called a tree-hugger. A green-weenie. And most recently, an “eco-lib.”

Whatever. Sticks and stones and all that.

I doubt I’ll convince anyone reading this blog that thinks climate change global warming is just a liberal hoax that they’re wrong on the topic.

So I won’t try to convince you otherwise.

I promise.

But I do have a few questions for you:

1. Are you sick and tired of hearing about global warming, climate change and melting ice caps?
2. Do all the magazine covers, television shows and news programs on the topic drive you nuts?
3. Are you ready to unfriend everyone on Facebook that are constantly asking you to sign yet another petition or the world will end tomorrow?

If you aren’t buying the “eco-hype” I can see why you’d be fed up.

So don’t believe the hype.

But do you believe that wherever there’s hype, there’s a buck to be made on it? There’s a sucker born every minute, right?

Then invest in green technology.

Buy the products that save energy and money—there are plenty of them.

And since consumers overwhelmingly prefer buying from environmentally responsible companies, be an opportunist and take the steps to make yours one too.

If you aren’t going to do it for your mother, do it for yourself.

And make a buck while all the rest of us suckers worry about something that will never happen.

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That’s the message of this Audi A3 “Do Your Part” advert:

View on YouTube

I get the idea: Show you can be environmentally responsible without having to put yourself out. You can have it all.

Here’s one point of view from @motorad666 on Twitter:

If ads are supposed to make you want to buy stuff, the Audi A3 Clean Diesel ads are working on me, and I should know better. Good work, VBP.

And the counterpoint from @markapennington:

bike riding: green. bus riding: green. buying an audi: not green. http://bit.ly/hD8TN Is this “green-jacking”?

Some might call this greenwashing because it implies driving a diesel is as good or better than riding the bus or a bike to work.

But this ad’s greatest offense is that it mocks its target audience. Was the Members Only jacket and tie for the guy on the Segway really necessary?

So what do you think? Is Audi’s “Do Your Part” ad is Responsible Marketing or not?

Comment below to weigh in.

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Since then, we’ve been recognized for our efforts and have even won a few workplace recycling awards.

The two secrets to our success:

1. Everyone at Outsource is required to sign our Green Pact. The Pact is our personal vow to abide by a list of rules we developed as a team regarding paper use, bottled water, use of cleaning supplies and such.
2. While several people were passionate about the idea, one person, dubbed our “Green Czar,” was given the responsibility and authority to lead the charge.

Some team members were perfect for the role: They motivated us to do what was necessary and made us feel good about the work we were doing.

Others? Well, let’s just say some people can drive you to drink.

So, what are some of the best practices you’ve seen in workplace recycling programs?

Comment below to share.

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Learn how they meet, and what happens if you don’t recycle.

View on YouTube in HD

We dare you to litter in our parking lot. We double-dog-dare you.

ABOUT THE VIDEOS

This is the first of at least seven Responsible Marketing web shorts from Outsource Marketing. I say “at least” because we had so much fun doing these, we’ve already begun concept development on the next round.

As we launched our new responsible brand, we decided to crush any notions that Responsible Marketing might be boring—even prudish. Even the casual reader of this blog knows better.

While there are seven videos in this series, don’t expect them to focus solely on the Seven Keys to Responsible Marketing. Our goal wasn’t to preach responsibility.

Rather, it was to have some fun with the conflict every organization faces—that battle between commerce and conscience. Between doing the right thing or doing the other thing.

To accomplish this, we’ve put two characters you’ll know well into our everyday working environment to see how they’ll fare.  Eventually we’ll cover all “Seven Keys,” but it will be subtle and not in this round.

THE RESPONSIBLE MARKETING YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The videos will be be posted weekly here on the blog and on most video sharing platforms. We’ve given special treatment to our Responsible Marketing YouTube Channel where I’ve favorited over 300 marketing videos over the last few years. Subscribe if you dig quality and/or controversial marketing vids.

While you’re there, take as moment to rate and comment on Recycling: A Love Story.

Thanks for watching, and whatever you do remember to “respect Mother Nature!”

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We believe small things can have a big difference. That’s why printing on used paper and offering our guests a ‘glass’ of water, not a bottle, are all part of Outsource Marketing’s Green Pact.

This year Outsource Marketing is pleased to once again receive the award for Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction 2009 from the King County. This is our third consecutive year receiving the award since the program’s inception in 2007.

This small award is already making a big difference in workplace recycling programs. In 2009 the number of award recipients increased 30% with 65 businesses receiving the honor. Rather than be one of the select few, we hope to be one of the select many.

Visit KCSWD to find out how your workplace can get involved in its own commercial recycling program.

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Thanks to Steven Goodell for his assistance in drafting this post.