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What has 3 Cactus, 1 pair of boots,
QUESTION:
What has 6 Bunnies, 38 little running bunnies, 3 Texas Long Horn Cattle Heads, 2 Cow Skulls, 3 Snakes, 2 Buffalo, 2 Lizards, Spindle Top, 1 Cotton bloom, the 2nd tallest monument in the US (Our San Jacinto Monument), 1 battleship, 2 feathered head dresses, the phrase; “Fortune Favors the Brave” – in Latin, 3 Cactus, a picture of Sam Houston, 1 pair of boots, 1 cowboy hat, and can only be redeemed when presented by a person born in Houston, during the month of August, in the year 1836 AND accompanied by both parents?
ANSWER:
This amazing direct mail insert from 1952 for Houston toy company, Texantics Unlimited! Be sure to check out the serial numbers too!
2BN TXS S 2BN XTC
To Be in Texas is to be in ecstasy
EZ2CYURA HOUSTONIAN
Easy to see you’re a Houstonian
6¢ First Class stamp
As we continue our story on Direct Mail Diamonds from the past, check out this gem we uncovered from December 1970.
Men made up 71% of our national workforce and the marketing message reflects it. Check out the reply card; “Gentlemen: I am interested in discussing…”
This piece was printed on textured card stock using 2 colors (which was leading edge), and the reply card is business reply mail. Note the First Class, 6¢ Stamp with Franklin D Roosevelt’s image on the outgoing envelope.
The content is solid direct marketing that stands the test of time. The marketer discusses the importance of a mail list and reviews how to better target. It reads; “We can even breakdown lists by area, income, automobile, hobbies or club affiliations.” Using demographics to identify your audience is the fundamental marketing principle that holds true today. The complexities of our list compilations have significantly increased, and the messaging has changed to incorporate a more diverse audience. However, the basics of direct mail remain unchanged and are unquestionably one of the most powerful and lasting forms of advertising today.
FUN FACTS FROM 1970:
- The annual inflation rate was 5.8%
- The average US Salary was $9,400
- One gallon of gas cost 36¢
- We celebrated the first Earth Day
- 100,000 people demonstrated in Washington DC against the Vietnam War.
- #1 Pop Song in the nation was “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison
- #1 movie was “Love Story”
1969 – 3 Steps for While-U-Wait Printing
As we continue to share the direct mail gems (or blasts from the past); we review how printing has changed in the last 44 years.
Above is a view of a self-mailer sent in August of 1969. The marketing mailer promotes “Fast and Economical print” or reproductions; and explains how the process worked in 3, easy steps:
- YOU PROVIDE US WITH A PHOTO READY ORIGINAL COPY: May be typed, previously printed, drawn, paste-up – Black or Red on white paper reproduces best. Originals on dark paper or with Grey, Blue or Green ink may not print well.
- WE PLACE YOUR ORIGINAL IN AN AUTOMATED CAMERA AND ALMOST INSTANTLY MAKE A PHOTO OFFSET PLATE (MASTER).
- AND FROM THIS PLATE, WE PRINT 10 – 10,000 COPIES, AS YOU WISH.
It is amazing when you consider how much has changed within the printing arena over the last 40-years. Today’s digital presses don’t even use plates and the quality of their output rivals offset printing. Each printed piece can be personalized, press runs have minimal waste and small quantities are now affordable.
1969 was ripe with change. When this mail piece was delivered, The Woodstock Music and Art Festival was unfolding. The Haunted Mansion attraction opened at Disneyland California, Honky Ton Women by the Rolling Stones was number 1 on the Billboard music charts and movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Midnight Cowboy and Easy Rider topped box office sales.
WHERE WERE YOU IN AUGUST OF 1969?
Woman’s Touch – An article from August 1966
One of the (many) benefits of working for a company that has been in business since 1949, is finding unique discoveries from years past. Earlier this week our founder, Bob Royall, shared a couple of mail pieces with us that he found “tucked away” in a drawer.
The first was a newsletter from a company called Tom’s Print Shop in Zanesville, Ohio. The piece was created in August 1966. The newsletter covers some interesting dates with fun facts such as:
August 1, 1659– William Prynne, an English Puritan and member of Parliament, opened a crusade against bobbed hair for women
August 5, 1884– Cornerstone laid for pedestal of Statue of Liberty.
There is an article on Hamburgers, stating that more than 70 million were eaten every day in America in 1966, while today 100 million are consumed daily. An article on a boating boom, a piece on Economic Waste reviews the cost to clean up litter and a review of the “new” IRS computers are also included.
My favorite is entitled, Woman’s Touch. Its content is below and we hope you enjoy!
It seems to me that being a woman in business, in the finest sense, means being always a pleasure to work with and supplying the qualities that women best supply in business-serenity and calm, grace in all situations, warmth, strength, and intelligent understanding. And being a woman in business means using to the full, women’s special creative abilities on the job, whatever it may be. So look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog, but I urge you, be a woman.-Mrs. Jean Simpson, Vice President
October QR Code 2013
Be sure to scan this month’s QR Code from the BEB Interactive Calendar! Or you can click here to see where it takes you!
The New BEBTEXAS.COM
We’ve launched our new website, bebtexas.com, and cordially invite you to take a tour!
It’s a living site that is in a constant state of renewal. In addition to the traditional details of our service offerings, we share our rich and unique 64-year history while offering the latest postal and marketing news through our blog. There are links to our Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook pages, and we’ve added a career page too! Most important, we are connected to our clients through this interactive site and appreciate all of the feedback, suggestions and kudos received so far!
Check out some of our more popular blogs below!
BEB Brings home Graphic Excellence Awards
We are please and proud to bring home three Graphic Excellence Awards this year! Last night, the Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast hosted their annual gala to honor the best of the best in the Houston and surrounding areas printing world. Printers and marketers gathered at the Hilton Greenway to celebrate this year’s winners.
Business Extension Bureau picked up three awards!
We received two Awards of Merit for our digital and interactive 2012 Holiday Cards.
We also picked up our third GEA for our newsletter, The Bureau!
It was a packed house at the event last night, with over 200 participants in attendance; and a great time was had by all!
Our Angel Wiener (Client Services) and Joy Z (VP of Marketing), attended the 2013 PIGC GEA Gala
April QR Code 2014
Be sure to scan the QR Code on your interactive BEB Calendar and see the fast and beautiful roller coaster ride down the side of an Alp in Switzerland! You can click here to see it too!
Blog with BEB!
Blog with us! See our latest blogs from our Home Page! 