Tampa-based Bay Cities Bank takes a different approach to banking. Founded in 1999 when the banking world was undergoing a rash of mergers and acquisitions, Bay Cities Bank opened its doors as a community bank. They use expertise and good, old-fashioned customer service to retain and attract customers, and shaped handouts from ThinkShapes Mail fit perfectly with their innovative spirit.
Bay Cities Bank has been using shaped handouts to attract new customers for the past 3 years, with great results. Campaigns targeted at both B2B and B2C prospects get much positive feedback, the recipients find them to be clever, and the bank associates report that they help initiate dialogue every time.
“These shaped pieces have exceeded our expectations,” said Sean Stockell, Vice President and Residential Lending Manager with Bay Cities Bank. “Our business is subject to strict regulation, so content must pass several layers of review. The ThinkShapes Mail staff is always patient and accommodating to such demands.”
ThinkShapes Mail was among the first digital printers in the U.S. able to handle the intricate die lines and precision production required of sophisticated shaped mail campaigns and handouts. They’ve been doing shaped campaigns for companies throughout the United States since the advent of shaped or Customized MarketMail® was approved by the United States Postal Service in August of 2003.
“As an all-digital printer,” explains Karen O’Brien, co-owner of Tampa-based ThinkShapes Mail, “shaped campaigns were a great addition to our product line up. We embraced the technology to do them before their public introduction, so we were up and running as soon as CMM became available to our clients.”
Beyond direct mail, many ThinkShapes Mail customers order shaped handouts and business cards to get notice and enhance sales efforts. They work well at trade shows, on a sales call, or simply placed on a counter. The best part about them is that people save them and share them with friends, leading to sales long after they initially receive the piece.
“As the Bay Cities Bank pieces show, you are only limited by your imagination when creating shaped handouts or mail campaigns,” said Karen O’Brien. “We frequently help customers arrive at the right shape and help with the die line creation as well for those who don’t have a design team to work with.”
