Mini Catalog as Invitation Question

[chezshelly]

I have been using the mini catalogs as invitations for quite some time but I have a question. Do those of you that use them put them in an envelope or mail them by themselves. I have been mailing them by themselves but was curious about whether I should start putting them in enveloped because I have had a few hosts that have told me some of their guests never received theirs. Thanks for the input!

 

[sherri lynn]

I send a mini catty and fill out the invitation and put them both in the envelope. I was afraid to just mail the mini catty's by themselves, because I was afraid the pages would get torn, etc. by the mail. This is just what I do.

 

[lt1jane]

I mail just the mini cat and I don't tape the sides. The only "tape" I use is the top flap of the label that holds the whole thing shut. When I mail mine, I include the host. This is my way of letting her know they were mailed and they then have an idea when their guests should have gotten them.

 

[esavvymom]

I use a regular envelope. The stamp cost is the same, and it looks less like junk-mail.Plus, a consultant on my team had sent invitations one time mailing just the mini-cat. Another consultant-friend received it (her mother actually, she was on the guest list of the host)....she said that all that they received was the back flap of the mini-catalog that had the address/info. The rest was ripped off. So that sealed the deal for me.

 

[chezshelly]

Thanks for the input!

 

[JennyJennJen]

I got a suggestion from a mp3 on cc that said to mail it in an envelope with a postcard invite inside too. This way all who are invited will actually see that it is an invitation not just a catalog. I just had 2 $800 parties sending the invites this way, each with a few outside orders, and with 15 guests in attendance.

 

[babywings76]

I use envelopes. They only add a little bit to the expense, and they guarantee that the mini will be protected and arrive intact. After spending time and money sending the mini's, I want to be sure people get them and that they don't get mutilated going through the postal system.

 

[flemings99]

I send w/out the envelope and have never had any trouble with them being messed up, occasionally I'll have one returned for a wrong address and it looks like I sent it. I do use a circle sticker to close the top part and the party info. label to close the bottom part.

I have had a few tell me they thought it was junk mail. I put stickers all over it (bring a friend and so on) so find it hard to believe that, but apparently it has happened a couple times.

 

[Teresa LM]

When I first started, I took one to the PO to be sure I wasn't messing up when I got them ready to mail. They said that I should close them at the top. I use the 6 to a page label and print the party information on that. Someone suggested starting that label 1/4 inch from the bottom and folding it over the top edge. The PO told me that I should also have a piece of tape or a small circle sticker to seal the edge near the stamp also.

 

[chezshelly]

Teresa, that is exactly how I send mine and I have still had a few hosts and guests tell me people didn't get theirs, or like someone else said, they got just the back page. I was hoping for 100% success on delivery I guess. But my show average is $830 or so for the year so I guess they are doing their job!

 

[PamperedchefDaly]

I always send my mini's in an envelope, using the host return address. Not only does a catalog sent as-is look like junk mail, the pages sometimes get mangled on the post office equipment. Sometimes I will use the mini catalog invite labels, sometimes I'll use insert post card invites, and sometimes I create my own on my computer, depending on the theme.