Why Use a Professional Lettershop?
In-house mail production can be slow and difficult to coordinate. A professional lettershop provides production workflow, mailing preparation, and USPS-requirements review for complex direct-mail projects.
Speed: 10,000 pieces/hour
Our high-speed inserting equipment processes in hours what would take your staff days. Rush turnarounds are available for most project types.
Presort and mailing review
We sort mail by ZIP code and review USPS requirements. Eligibility for presort and any postage adjustments depends on the mailpiece, preparation, and USPS conditions.
USPS-requirements review
We review applicable USPS requirements including address quality, tabbing rules, barcodes, and documentation before production and entry.
One vendor, end to end
Print, fold, insert, address, sort, and prepare your project from our Salisbury facility, with a coordinated production workflow.
Production Mail Inserting
See Lettershop Production in Action
See how documents are fed, folded, and inserted for invoices, statements, donor appeals, and direct-mail campaigns. Our two Quadient production inserters process up to 5,000 envelopes an hour each — up to 10,000 finished pieces every hour.
Read the video transcript
When your mailing has to go out right and on time, it starts here.
At Mail Movers, we run two Quadient production inserters, each processing up to 5,000 envelopes an hour. That is up to 10,000 finished pieces every hour.
Your documents are fed, folded, and inserted automatically, ready for the mail stream.
Every mailpiece is tracked as it moves through the machine, so we know each insert made it into its envelope with nothing missed.
Invoices, statements, donor appeals, and direct mail campaigns: large runs done faster and more accurately.
Mail Movers, serving Delmarva since 1977. Call 410-749-1885 or visit mailmovers.com.
What We Handle vs. What You Provide
Our goal is to make your job as simple as possible. Here's the typical division of responsibility for a standard lettershop project.
We Handle
- Folding (letter, z-fold, gate, half-fold, roll-fold)
- High-speed inserting (up to 10,000 pieces/hour)
- Tabbing and wafer sealing for self-mailers
- Inkjet addressing with Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)
- CASS certification and address standardization
- NCOA processing (move updates)
- Presort by ZIP code, with eligibility and adjustments reviewed per mailing
- USPS PostalOne! electronic documentation
- Mail.dat file preparation and submission
- Drop shipment to SCF/NDC for additional savings
- Informed Delivery® campaign setup when applicable
- Delivery to USPS Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU)
You Provide
- Print-ready artwork (PDF preferred) — or we design it
- Mailing list (Excel/CSV) — or we supply/clean it
- Postage deposit (we invoice or you provide permit)
- Approval on digital proof before production
- Any pre-printed materials you want inserted
Don't have a mailing list or artwork? We can help with both — ask about our targeted list and design services.
Inserting Specifications by Envelope Size
Our inserting equipment handles the full range of USPS-standard envelope sizes. Use this table to plan your format before requesting a quote.
| Envelope Size | Max Inserts | Max Weight | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| #10 (4⅛″ × 9½″) | Up to 6 sheets + reply card | 1 oz (First-Class) / 3.3 oz (Marketing Mail) | Most common business letter format |
| #9 Reply Envelope | Return envelope only (insert in #10) | N/A — used as insert | Standard reply envelope for fundraising & billing |
| 6″ × 9″ Flat | Up to 8 sheets or booklet | 3.3 oz Marketing Mail | Ideal for newsletters, multi-page appeals |
| 9″ × 12″ Flat | Up to 20 sheets / catalog | 13 oz First-Class | Catalogs, large brochures, legal documents |
* Weight limits shown are for standard letter/flat mail. Actual limits vary by mail class and shape. Call 410-749-1885 to confirm specs for your specific project.
Turnaround Times by Project Type
Production schedules are confirmed after review of the artwork, materials, data, project complexity, USPS-entry requirements, and current capacity. Contact us to discuss your target date.
| Project Type | Standard | Rush | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcard (no inserting) | Schedule confirmed after review | Availability confirmed after review | Print, address, sort, and USPS entry preparation |
| Simple letter (1 insert, #10 env) | Schedule confirmed after review | Availability confirmed after review | After required proof, data, and materials are approved |
| Multi-insert letter (2–4 inserts) | Schedule confirmed after review | Availability confirmed after review | Includes collating, inserting, and sealing |
| Newsletter / self-mailer | Schedule confirmed after review | Availability confirmed after review | Tabbing or wafer-sealing requirements reviewed for the finished piece |
| Complex kit (5+ inserts, poly-bag) | Schedule confirmed after review | Availability confirmed after review | Complexity and materials affect scheduling |
| Invoice / statement run (variable data) | Schedule confirmed after review | Availability confirmed after review | Data, materials, and USPS requirements are reviewed for each run |
Our Lettershop Services in Detail
High-Speed Inserting
Our inserting equipment processes up to 10,000 pieces per hour, handling everything from simple one-page letters to complex multi-page documents with up to 6 inserts. We can insert letters, brochures, reply cards, coupons, and more into any standard envelope size.
Folding
We offer all standard fold types: letter fold (C-fold), z-fold, half-fold, gate fold, and roll fold. Folding is done in-line with printing or as a standalone operation, and we confirm fold orientation against USPS addressing zone requirements before production.
Tabbing & Wafer Sealing
Self-mailers and folded flats may require tabbing or wafer sealing under applicable USPS standards. We review tab number, placement, and size for the specific mailpiece before production.
Inkjet Addressing & IMb Barcoding
We can print addresses and Intelligent Mail Barcodes (IMb) on cards, letters, and flats using high-resolution inkjet technology. IMpb is a distinct barcode for packages. Barcode, documentation, and Full-Service requirements are reviewed for each mailing.
Presort & USPS Electronic Documentation
We sort mail by ZIP code and carrier route and review applicable USPS-entry requirements. PostalOne! documentation, Mail.dat preparation, and entry-point options are handled when required for the selected mailing and USPS conditions.
Variable Data Printing
Our digital printing equipment supports full variable data capabilities—personalize each piece with unique names, addresses, custom messaging, images, QR codes, and personalized URLs (PURLs), then evaluate results using a documented comparison method.
Lettershop Examples by Industry
Every industry has different format, volume, and compliance requirements. Here's how we handle common project types across Delmarva.
❤️ Nonprofit / Fundraising Lettershop Example
Note: We can review USPS Nonprofit authorization and permit requirements
How a Typical Lettershop Project Works
Consultation & Quote
Call or submit a request online. We discuss your format, volume, target date, and postage class, then review the project before providing a quote.
Artwork & Data Submission
You send print-ready artwork (PDF) and your mailing list (Excel/CSV) via our secure file upload portal. We check both against USPS specs before production begins.
Proof Approval
We send a digital proof showing the printed piece with address placement, barcode, and any variable data. You approve before we run a single piece.
Production
We print, fold, insert, tab/seal, inkjet address, apply IMb barcodes, and presort to USPS specifications — all in our Salisbury facility.
USPS Entry & Tracking
We coordinate USPS entry and applicable documentation for the selected mailing. PostalOne! documentation, acceptance records, and visibility features depend on the mailpiece, service, and USPS requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lettershop Services
Related Services
Presort Mail Services
Presort processing and USPS-entry preparation are reviewed for your specific mailing.
USPS Full-Service Mailing Review
Review IMb barcoding and electronic-documentation conditions for eligible mailings.
Digital Printing
Full-color digital printing with variable data personalization for every piece.
List Cleaning & NCOA
CASS, NCOALink, and DPV processing to review address quality before mailing.
MMScope Tracking
Track mail delivery, retarget recipients online, and measure campaign ROI.
Contact Our Team
Questions about lettershop services? Talk to our Salisbury, MD team.