Inserts designed for the pack they go into
An insert is any printed piece that travels with something else: a leaflet in a direct mail pack, a Gift Aid form in an appeal, a voucher in an e-commerce parcel or a flyer in a magazine mailing. It has to earn its place, because every extra item adds weight, cost and something for the reader to look at. It also has to fit: the size, fold and stock need to suit the envelope or parcel and the machine that encloses it. Tell us what the insert travels with and how it will be enclosed, and we can help you plan it with the rest of the pack.
Direct mail inserts
Leaflets, response forms, reply slips and Gift Aid declarations enclosed with a personalised letter. Plan their folded size, the order they go into the envelope and which one the reader sees first.
E-commerce and parcel inserts
Product inserts, cross-sell leaflets and vouchers enclosed with online orders. A unique barcode or QR code on each voucher lets you measure redemption.
Magazine and newsletter inserts
Flyers, renewal forms and event invitations sent alongside a members' magazine or newsletter. These can be enclosed with the publication or inserted loose into the envelope.
Paper & finishes
Choose the stock for the job the insert does. A form that will be filled in and returned works best on an uncoated paper that takes a pen. A leaflet carrying photography may suit silk or gloss. Lighter stocks keep the overall pack weight down, which can affect the postage price on a large mailing.
FSC-certified stocks are available for inserts, and charities using FSC-certified paper may qualify for Royal Mail's Sustainable Mail discount. Finishes are usually best kept for the outer or a hero leaflet rather than every insert.
Folding, perforating and enclosing
Inserts are folded and trimmed in-house, and perforations can be added for tear-off slips and vouchers. Our folders include scoring and perforating, so forms and reply slips can be produced in the same pass as the fold.
Our three Buhrs enclosing lines each have multiple stations and a friction feeder, plus 4-way Taurus camera matching and a Driver Southall checkweigher. Camera matching checks that personalised inserts end up in the right pack, which matters when a form carries a supporter's reference or a voucher carries a unique code.
Litho or digital printing?
Inserts that are the same in every pack can be printed by litho for longer runs, or digitally for shorter runs and versions. Personalised inserts, such as pre-filled forms, numbered vouchers or tailored offers, are printed digitally or with inkjet personalisation from your data.
Because inserts are printed and enclosed at the same site, we can plan them as a set: their sizes, folds and personalisation are checked against the envelope and the enclosing line before printing starts.
Mailing & trade print
We process the data, print and enclose the pack, then prepare qualifying UK mailings for Royal Mail Mailmark sortation in-house. Irish mailings are sent through An Post. Keeping the work under one roof avoids moving printed inserts between a printer and a separate mailing house.
For e-commerce and retail clients, inserts can be supplied to your fulfilment team; tell us how they need them packed. Agencies and resellers can commission inserts and enclosing as unbranded trade print under NDA.
Helpful guides
All guides
Variable Data Printing and Personalised Direct Mail
How variable data printing works, what can change from record to record, how personalised print is produced and how to get the data and proofs right.
Read the guide
Charity Appeal Pack Checklist (Free PDF)
Every component of a charity appeal pack plus the data, Gift Aid, Code of Fundraising Practice and postage checks, with a free printable checklist.
Read the guide
Retail Direct Mail: Catalogues, Loyalty and Triggered Mail
How retailers use catalogues, loyalty mailings, triggered mail and acquisition mailings, with response data and tips on formats, postage and measurement.
Read the guide
Leaflet Folds Explained: Roll, Z, Gate and Cross
Every common leaflet fold with finished sizes from A4 and A3, roll fold vs Z fold, gate fold tips, creasing heavier stocks and folds for mailings.
Read the guideFrequently Asked Questions
Have a print specification in mind?
Tell us about the format, quantity, artwork and how you plan to use the finished piece, and we will come back with a recommendation and a clear quote.
- Print, data and mailing under one roof in Keighley
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and FSC certified
- Royal Mail Mailmark and PostAim (Ireland) mailings
- Family-owned and producing since 1980