Why Direct Mail Is Making a Comeback in 2025 and How Schiele Group Helps You Win with It

If you have been in marketing for any length of time, you have probably heard some version of “print is dead.” And yet, here we are in 2025 watching direct mail surge back into the spotlight, delivering strong response rates, real customer attention, and measurable return on investment.

At Schiele Group, we are seeing it firsthand. Businesses that once shifted heavily toward digital-only campaigns are coming back to print with fresh energy. Not because they are nostalgic, but because direct mail works. It cuts through noise, creates trust, and gives brands something physical and memorable in a world that often feels overloaded with screens.

Let’s talk about why direct mail is rising again, what has changed to make it more powerful than ever, and how your business can use it to connect with customers in a way that digital alone often cannot.

The Digital World Is Loud, and People Are Tuning It Out

Digital marketing is still important. Social media, search ads, email, and online content absolutely belong in a modern strategy. But the truth is, people are overwhelmed.

Consumers are hit with thousands of ads every day. Most of those messages are quickly scrolled past, blocked, or forgotten. Even marketers admit that attention is getting harder to earn online, and audiences are developing what the industry calls “banner blindness.” 

Email is another example. People still use it, but inboxes are crowded. Average email response rates remain extremely low, often hovering around a fraction of a percent. 

Direct mail steps into this environment like a breath of fresh air. It arrives without competing against a hundred other tabs or notifications. It feels intentional. And it gets noticed.

Direct Mail Feels Personal, and Customers Remember It

One reason direct mail is thriving again is simple: it feels more personal than digital advertising.

Studies show that a majority of consumers find direct mail more personal and trustworthy than digital communication. That matters because trust is what turns attention into action.

When a printed piece lands in someone’s hands, it feels different. It has weight. It has texture. It can be saved on a desk or shared with a spouse. It becomes part of the physical world, not just another fleeting post in a feed.

At Schiele Group, we love helping customers create mail pieces that feel genuinely human. Whether it is a beautifully designed postcard, a premium brochure, or a dimensional mailer, we know that the small details create a big emotional impact.

The Numbers Are Stronger Than Most People Realize

Direct mail is not just “nice to have.” It is performing.

Recent industry reports show direct mail response rates averaging roughly 2.7 to 4.4 percent, compared with about 0.12 percent for email and even lower for some digital display ads. 

Conversion rates tell an even bigger story. Research comparing channels has found direct mail conversion rates around 14 percent, far higher than email’s typical conversion averages. 

For businesses, that means direct mail is not a throwback tactic. It is a modern growth tool that delivers measurable ROI.

Younger Audiences Are Driving the Comeback

A lot of people assume direct mail is only effective for older demographics. That is no longer true.

Multiple 2025 reports show that Gen Z and Millennials engage heavily with direct mail, with about 85 percent saying they interact with it, and a growing share reporting they have purchased because of it. 

Why the shift?

Younger audiences spend so much of their day online that physical mail feels novel and meaningful. It stands out. It feels real. And in a world of ad blockers and privacy concerns, mail is often seen as more trustworthy. 

If your business wants to reach younger buyers in 2025, direct mail should absolutely be part of the conversation.

Direct Mail Has Evolved Into an Omnichannel Powerhouse

The direct mail of 2025 is not the direct mail of twenty years ago.

Today, direct mail is smarter, more targeted, and deeply integrated with digital marketing. This combination is a significant reason it is outperforming standalone campaigns.

Industry data shows that response lifts dramatically when direct mail is paired with digital channels. One well-known study found a response lift of over 100 percent when mail was combined with at least one digital touchpoint. 

Here is what that looks like in real campaigns:

1. A customer sees your social ad and becomes curious.

2. A postcard arrives with the same branding and a clear offer.

3. The postcard includes a QR code or custom link.

4. The customer visits your landing page.

5. Retargeting ads follow up online.

6. They convert.

   
   

Mail creates the moment of attention. Digital makes it easy to act.

At Schiele Group, we help customers build print pieces that fit perfectly into this kind of omnichannel flow, including QR codes, personalized URLs, and tracking tools so you can measure results clearly.

Personalization Is Now Expected, Not Optional

Another reason direct mail is thriving again is the rise of personalization.

Consumers do not want generic mail. They want something that looks like it was meant for them. And modern printing makes that easier than ever.

Reports show that many consumers now expect direct mail to feel personalized, and they respond more when it does. 

Variable data printing allows businesses to customize names, offers, images, and messaging based on customer behavior or location.

For example:

• A retailer sends different postcards depending on what customers browsed online.

• A service company tailors offers by neighborhood or household type.

• A B2B brand personalizes mailers by industry segment.

When mail feels relevant, it feels valuable. That is when the response climbs.

Schiele Group has the equipment and expertise to produce personalized mail pieces at scale, and our team loves helping customers turn data into real connections.

When Direct Mail Is a Great Fit for Your Business

Direct mail can work for almost any industry, but we see powerful results in these areas:

Local businesses looking to grow in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Mail helps you reach nearby customers with offers they can act on quickly.

B2B companies trying to stand out in a crowded market. A premium mailer can open doors where email never gets read.

Retail and e-commerce brands wanting repeat buyers, Direct mail brings shoppers back with tangible reminders and offers.

Event marketing and trade show outreach. Mail before and after events builds attendance and follow-up conversions.

If you are already investing in digital ads, direct mail can strengthen those efforts rather than compete with them.

How Schiele Group Supports Your Direct Mail Success

We know that for our customers, direct mail is not about printing paper. It is about results. It is about reaching real people and inspiring them to take action.

That is why we approach direct mail as a partnership.

When you work with Schiele Group, you get:

• Guidance on format choice, whether postcards, self-mailers, brochures, or dimensional pieces

• Expert color matching so your mail aligns perfectly with your brand

• High-quality printing that reflects professionalism and care

• Finishing options that make your piece stand out in the mailbox

• Support with timelines and mail readiness so campaigns launch smoothly

Our team is proud of this work. We care about every piece that leaves our facility because we know it represents you. When a customer trusts us with their campaign, we take that trust seriously.

A Final Thought: Direct Mail Is Back Because Connection Matters

Direct mail is making a comeback in 2025 because people are craving something real. They want brands that feel human. They want messages that respect their attention. And they want experiences that go beyond the screen.

When direct mail is done thoughtfully, it becomes more than marketing. It becomes a connection. It becomes trust. It becomes action.

If you are ready to bring direct mail into your strategy, or if you want to improve the campaigns you are already running, Schiele Group would love to help. We are a team of dedicated print professionals who care about your success as much as you do.