July 2025 - The Software Bureau

📈 The Big Picture: Budgets Are on the Up

Direct Mail

📈 The Big Picture: Budgets Are on the Up

By Martin|2025-07-22T11:37:03+00:00July 22nd, 2025|

Marketing budgets in Q2 2025 grew at their fastest rate in over a year, with a net balance of +5.5% according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. After months of uncertainty, marketers are putting money back on the table—but with a clear focus: driving revenue. And it’s not flashy TV or brand-building fluff that’s leading the charge. The real growth? It’s in sales promotions and direct marketing—the channels that get results, fast. 💥 What’s Fuelled the Growth? 1. Sales Promotions Break Records Promotional budgets surged to a record high—from +8.0% in Q1 to +9.4% in Q2. That tells you everything: when the pressure’s on, brands want immediate traction, and price-led campaigns deliver it. 2. Direct Marketing Still Delivers Direct marketing [...]

The Software Bureau Partners with Kickbox to Offer Integrated Email Verification Through Data Bureau Service

By Martin|2025-07-09T13:12:10+00:00July 9th, 2025|

The Software Bureau, a leader in data processing automation and hygiene services, has today announced a strategic partnership with Kickbox, a global provider of email verification technology. This collaboration introduces a new batch email verification service within The Software Bureau’s industry-leading Data Bureau service. The integration allows organisations to verify large volumes of email addresses before broadcast, helping ensure cleaner, more accurate data sets, enhanced deliverability, and greater campaign performance. “Email remains one of the most effective direct marketing channels, but only when it reaches a real person’s inbox,” said Martin Rides, Managing Director of The Software Bureau. “Our partnership with Kickbox gives our clients access to enterprise-grade email verification, seamlessly embedded within our Data Bureau service” Key Benefits of [...]

Creativity vs. Cleanliness: The One Thing Missing from That Brilliant Charity Direct Mail Webinar

By Martin|2025-07-07T12:06:52+00:00July 7th, 2025|

I recently tuned in to a superb webinar hosted by John Watson (Chair and Group Chief Executive) and John Eversley (Managing Director) from WPNC. For anyone in the charity direct mail space, these two need no introduction. John Watson has been a giant in our world for decades — in fact, he's been leading from the front since I first cut my teeth in direct mail over 30 years ago. His reputation precedes him, and rightly so. It was a treat to hear his perspective once again. The session covered a lot of ground — and covered it well. From keeping your mail pack simple, to using long-copy letters, to deploying incentives, and of course tailoring personalisation, the insights were [...]