Coming up with ideas for your direct marketing campaign can be difficult, especially when you want to avoid doing the same thing over and over again. Not only do you want to catch the attention of potential customers, but you want to get them talking and sharing their experience with others. This can be difficult to pull off, but with a little creativity—it’s all possible! If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your direct marketing campaigns, perhaps these companies and artists can give you some inspiration through their own direct mail creatives.

IKEA Flat Pack

Although this marketing campaign wasn’t used by IKEA, it was an ingenious direct mail creative designed by Leo Rosa Borges. The clever pop-up of a bedroom set shows customers a 3D version of how the furniture would look. It’s an excellent way to advertise products that require assembly and it would certainly get people talking. (1)

Pop-Up Record Player

A pop-up record player was designed by an ad agency “Grey” in Vancouver Canada for Griffith, Gibson and Ramsay Productions. It’s a great idea because it includes an aspect of the company in a practical and entertaining way. Not only is this a direct mail creative you wouldn’t throw out, but it also works! (2)

Stain by Numbers

This direct mail creative gave potential customers the opportunity to try out the product themselves—in a fun way! In this case, kits were sent that allowed people to “paint” stains on a fabric canvas and then watch the stains disappear after they used the detergent Ariel Pro-zim 2. This is a great way to prove that your product actually works and interest people in checking your company out. (3)

Green Belgium Letter

For world water day, a company sent out mail that could only be read if run under water, in order to stress the importance water. It might be hard to get people to interact with your mail in this way before they decide to toss it, but it’s possible curiosity might take over. If you make your direct mail creative interesting enough, people will be more likely to open it. (4)

Fake Money

The brand manager of a casino decided to offer $100 dollars to high casino rollers just for singing up. The offer came in the form of a mock hundred dollar bill and wallet. This is like receiving a coupon in the mail for free cash and even though the target demographic probably already spends a lot of money at casinos, they will be unlikely to pass up on the deal. Even though this was for an online casino, this can also be a great way to get customers into a physical location. (5)

You don’t have to be a big company to utilize these direct mail tactics and spread the word about your business. Having a ton of money isn’t as important as being creative and finding ways to entice potential customers. Clever advertising also allows customers to see the unique and playful side of your company. Exciting direct mail creatives generate interest in your company and will get people to actually open their mail. Once potential customers begin thinking about your business and what you’re providing, they’ll be more likely to buy something from you.