Happy Holidays

Welcome to the Dove Direct Print and Marketing Blog. Today's post, "Happy Holidays," serves as our wish for you to enjoy a Happy Holiday season. Thank you to our clients, vendors, partners, readers, supporters, and staff for all the interactions that have kept us growing and serving organizations in various sectors throughout the year!


The past decade is chock full of changes from traditional marketing to digital communications. With 2020 rapidly approaching, this is an excellent time to share a collection of facts from the Census Bureau.

Did You Know?

$19.4 billion - The estimated retail sales for the nation's department stores in December 2018, a decrease of 4.3% from December of the previous year. Source: Monthly Retail Trade Survey

18.2% - The estimated percentage of 2018 total jewelry store sales that occurred in December. Source: Monthly Retail Trade Survey

12.5% - The estimated percentage that December sales accounted for of total hobby, toy and game store sales in 2018. Source: Monthly Retail Trade Survey

$67.7 billion - The estimated value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2018, the highest estimated total for any month last year. Source: Monthly Retail Trade Survey

$20.0 billion - The fourth quarter 2018 seasonally adjusted after-tax profits for retail trade corporations with assets of $50 million and over, down $3.4 billion from the third quarter of 2018. Quarterly Financial Report

$499.4 million - The value of US imports of Christmas tree lights for 2018. China led the way with 76.0% of the total US imports of Christmas tree lights. International Trade Statistics, Harmonized System Code 9405.30

511.3 million - The value of US imports of tapered candles in 2018. Most of these came from Vietnam, representing more than 43.1% of America's imported tapered candles, followed by Canada with more than 19.0%. International Trade Statistics, Harmonized System Code 3406

Holiday Names

There are many holiday-sounding places in the US For example, more than a dozen places have Holly in their names, including Mount Holly, NC (population 16,135), and Holly Springs, Miss. (7,652). There's also Snowflake, Ariz. (5,858); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,410); North Pole, Alaska (2,113); Noel, Mo. (1,833); and — if you know about reindeer — Dasher, Ga. (1,004), and Rudolph, Wis. (422). There is also Unity, Ore. (68). Vintage 2018 Population Estimates


The Net-Net

The collection of data compiled by the Census Report represents a treasure trove of information, which can serve as a valuable resource for any organization. Big Data and Personalization are the tour de force tools that will assist marketing strategy decisions, now and in 2020. Thanks for reading our "Holiday" post. Merry Christmas!




Let's have a conversation about integrated business solutions and how they can help grow your business, change behavior, and improve the customer experience. Join us at our next Open House. You can learn about our solutions, including direct mail strategies, printing, print software, transactional documents, variable digital printing, brand equity, and unified marketing collateral. 





We invite you to join us for an hour or two at our next Open House on January 30, 2020, from 10:30am to 3:30pm. You can also tour our 58k+ Sq. Ft. facility and experience our vast array of state-of-the-art print, mail, and sorting infrastructure.  Let us show you how to improve your document processes to optimize your workflow, reduce your costs, and maximize your organization's printing, letter shop, and mailing capabilities. Dove Direct does have an official USPS certified bureau located within our offices that will save you time and money.  And, if you bring us your files, we will create a demo file for you. 

For more information, call Carla Eubanks at 404-629-0122 or email Carla at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..



Dove Direct, your Atlanta based print and mail solutions provider, offers organizations end-to-end data, printing, and mailing solutions: Data Management, Variable Digital Printing, LetterShop and Fulfillment, Fully Automated MLOCR Presort Bureau, Marketing and Production Management Support and Secure Data Life Cycle Management.  

If you don't want to wait for the Open House, you can reach Dove Direct today by calling 404-629-0122 or use the Contact Form for Dove Direct.