PSE began in September 1995, when two brothers (Rob and Phil Newton) set up shop in a small Worcestershire barn. With a straightforward business plan to sell printed stationery—drawing on the family’s long-standing experience in the print industry—we started out with nothing more than a small phone system, a fax machine, and the ‘Business Pages’ (think Yellow Pages). We hired a couple of telesales people, who methodically worked through the directory, calling businesses to ask if they needed printed stationery. It wasn’t the most targeted approach, but it worked—we won new clients regularly, including one that’s still with us in 2024.
As our business developed, so did our services. We shifted to offering print management, helping large companies streamline their print needs, ensuring individual sites received consistent products while head offices retained control over brand standards and costs.
With the rise of computers, which started replacing many printed documents, we recognised the need to adapt. We shifted our focus to supporting marketing teams, where we saw a clear link between our products and their ability to generate leads and revenue. This transition aligned closely with our values, as we were adding more value to our clients. The campaigns were more dynamic, though often challenging.
Our early successes came from supporting bingo clubs across the UK, working with some colourful characters and managing the design, production, and distribution of rapid-turnaround campaigns. These experiences marked our first steps into direct mail.
Building on this, our next major opportunity came from working with local authorities on election postal voting campaigns. One authority took a chance on a new approach we proposed, and it was a huge success. By the following election, we were supporting over 50 local authorities—where the stakes were high, and the deadlines were non-negotiable.
By this point, we’d gained valuable expertise in printing, customer service, brand management, creative support, data handling, and delivering campaigns on time. With this knowledge, we secured some major clients, including Hotel Chocolat, QVC, and Baxi Heating, which propelled us to a new level.
Supporting fast-growing companies has always been demanding, but it’s also incredibly rewarding—and it’s something we still thrive on today.
When COVID-19 hit, we took the opportunity to review our product offerings and future focus. Over the years, we’d produced a wide range of printed materials, from store point-of-sale displays and exhibition stands to a six-foot bunny and even wrapping an entire fleet of lorries with a client’s new branding. While fun, we knew we needed to focus on what we did best. With the tagline ‘Getting Your Brand Into Their Homes,’ we streamlined our services to Direct Mail, Door Drops, and Inserts. It turned out to be the right decision, leading to significant growth in 2021 and 2022.
In recent years, we’ve invested in bringing creative, data, and planning services in-house, developing a six-step process that draws on nearly 30 years of experience. We believe this positions us as the UK’s leading experts in helping retailers and subscription businesses build and maintain profitable direct mail channels. Our Gold and Silver awards at the 2023 DMA Awards show the industry agrees.
2024, marked a new chapter for PSE. We welcomed our new Managing Director, Melissa Shackleton, hosted our first webinar in partnership with the Direct Marketing Association, and opened our new London office in Shoreditch. However, we remain rooted in our head office in Droitwich, ensuring continuity as we grow into the future.
In Summary PSE: From Barn Beginnings to Big Wins
Humble Beginnings: In September 1995, two brothers in Worcestershire founded PSE in a barn with little more than a phone, a fax machine, and a simple plan: sell printed stationery, drawing on the family’s expertise in the print industry.
Dialling for Clients: Equipped with the ‘Business Pages’ (a UK version of the Yellow Pages), a couple of telesales staff called businesses alphabetically. It wasn’t highly targeted, but it worked – they even secured a client who remains with them to this day.
Print Management Pros: As the business grew, PSE evolved into a print management service, ensuring consistent products for large companies while helping them maintain control over their brand and costs.
Marketing Magic: With the rise of digitalisation, PSE adapted by focusing on supporting marketing teams, adding value by generating leads. Their first successes were with bingo clubs and local authorities, particularly during elections, where hitting tight deadlines was essential.
Big Leaps: PSE’s growing expertise led to key client wins, including Hotel Chocolat and QVC. Supporting fast-growing businesses was challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Pandemic Pivot: COVID-19 provided an opportunity to reassess their services. PSE streamlined its focus to Direct Mail, Door Drops, and Inserts, resulting in significant growth in 2021 and 2022.
Award-Winning Excellence: With nearly 30 years of experience, PSE now offers in-house creative, data, and planning services. Their refined six-step process earned them Gold and Silver at the 2023 DMA Awards.
Get in Touch: Find out how PSE can help you develop your Direct Mail Marketing strategy.
