Get it to Stick: How a Business can Benefit from using Self-Seal Envelopes
An office can be such a busy place! People are moving around, paperwork is flying from one desk to another, and correspondence with customers are being sent out, all at a rapid pace. With so much work to get done and only so much time to be able to do it, you are probably always on the lookout for ways to increase the work speed and efficiency of your office. One of the easiest and quickest ways to do it would be to use self-seal envelopes.
What are Self-seal Envelopes?
As the name suggests, self-seal envelopes are envelopes that come preloaded with an adhesive substance on the lip of the envelope so that you won’t need to waste time sealing them the traditional way: by moistening the lip one by one to activate the glue and sealing the envelope.
You will find one strip of latex on each flap of the envelope, and when you press the seals together, it instantly forms a bond that closes the envelope. There are several names by which the latex seal is called, such as Dri-seal, Press-seal, and Fast-seal, depending on the maker of these envelopes. However, self-seal envelopes usually have a shelf life when it comes to the effectiveness of the adhesive. Most self-seal envelopes can guarantee their adhesive property for around 12 months from the manufacturing date, although the shelf life can be affected by temperature and humidity. If the storage conditions are too cold or too hot, the latex can dry out more quickly. Some self-seal envelopes will have security slits which will rip once the envelope is opened. This prevents tampering and opening of the envelope by people other than the intended recipient.
There is a special type of self-seal envelope called “Peel and Seal” envelopes. This type of self-seal envelope has a protective layer on the latex that you need to remove in order to press the latex strips together and make the bond. The protective layer helps to increase shelf life and ensure that the latex strips are not pressed together accidentally. There are two types of “peel and seal” envelopes:
- Cold melt – this type is similar to self-seal latex. It has a single adhesive band covered by a silicone paper strip. It has around 2 years of shelf life.
- Hot melt – this type is more popular with office use because it has a longer shelf life of around 5 years. It has a narrow adhesive band and has an appearance similar to double-sided tape. Hot melt “peel and seal” envelopes are slightly heavier than cold melt ones.
Okay, but How will These Envelopes Help Me?
The most obvious benefit that you can enjoy with self-seal envelopes is saving time and effort when it comes to sealing envelopes for delivery. Simply remove the latex strip (if any), press down the envelope, and it’s ready to go. It might not seem to be a lot if you’re only sending out one or two envelopes now and again, but imagine if your company sends out hundreds or thousands of envelopes a day! Those little things add up quickly, so using self-seal envelope can save your company time and yes, money.
Another benefit to using self-seal envelopes is that they look more professional and they prevent tampering by other people. Many envelopes contain highly-sensitive information, and your customers want to ensure that their private data is safe from prying eyes. Self-seal envelopes help ensure that tampering becomes a thing of the past, especially if they come with security slits that tear once the envelope is opened. If your customer receives a self-seal envelope with a ripped security slit (even if the person tampering with the contents was able to re-seal the envelope neatly), they will be alerted that their envelope and its contents were seen by another person, and they will be able to address this problem accordingly.
Finally, one benefit that might not have crossed your mind is that self-seal envelopes can increase your customer’s response rates! When your customers are able to receive a professional-looking, clean, and properly-worded envelope addressed to them, they will be encouraged to open it and read the contents. This will ensure that you get your message to your intended audience; it will now be up to them to see how they will respond. If you want to get a better response, make sure that you include a clear benefit to them opening and reading your mail, such as promotions, discounts, or even a call to action towards your business.
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