New study shows direct-mail pieces can sway consumers’ attitudes

NEW YORK - From credit card companies increasing penalties for late payments to banks raising interest rates on credit cards, the recession’s bad news knows no bounds. But how consumers learn about such developments can determine how they feel about the companies that dictate them.

Often, people learn about such changes via direct mail. But the good news is, bad news doesn’t have to taint the messenger, according to a recent study from Omnicom Group’s Siegel+Gale. Rather, institutions can actually gain the trust of consumers if they communicate clearly and offer a contextual explanation for such moves, said Lee Rafkin, global director of simplification at strategic branding company Siegel+Gale in New York. Click here to read the full story.