Clean Release Cards are Answer A company encouraging people to join clubs for golfers, hunters, gardeners and other hobbyists lured would-be members with 30 mil cards. Bob Lashbrook, a sales representative with distributorship Roberts Business Forms, provided the company with hundreds of thousands of embossed cards attached to letters that were placed in window envelopes. "The cards showed through the envelopes, and people perceived they were getting something of value," Lashbrook says. But there were two problems with the cards. The cost of 30 mil cards was hard to justify because the cards were temporary. If recipients opted to join the clubs, they received permanent cards later. Second, the company experienced some matching problems when the personalized plastic cards were affixed to the enrollment letters. Lashbrook suggested the client try clean release cards. The thin gauge cards and letters to which they're attached are personalized with a laser printer simultaneously. "They give the same idea as a thick card, are one-third of the cost and eliminate the matching problem," Lashbrook says. Roberts Business Forms relied on manufacturer Brandt Affixing Inc., Carrollton, Texas, for the successful application. The distributorship handled approximately six projects weekly, providing mailings promoting various clubs. Order sizes varied and popular clubs such as the fishing club sent up to 400,000 letters. The distributorship supplied 8 1/2 x 11-inch letters on 28# ledger stock with thin plastic cards attached in the upper right corner. The letters and cards were preprinted in 4-color with each club's name, and the backs of the letters included disclaimer information in black. The client laser-printed the mailings with the letter text and recipients' personal information.