In 1951, Andrews was known as Andrews Automatic Enclosing Service and first opened its doors on Richmond Street in Toronto. It was the first automated mailing house in Canada and was founded by Doug & Norma Andrews after Doug returned from WW II.
In the 1980's the company moved north to a larger building in Concord where it expanded to include kitting and assembly services. Andrews moved north again to Richmond Hill, and finally to an 8,000 sq. ft. facility in Aurora during that decade.
In 1989, the company was purchased from the Andrews family and moved to an 11,000 sq. ft facility in Aurora. The name changed to Andrews Mailing Service and expanded into an 18,000 sq ft. facility on Industrial Parkway in Aurora, to make room for data services and laser printing in addition to the core lettershop services.
In early 1999, the company purchased a Sitma polybag machine for $640,000.00, at that time the single largest capital investment ever made by the company.
In 2000, Andrews Mailing was purchased by John and Stacey Campbell who were already working in the business.
Since 2005, Andrews has slowly integrated direct marketing competencies such as digital colour variable printing, data analytics, online tools, and email marketing.
In November of 2009, Andrews grew in size and expertise with the welcomed addition of two companies, the Direct Mail Marketing Group, and U.S and International Bound Mail. In February 2010, Andrews was rebranded as Andrews Direct Marketing, and moved a few feet down the road, into a secure controlled access 30,000 sq ft facility.
Highlights:
Large job: Annual Report mailing in partnership with Symcor, ADP, Royal Bank, CIBC, BMO, Franklin Templeton
Quantity: 2.6MM annual reports polybagged; 1MM reports saddle-stitched into booklets; 9 week timeframe
Note: high degree of difficulty, well planned, perfectly executed, on-time
Toughest job: “Pepsi Stuff” mailer advertising customers to acquire Pepsi points to receive Pepsi merchandise; quoted and priced as inserting one folded brochure into an envelope 3” x 3.5”, by machine
Quantity: 3MM
Note: Live and Learn - Inserters will not accept an envelope smaller than 4” resulting in hand-work; committed to the client to do the job - completed on-time
Humorous job: Poster mailing for Canada Post; roll posters 2.5’ x 3’, hold with elastic, insert into round tube carrier, and mail
Quantity: 16,000
Note: mayhem within Canada Post’s facilities when thousands of tubes literally rolled everywhere, especially off high speed conveyer belts; consequently, round tubes replaced with corrugated triangular tubes, eliminating the rolling
Turning-point job: Awarded project from General Motors
GM had equipped almost 15,000 trucks with dipsticks that were too short; this prompted owners to unknowingly overfill transmission cases, resulting in blown seals, fluid leaks and a warranty headache; GM set a campaign in motion to mail the correct length dipsticks to truck owners to replace themselves. Launched Andrews into fulfillment jobs