Juggling Consultants

"If I know of a designer who I like, it allows me the flexibility to get to select them," she adds.

Having the flexibility to use any production house enables mailers to get the best cost, as well. This is more beneficial for smaller-volume mailers who aren't relying on high-volume discounts from printers. Contracts are a positive for high-volume mailers in that, while they lock an organization in to using that printer, nonprofits then are eligible for printer discounts, which, for mailers, is really the main benefit of a contract, Morrow says.