“(Phys.org, April 30, 2012) -- There's no reprieve in sight for Australian letterboxes bombarded with junk mail, with new University of Sydney research showing that junk mail is enormously effective in boosting in-store sales.

Professor Charles Areni and Dr Rohan Miller, of the University's Discipline of Marketing, found that featuring products in mail catalogue advertising significantly increased sales compared to advertising on in-store radio, which plays in stores while customers shop.

"We see the signs 'No Junk Mail' everywhere," says Professor Areni, "so it seems people don't want all that advertising material stuffed into their mailboxes.

"However, while people may say they hate junk mail, somebody out there is having long look at it and planning their purchases around what they see."

Soon to be published in the Journal of Marketing Communications, the research varied the in-store radio advertising and mail circular advertising in 95 variety discount stores, measuring the sales results of products featured in the two advertising media.

"We alternated what products were advertised over the stores, varying products featured in the junk mail versus in-store radio ads," says Professor Areni…”

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