Dana Whiteland
Owner, Creative Director and lumpy mail expert
Dana loves all things creative, fun and helping businesses to stand out from the crowd, be different and be remembered.
After a career in Telecoms, IT, Business Analysis and Process Improvement - Dana turned her hand to the entrepreneurial world. Here she uses her skills and creativity to see past the normal; and sees opportunities to stand out and be different!
"After a great career I was lucky enough to take on the best job I've ever had.... being a full time mum! Here I remembered what it's like to be a kid and see excitement and opportunities at every avenue! So - this is what I decided to do when it was time to go back to 'work'. My Lumpy Mail business is the evolution of a few business ideas that developed and niched. I found where I sparkled and discovered my happy place of using all of my skills, knowledge and experience. This happy place is lumpy mail! Crafting and creating stand out pieces of direct mail for my clients - to make their clients sit up and take notice of them.
My motto in life has always been 'it's nice to be nice!' - I just don't like nastiness and negativity! It is simply nicer to make people smile!! Creating happy packages of lumpy mail for people is the perfect business for me"
It started with....... my name... Dana
Growing up in the 70s and 80s in the UK, Dana wasn't (and still isn't) a popular name. So there were no gift shop souvenirs for me! I lost count of the number of 'Diana' keychains people would kindly buy me - rather than leave me out when they found my sisters names on things!
So you can imagine when I took my first trip to America - where Dana (pronounced Dayna) made it onto the gift racks of tat! I LOVED IT!!!
Since then I've always had a bit of an obsession with seeing my name on things! Which is why over the past few years I've spent hours and hours learning the best ways to brand items and personalise ANYTHING!
Many people will have heard the famous quotation by Dale Carnegie “Remember that a person's name is to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language”
I believe the same to be true for seeing your own name too - have you ever noticed on a list of names how you can pick yours out within milliseconds?
Business owners love to see their logo on things too - I remember the first business I ever set up; one of the first things I did was get a logo and order some branded goodies! A mug, notebook, T'shirt etc!!! I know I'm not the only one guilty of this!!! So imagine my joy when I had the opportunity to join forces with a branding and merchandise company in 2022 (Manic Merchandise) and my eyes were fully opened to what can be branded! I'd like to say that the novelty of receiving samples has worn off...... but it hasn't! I still LOVE a good freebie - and again I know I'm not the only one!
The best part of working in the merchandise industry (after the people) is the vast array of products that can be branded. From clothing, stationery, drinkware and pens to seeds, sweets, tech and toiletries! The list is exhaustive and briliant! Who knew you could get tissue boxes shaped like vans? Or mints shaped like houses?
My favourite coffee tumbler is spill-proof and made out of recycled coffee cups, my favourite tech is tiny and fits in my handbag (a credit card sized power bank). My favourite pen is made from coffee beans and my favourite book is made from elephant poo! But out of all of the items I've seen branded - branded apples and oranges are by far the winner for me! If you're ever exhibiting at an event, or want a healthy fun snack to celebrate an occasion - give me a call and I'll show you some amazing pictures of branded fruit! In fact - this is how I met Manic - we both brand fruit!
In a nutshell - if you are reading this and ever need any branded or promotional items (freebies and giveaways, clothing, on-boarding gifts etc) please do message me - I can help with that too. My email specifically for all things merchandise is:
manicdana@manic-merchandise.com
How does this relate to lumpy mail??? I see products all day every day - things you wouldn't even know were a thing! My brain cannot help see the product and match it up to a business sector, quote, saying or campaign. I've created a magic lumpy mail generator with this knowledge - and will always match your lumpy mail campaign with the perfect 'lump' (product) and strap-line.
Some great examples:
- An egg timer - can I have 2 minutes?
- A connecting charger cable - let's connect
- Mints - It's mint to be
My love and desire to have things personalised - along with the love of freebies really have inspired Lumpy Mail. If something is received and makes an emotional connection with you - it stays with you. I wish you could bottle this feeling up! However - I have curated the ingredients and make sure that your clients feel this feeling when they open your lumpy mail! It works - it has a near 100% open rate! It creates a ripple effect too. People like to reciprocate - and will happily give you their 2 minutes of time - in return for your creativity, connection and because you took the time to make them feel something special.
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
Biscuit Bakery Ltd, Registered in England and Wales: 11860114
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.