• by Ray Schultz , March 19, 2018

Textium is trying to bring direct mail into the 21st century with a platform that integrates mail and texting.

The technology allows the consumer to respond to a direct mail offer through their mobile phone. It collects their phone number and serve it to the advertiser in the form of a qualified lead, the company says.

The product, on which a patent is pending, will be unveiled at the Automobile Dealers Association Conference in Las Vegas, which begins on Thursday.

The service provides “an instant personalized response to the consumer directly to their smartphone,” says Craig Schmitz, CEO and founder of the St. Louis-based company. 

Schmitz is a stakeholder in William Craig Diversified Holdings, a venture capital firm that supports start-ups. He realized that direct mail results for qualified leads could not always be accurately measured.