Willow Ridge and Bedford Fair Lifestyles Women's apparel marketer Bedford Fair is in the mail this summer with miniature versions of both Bedford Fair Lifestyles and Willow Ridge. The shrunken books measure roughly 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", down from the 9" x 8-1/4" typically used for these properties. Perhaps the smaller books are easier for summertime prospects to tote along to the backyard, beach and beyond. To that end, both catalogs use titles that reinforce their light and easy size. Willow Ridge accentuates its portability by calling itself "Summer 2002 – Pocket Edition," while the book for Bedford Fair Lifestyles is entitled "The Summer Handbook 2002." Deferred billing on credit card orders is available from both catalogs, which is a standard incentive for Bedford Fair mailings. In fact, payment for orders from these summer books can be pushed off until October 2002. Merchandise ranges from $54 for an Asian-inspired pant outfit to $14 for a ribbed cotton knit top. Most of the apparel is in the $20-$30 range, and several identical items are featured in both books. Orders can be placed via direct mail, phone, fax or Internet.

National Park Foundation Arriving in time for summer holidays, the latest 6" x 9" package from the National Park Foundation seeks to capture the public's interest in all things American. The patriotic theme starts upfront with an outer envelope that draws from perhaps the most famous of national park iconography, the country's founding fathers of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson on Mount Rushmore. Underneath the majestic image, teaser copy entreats potential donors to "Join America…" with a "special Charter Membership." Further patriotic language is used throughout the four-page sales letter, beginning with a "Dear Fellow American" greeting to rousing comparisons such as, "National Parks personify America's ideals" and "… embody the spirit of America." The current package offers only a single premium, the GoParks newsletter, for its new basic charter membership (the last mailing offered an additional decal and map.) However, a newly expanded donation ask ladder of $35/$100/$125/$250/$500/$1,000/other starts with a lower basic membership price of $35, down from the $50 used in prior efforts. Additional step-up premiums are offered on larger donations starting at the $100 level.

The direct mail pieces appearing in Mail Stream are tracked and analyzed by Paradysz Matera, New York, through its online competitive direct mail and e-mail tracking tool MarketRelevance. Located at:www.MarketRelevance.com