Marketing Solutions Unlimited

What Marketing Solutions Unlimited does

Marketing Solutions Unlimited (MSU) is a Connecticut-based, single-source commercial printing and direct mail provider founded in 1991 by Heidi Buckley and operating as Marketing Solutions Unlimited, LLC. The company serves over 200 clients nationwide across five primary verticals: healthcare and financial services, education (private and public), political candidates and causes, non-profit organizations, and retail/service businesses. Notable named clients include Anthem, Cigna, UConn Foundation, Watkinson School, CT Children's Medical Center, Waterbury CT Teachers Federal Credit Union, and Connecticut political campaigns including those of John Larson and Dan Malloy.

The technology stack centers on a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 L 5-color offset press (up to 15,000 sheets/hour, with coating unit), a Heidelberg VersaFireCP 110 digital printer (up to 27 x 13 oversize sheets), a Versifier digital printer for variable data work, and a dedicated envelope press. Direct mail operations are supported by CASS certification, NCOA processing, postal presorting, match/inserting, wafer sealing, and an Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) partnership with USPS. Adjacent services include bindery, kitting and fulfillment, an online storefront for SMB reorders, and the MAX omnichannel offering that extends direct mail into multichannel execution. The company is HIPAA-compliant, a member of Amalgamated Lithographers of America Local One (union shop), and certified as a Woman Owned Small/Minority Business Enterprise by the State of Connecticut.

The business model is primarily project-based commercial printing and direct mail services sold through a consultative sales motion, with custom quote-based pricing determined per project rather than standardized tiers. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales (campaign planning, pre-press, design, production, and mailing under one roof) with a self-service online storefront for stationery, business cards, and similar reorders. MSU is privately held with no external funding rounds, acquired Newington-based Paladin Commercial Printers in January 2021, and announced a merger with Hitchcock Printing effective March 25, 2026, coinciding with founder Heidi Buckley's retirement.

Name

Marketing Solutions Unlimited

Legal name

Marketing Solutions Unlimited, LLC

Website

https://msuprint.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marketing Solutions Unlimited is a Connecticut-based commercial printing and direct mail provider offering offset, digital, and variable-data printing, mailing, fulfillment, and design services to 200+ clients across healthcare, education, political, non-profit, and retail verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing and Direct Mail Services

NAICS

Direct Mail Advertising (541860), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111)

SIC

Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Direct Mail Marketing Services (Print, Postcard, Dimensional Mail) (BPAFAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mailing, Inserting & Distribution Services (Addressing, Direct Mail, Kitting) (MPAJALAH)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Direct mail services
• Variable data printing
• Mailing list services
• Fulfillment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial Printing Services: Offset printing, digital printing, and variable data printing services for various materials including brochures, postcards, annual reports, invitations, and marketing collateral.
2. Direct Mail Services: Full-service direct mail production including CASS certification, NCOA processing, postal presorting, match/inserting, wafer sealing, and Every Door Direct Mail services.
3. Fulfillment and Kitting: Kitting, collating, and manual assembly services for odd-shaped or multiple size pieces such as enrollment kits and welcome packages.
4. Online Ordering (Storefront): On-demand ordering system for items like stationery and business cards, printed on demand and promptly shipped.
5. Design Services: Design support services for customers without access to design professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Marketing Solutions Unlimited is a single-source provider of commercial printing and direct mail services, combining offset and digital printing with full-service direct mail production (CASS certification, NCOA processing, postal presorting, match/inserting, and EDDM) plus fulfillment, kitting, and campaign planning/design support. It serves regulated and vertical industries including healthcare, financial services, education, political, non-profit, and retail/service with personalized and targeted direct mail campaigns.

Product overview

Marketing Solutions Unlimited (MSU) is a full-service commercial printing and direct mail company operating as a single-source provider. The core offering combines Offset Printing (five-color Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 L press) and Digital Printing (Versifier/Heidelberg VersaFireCP 110) capabilities with Variable Data Printing for personalized pieces. Direct Mail Services form a major pillar, encompassing Database Services (CASS, NCOA), Mailing Lists, Fulfillment (kitting and assembly), and Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) in partnership with USPS. Additional services include Envelope Printing, Bindery finishing, and Online Ordering via Storefront. Campaign Planning, Pre-Press Services, and Design Services provide consultation and production support. The company recently expanded its omnichannel offering called MAX and acquired Paladin Commercial Printers in 2021. Industry-specific solutions cover Healthcare & Financial Services, Education, Political, Non-Profit, and Retail & Service verticals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Offset Printing Five-color Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 L press with coating unit capable of printing up to 15,000 sheets per hour, supporting paper stocks from fine onion skin to thick cardboard. Used for brochures, postcards, annual reports, invitations, and marketing collateral.
• Digital Printing Versifier and Heidelberg VersaFireCP 110 digital printers delivering superior image quality matching offset press quality. Capable of printing up to 14" x 26" oversize digital sheets with generic and variable data options, including heavy stock, magnetic stock, and synthetic materials.
• Variable Data Printing Software and equipment combination producing vibrant, targeted print pieces customized with words or images to speak directly to individual interests and needs for personalized direct mail campaigns.
• Envelope Printing

Quantifiable outcome

• 13-to-1 average return on investment for direct mail marketing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hitchcock PrintingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026Announced merger effective March 25, 2026. Hitchcock Printing, owned by Anthony Bracco, will merge with MSU while MSU continues as a separate entity. Quality, staff, service, email addresses, and telephone numbers will remain the same. West Hartford location employees will transition to Newington or Hitchcock's New Britain office.
• Paladin Commercial PrinterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2021Acquired Newington-based Paladin Commercial Printers in January 2021. Paladin brought 31 years of experience serving ad agencies, financial, and manufacturing clients, complementing MSU's non-profit and educational focus. Both locations remained open with 30 combined employees.
• SoSimple InteractivecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Partnership established in 2015 with SoSimple Interactive to provide mobile responsive website design and development. Helps customers share in MSU Print's technology-forward philosophy.
• USPS (United States Postal Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with USPS to manage Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) creation and distribution. Allows cost-effective saturation of specific zip codes or neighborhoods with reduced postage costs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• InnerWorkings (HH Global): Managed print and marketing services provider serving mid-market and enterprise clients with indirect procurement of print, direct mail, and fulfillment. Directly comparable managed services model to MSU's single-source provider positioning.
• Hitchcock Printing: Connecticut-based commercial printer announced as MSU's merger partner in March 2026. Operates in the same Connecticut market with overlapping offset, digital, and direct mail services, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Minuteman Press International: Franchise-based commercial printing and direct mail network with hundreds of locally-owned locations. Highly comparable to MSU in service mix (offset, digital, direct mail, fulfillment) and target customer (local SMBs and mid-market).
• Valpak: Direct mail cooperative best known for the blue envelope of coupons, also offering direct mail advertising services to local and regional advertisers. Closely comparable direct mail advertising model targeting SMBs and local services.
• Sir Speedy: Franchise printing and marketing services network offering offset/digital printing, direct mail, and signage. Closely comparable service portfolio and customer profile to MSU's retail, non-profit, and SMB work.
• AlphaGraphics: Franchise commercial printing and marketing services brand offering print, direct mail, and digital marketing. Comparable to MSU in serving SMB and mid-market customers with integrated print and mail campaigns.

Broad incumbents

• Taylor Corporation: Large private holding company in commercial printing, direct mail, and personalized communications. Overlaps with MSU across commercial printing and direct mail but spans many additional product categories and geographies.
• Quad/Graphics: Large publicly-traded commercial printer offering offset, digital, and direct mail services at national scale. Overlaps with MSU across commercial printing and direct mail but operates at vastly greater scale and across many additional categories.
• Cimpress (Vistaprint): Large diversified printing and marketing services company whose Vistaprint brand pioneered online print ordering for SMBs. Comparable in online storefront and SMB focus, but operates at materially greater scale and with web-first ordering.

Emerging players

• Lob: API-driven direct mail automation platform that lets digital marketers send physical mail programmatically. Competes with MSU for direct mail budget but from a software/automation angle rather than full-service printing, representing the digital-native threat to traditional print shops.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mktsoluunlimted
• Facebookfacebook.com/MktSoluUnlimted
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marketing-solutions-unlimited

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marketing Solutions Unlimited