NEW CASTLE — Encompass Elements, a direct mail marketing and product sampling company, will be moving out of Pennsylvania and into the First State, planning to consolidate operations at a warehouse at Johnson Way near historic New Castle.
Encompass Elements is a full-service marketing and fulfillment company that works across different channels, but is noted for its direct mail campaigns that may include sending out prototypes to help launch brands, or some as simple as securing web domains and designing and printing brochures.
Clients, though not included in the direct mail campaign, include big names like Walmart and Macy’s, and other customers work in insurance and pharmaceutical sectors, among others.
“By blending the two together, we’re creating more capabilities for our clients and the move will help us grow the business. That’s not even mentioning the streamlining and efficiencies with one facility,” Encompass Elements Chief Operating Officer Bill Scannapieco told the Council on Development Finance (CDF) on Monday. “I think we can publish more with the move, and we’ve shown that we can do it well.”
CDF had approved a grant request for $252,100 during Monday’s hearing, which includes a job performance grant up to $188,000 to relocate 22 employees from its Landsdale, Pa. offices and to its existing 152,000-square-foot facility in Delaware.
The taxpayer-backed grants are paid out of the state’s Strategic Fund, and require employers to prove the investment to the state— be it through confirming employee headcount or expenses— before the money is reimbursed.
Encompass Elements also projects it will hire 32 people in the next three years, bringing its total employment base to 74 people by 2027. These jobs will include lettershop and print machine operators and managers, customer service representatives; executive, management and administrative roles as well as warehouse associates.
“In the last couple of years, we’ve talked about moving to Delaware, and key employees will move but not physically,” Scannapieco said. “Because of COVID, we’ve learned processes that can be done from home like data and development. The idea is that those jobs would come to Delaware maybe once a week.”
Included in the grant request CDF approved was $64,100 for a capital expenditure grant, as Encompass Elements plans to build a print room at the New Castle warehouse with two digital printers, which Scannapieco said the industry standard was to upgrade every five to seven years. In total, Encompass Elements plans to invest $3.2 million in the Delaware site.
Both Governor John Carney and Govenor-elect Matt Meyer welcomed Encompass Elements on consolidating operations in Delaware.
“We are excited that Encompass Elements, a longtime Delaware and woman-owned company, will expand here in our state,” Carney said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to seeing Encompass Elements continue to succeed and create good-paying jobs in Delaware.”
“Congratulations to Encompass Elements on its decision to grow in Delaware,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “The company has been a valued member of the New Castle County business community for more than 20 years, “ Meyer said. “We look forward to their expansion and the new job opportunities it will bring to our area.”
