The warehouse on Mabley Street in Hackney has been taking in pallets of print since the current owners' grandfather walked the rounds himself. Three generations later, London Circular Distribution is still owned and run by the same family, still based in East London, and still covering all of Greater London along with the surrounding counties through partner networks. Some of its distributors have been with the company longer than a decade.Anyone who has rung round for quotes knows the numbers come back all over the place, and the cheapest one is rarely the bargain it looks like. A low rate usually means a thin round, a wide catchment and a leaflet that lands next to six others. The leaflet distribution cost per 1000 depends on the chosen plan, the print's weight and size, the catchment being walked, and the length of the run. Solus keeps a client's leaflet on its own for the strongest response. Shared puts it out beside non-competing items and brings the rate down considerably.
"People come to us with a budget rather than a plan, and that is completely fine," said a spokesperson for the company. "We would rather spend twenty minutes on the phone working out how far that money stretches in Walthamstow or Chiswick than send over a quote and hope for the best. Once someone understands what they are paying for per thousand, the decision usually makes itself."
Beyond leaflets, the team handles magazines, samples, newspapers, direct mail and business-to-business material. A run of 10,000 copies concentrated in one tight catchment is the usual recommendation, since a scattered drop across half of London tends to spend the same money for a fraction of the return. Free advice on plan selection and area targeting is available before any commitment, and quotes are prepared on request.
For a takeaway, a gym or an estate agent working to a set monthly figure, the arithmetic behind a door drop matters as much as the artwork. The company's approach is to explain that arithmetic upfront rather than after the invoice.
About London Circular Distribution
London Circular Distribution is a family-run door-to-door distribution company serving Greater London. Services include leaflet delivery, magazines, samples, newspapers, direct mail and business-to-business distribution, arranged through solus, shared and selected street plans. Businesses weighing up leaflet distribution cost against reach can request free advice on targeting and plan selection. For more information, visit https://londoncircular.co.uk/