Companies can upload artwork online then choose recipients from a database of 40 m companies and individuals, provided by DBS Data. Printed.com then prints the material and passes it on to TNT for delivery.

Alex Griffin, Printed.com’s partnership manager, said MailShot Manager worked like a group-buying collective for SMEs.

"We do a lot of jobs so that means we can keep our prices down – even for SMEs that do small jobs and aren’t eligible for bulk discounts," he said.

The turnaround for MailShot Manager is seven days. It delivers throughout the UK and currently only sends A5 postcards.  It charges 14p per recipient reached through the database, 25p per postcard and a further 25p for delivery.

The company has a suite of four HP and four Xeikon digital printers and a range of large format digital printers at its print centre in Newcastle.

The print centre will start printing material for the Irish market next month and the French and German markets in 2013.

Griffin said Printed.com would also launch MailShot Manager in the US next year.

Paul Duffy, Printed.com’s product manager, said it was too early to say whether it would set up its own print site or enter into a partnership with an American printer.