Well, the secret is out. For decades, creative types working at agencies across the country knew instinctively a few secrets they could rely on to create brand stories, campaigns and messaging that would resonate with consumers. The Don Drapers of the world knew these little secrets could help sell more products. We knew if we… Continue reading 5 Basic Truths for Marketing
Tag: catalog design
Does your catalog cover suck?
Admitting it is the first step to re-cover-y. Look at your most recent catalog cover. Really look at it. Imagine it was the first time you were ever seeing it. Would it get your attention? Would it make you want to stop and open it? Or…and be honest…does your cover suck? (It’s ok. Just admit… Continue reading Does your catalog cover suck?
5 Catalog Design Fails
I’m asked to critique catalogs on a regular basis. Assessing catalog design is important, and I’m of the belief that we can “always do better.” However, many of my comments point out small deficiencies that at the end of the day do not make a big difference in overall results. Collectively they can make a… Continue reading 5 Catalog Design Fails
DEMOCRACY IS REVOLTING
Catalog heroes rise up against democratic oppression One voice, one vote? Equality for all? Democratic rule? No more! Not here. Not now. Not ever. Before you report me to Homeland Security or flood the comments decrying my fascist propaganda, let me explain. I’m not proposing a violent overthrow of the government. No, my revolutionary screed… Continue reading DEMOCRACY IS REVOLTING
60,000 Times FASTER!
Catalogs are a visual medium. This fact has not changed – even in a world where everything else seems to have evolved. This is good news for the catalog industry! According to recent science, the brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than it takes the brain to decode text. Why is this? We understand… Continue reading 60,000 Times FASTER!
Athleta, Amazon and Man-Buns
Why You Should Keep It Simple “Simple is harder than complex.” –Steve Jobs Browsing through a catalog of one of my favorite brands, I found myself completely frustrated, to the point that I eventually threw the catalog aside. Why? Because they made it hard for me to shop. We are in an era… Continue reading Athleta, Amazon and Man-Buns
(SPATIAL) RELATIONSHIP ADVICE: 3 Keys to the Successful Marriage of Geometry and Catalog Design
What’s the secret to a successful marriage? OK, confession. I’m not married, so really how the hell would I know? Just bear with me here. This is going somewhere. Thanks to copious amounts of TV and movie viewing, along with observing my married friends, I’ve come to see what contributes to a good marriage. Like… Continue reading (SPATIAL) RELATIONSHIP ADVICE: 3 Keys to the Successful Marriage of Geometry and Catalog Design
Big Ideas for Catalog Covers
What does it take to make a great catalog cover? Do you have the backbone to put some big ideas into practice?
Research That Makes You Say, “Oh, Crap!”
The research stopped me cold. And I seriously thought our team had it right … we didn’t. Let me back up to the beginning. At J.Schmid one of our mantras is that catalogs should DISRUPT, DELIGHT and DRIVE. I’d like to focus on the latter. Catalogs should DRIVE customers or prospects to DO something. In… Continue reading Research That Makes You Say, “Oh, Crap!”