In today’s ever-evolving multi-channel world, marketers are often swept up in the frenzy of the next greatest trend. They’re looking ahead to gain the competitive edge. Sometimes though, the best way to look forward is to look back on a tried-and-true method to reach customers and generate response. That method? Direct mail. You should not […]
This morning I mentioned to my wife Janet that I was writing a post for our blog. She said, “You know, today is the summer solstice, a beautiful, long summer day. Time to kick back and enjoy the peak of the season. Take a break, relax… put an umbrella in your drink! You should write […]
Who said “yes” to what? I’ll get to that in a minute. First, let me share a story. Decades ago, we heard the following from almost every food retailer we worked with: “We want our catalog to look like Harry & David’s.” Why Harry & David? Because at one time, they set the standard for […]
Forget going to the gym more often or eating better or any other resolutions you’ll abandon by mid-February. I’ve made a list of New Year’s resolutions for 2017 … and they’re all about catalogs. Ignore any proclamations of catalogs going away. They’re still here. They’re still relevant. And they can be better than ever. Because […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
