Webinar: Disrupt, Delight, DRIVE: The changing role of catalogs

Join Lois Brayfield for this fast and thought provoking Pub Talk which starts with how catalog have evolved from a simple sales tool into something that can create an emotional connection, elevate a brand and still make a sale. Lois explains why the catalog is not only very much alive, it is still one of the most […]

Webinar: Creating a call-to-action that matters

In this webinar, J.Schmid CEO Lois Brayfield discusses how brands can get prospects to take action. Rather than focusing on arrogant ‘Follow us’ and ‘Like us’ strategies, Lois outlines how companies can create powerful calls to action and turn prospects into customers. Specifically, this webinar covers: • How to quickly connect with your audience • […]

Why print catalogs still provide a “call-to-action” in the digital age

AdNation News interviews Lois Brayfield, President of the direct marketing agency J. Schmid & Assoc. Inc. about the continued relevance of print catalogs in providing a “call to action” in this digital age. Direct marketing is older than our country itself; Benjamin Franklin published “a scientific catalog, complete with a guarantee,” Brayfield says. Many thought […]

Rewriting the Rules of Catalog Copy

On an episode of AMC’s “Mad Men,” the irascible and ubiquitously intoxicated Roger Sterling prods the precocious Peggy Olsen to hire a new copywriter. Peggy cringes, concerned that the potential new Mad Man might be a little, well, mad. “Define crazy for a copywriter,” Roger retorts. “Sleeps all day? Disrespectful of authority? Drunk half the […]

The New Call to Action: 6 better ways to drive conversion in direct mail and print

Customers … why don’t they just do what we want? That would make direct marketing so much easier, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. In today’s marketing climate—with so many choices, technological devices and brand messages bombarding the senses—it’s more difficult than ever to get customers to do anything, let alone what you want […]

Catalog Critique: Making the most of QR codes

Almost every marketer introduced a QR code, or at least toyed with the idea, in 2011. But have these two-dimensional Quick Response codes really moved the needle in terms of customer engage­ment? They are certainly easy and inexpensive to cre­ate, but merchants—in their rush to adopt the newest tactic—may be missing opportunities to acquire new […]

Catalog Design 2.0

Catalogs today are about much more than selling products in print. They need to be compelling engagement tools that reinforce the brand, build customer relationships, stimulate desire and solve problems. A great catalog creates a “desire dance” — that stirring of interest that leads the reader deeper into the brand and down the path to […]