Are Catalogs Really Worth It?

This is the question I’m asked more than any other these days. How would you answer this? It probably depends on whether you’re a catalog believer or a non-believer. First, a quick note about the grey area between these two groups: There is none! Either you sleep well at night with a P&L under your […]

6 POINTS IN DEFENSE OF DIRECT MAIL

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 […]

Is Your Brand Amazon Proof?

Anybody who shops on Amazon has probably had the experience where the price of the item you just put in your cart changes while it sits there. With the recent announcement that Amazon intends to buy Whole Foods, I started wondering about this and found that the explanation is pretty interesting. “List price” has been […]

The Future of Brick-and-Mortar in the Millennial Age

Much has been written about the demise of America’s brick-and-mortar retail institutions due to the expansion of e-commerce and mobile technology. With slowing population growth, the future of retail sales will depend largely on increased individual spending, much of which will come from the demographic cohort known as Millennials. Some relevant facts about this group: […]

Is the Customer Still King?

The notions that “the customer is king” and “the customer is always right” have been marketing gospel for generations of business school grads and brand managers. I’d never suggest that a strong customer focus shouldn’t be a key element of any brand’s marketing efforts. But how do marketers keep “King Customer” from becoming a total […]