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: […]
Ever wonder what goes on at photoshoots? Or need to know how to make your photoshoots more successful? At last, the truth can be revealed! Let me pull back the curtain and show you how the magic happens. Just follow these seven insider secrets to get the most out of your next photoshoot. […]
There’s a conspiracy underway in the catalog business. It’s happening right under our noses. You know what I’m talking about, copy kidnappers! Someone has been rounding up copywriters and turning them into CONTENT EDITORS! “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” comes to mind. You know, the “snatched people” attend to their daily tasks, but they really […]
Catalogers have a choice to make in the coming weeks. In this case, there are only two possibilities: Do something or don’t do anything. The choice involves good and evil. In this case, “good” is defined as spending a lot less money and “evil” as spending a lot more money. Do I have your attention? […]
Lois Brayfield, J.Schmid CEO, and Lauren Ackerman, J.Schmid Web Content Specialist, offer their take on the catalog and direct mail industry in the recently published DMA Statistical Fact Book 2017. Learn more about this valuable resource packed with recent research for all marketing tactics here. The numbers are in, and the message is clear: print […]
People spend a lot of time (like, millions of hours) watching videos on the internet. And with so many videos out there, it’s important to do them right. Art Director Chris Yankey sits down to talk about the significance of utilizing video for marketing as a powerful medium for your brand. Need more video pointers? […]
I often get asked if there is ONE thing that a company can do to improve their brand, what would it be? That’s easy. Improve your culture. I’ve had the opportunity to walk into hundreds of companies over the years, peek behind the curtain and see what makes them tick. What I notice right away […]
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 […]
In early 2017, IKEA launched a catalog with the cover tagline, “Designed for people, not consumers.” And it continued on the inside cover: “Everything we do is driven by the needs and dreams of real people. … We make products and solutions with someone in mind.” Their message resonated with me. During the almost 10 […]
