Paying for catalog consulting services isn’t merely an expense, it’s an investment. Many brands invest hours designing and creating a great catalog and yet they don't think to invest the time to craft a strategic catalog circulation plan or segment the list to track results. Instead, the mailing list pull is outsourced to the brand’s IT department, which guesses what parameters to use and then...
Planning your 2019 catalog circulation plan and creative? Make sure you check out the following promotions. The USPS filed its 2019 Mailing Promotions with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on October 10, 2018 and is awaiting approval. We do not expect any major issues with the approval as many of the promotions have been offered for several years in a row. Tactile, Sensory and Interactive...
In our previous catalog matchback post we discussed matchbacks and how we should not attribute 100% of the sales results to the catalog mailing because many of the sales are digital in origin. Customers are often touched multiple times (print, email, retargeting) along their purchase journey. Today we will look at catalog hold-out tests and how they can be used to modify your catalog matchback reports...
Marketing without a well-thought-out strategy, be it catalog marketing or otherwise, is just like building a house without a blueprint. It doesn't necessarily mean that you will never get there, but there will be a lot of wasted time and resources before you do. Equally as important, is for you to remember that no strategy is fool proof, regardless of how much thought and analysis was put...
How would you like to combine the best of digital marketing technology with the tactile and visual charm of direct mail marketing? Welcome to triggered postcard marketing, a new way to take advantage of cutting-edge technology to pump up your direct mail campaign. Martech, an online marketing trade, points to a triggered direct mail platform that connects potential customers’ online behavior to create targeted direct...
Unlike corporate marketers, catalog circulation consultants get to work on a number of catalog brands in a variety of industries and merchandise categories. Catalog consultants have many advantages, including getting to observe all types of activity, tests, and innovations across a variety of catalog titles. Catalog circulation management consultants can do many things to support the catalog team. Here are the top activities that they...
Rising catalog costs have forced catalogers to be more creative when it comes to catalog formats. Whether you're reducing the trim size or exploring gatefolds, always test the new format against the control before you roll out the change. If you're in a highly seasonal business, make sure you understand the impact on revenue during the busy time of the year when changes are often...
This is a common question and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. It really depends on the type of business you run (B2B or B2C) and several other factors including catalog productivity, customer segment, and merchandise. Let's take a look at some examples. B2B catalogers typically mail one large annual catalog and supplement with smaller specialty titles throughout the year. The annual catalog serves as a...
An important component of catalog circulation planning and mailing strategy involves the catalog in-home date. Savvy catalog mailers know to plan their circulation around holidays -- especially fluctuating holidays such as Thanksgiving and Easter. This year, we have a new date to consider. It is the presidential election year and it can wreck havoc on catalog response if you don't get the timing right. Take...
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