Navigating USPS Changes: What Marketers Need to Know for 2026 As we head into 2026, the United States Postal Service is pushing through several changes that will affect direct mail strategy, costs, and creative opportunities. For marketers planning ahead, staying...
It is important for catalogers to prospect for new buyers in order to (1) maintain a given level of revenue from year-to-year and (2) in order to grow. In simple terms, if you stop prospecting, sales and buyer counts will decline. Therefore, it is important to...
Match-backs have become routine for catalogers today. This is the process where your order file is “matched-back” against your recent mail tapes in order to give credit to the proper source code. This will tell you where the business is coming from and which key codes...
What’s included in the cost to print and mail a catalog is often referred to as Direct Selling Expenses. We recommend companies break out these costs on their income statement so that the Direct Selling Expense to Net Sales ratio is visible. For a consumer catalog...
Marketing by catalog to our friends north of the border represents an expansion opportunity for U.S. catalogers. Especially now due to the strength of the Canadian dollar. For many, it is a logical way to grow providing the prospecting universe is sufficient for the...
Assuming you have the right merchandise, 70% (or more) of a successful mailing campaign is dependent on the lists you use. Proper list selection means the difference between profits or losses on the income statement. This includes the proper use of your...
Recent developments in California law now suggest that the state is going to be especially aggressive in trying to reach beyond its borders to control the conduct of out-of-state businesses, including catalog and online retailers and their business partners. Two of...
Catalog requests or inquiries generated from the Internet are valuable, like diamonds in the rough. How long it takes to fulfill these requests will determine their true value to your company. Best practice says that a prospective buyer should receive the catalog they...
In this time of uncertainty, controlling your direct selling expenses is critical to your bottom line. Fortunately, paper prices have remained low which has helped to offset the recent postage rate increase. But, the business climate is difficult and the squeeze on...
