Catalog industry outpaces retail sector, but must plan carefully to stay ahead.SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 1995--The apparel segment of the catalog catalog, descriptive list, on cards or in a book, of the contents of a library. Assurbanipal's library at Nineveh was cataloged on shelves of slate. The first known subject catalog was compiled by Callimachus at the Alexandrian Library in the 3d cent. B.C. industry is heading into the mature phase of its life cycle, based on 1994 data. Net sales Net Sales The amount a seller receives from the buyer after costs associated with the sale are deducted. Notes: This amount is calculated by subtracting the following items from gross sales: merchandise returned for credit, allowances for damaged or missing goods, freight per catalog, a key financial measure for catalog companies, similar to sales per square foot for retail stores, fell under the industry median. A new national industry study says without careful strategic planning Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. , the entire $57 billion catalog industry could lose its competitive edge over the retail sector. The 1994 Annual Catalog Survey reported significant profits in the business-to-business segment, indicating a continuing growth phase for this area. There are signs of maturity amidst a·midst prep. Variant of amid. [Middle English amiddes : amidde; see amid + -es, adverbial suffix; see -s3.] the growth, however. Rising costs and stiff competition decreased 1994 profits for companies in the consumer catalog segment of the industry, contributing to intense merger and acquisition activity. "The catalog industry is growing at a rate that far outpaces retail," said Phred Huber, Catalog Survey director. "However, the industry is approaching its maturity phase. In an era when expenses are out of control, capital is scarce and governmental pressures for regulation are escalating, catalog companies cannot afford to plan only for the short-term." Conducted by Bruce, Dean and Co., a consulting firm Noun 1. consulting firm - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting company business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a to the direct marketing industry, The 1994 Annual Catalog Survey monitors profitability and trends in the catalog industry. Findings are based on responses from a national sample of catalog companies generating at least $1 million in net revenue. The study establishes key financial, marketing, merchandising and operating benchmarks for consumer and business-to-business catalogs, as well as for hybrid firms, an emerging segment of the catalog industry that caters to both markets. Other major findings include: -0- -- Many consumer catalog companies were reliant on list rental and excess shipping and handling income, rather than merchandise sales, for profitability. -- Business-to-business and hybrid companies increased profits in 1994, continuing a trend identified in the 1993 survey. These firms reported strong domestic and excellent international growth. -- Despite higher anticipated marketing expenses in 1995, 79% of all 1994 Survey respondents In the context of marketing research, a representative sample drawn from a larger population of people from whom information is collected and used to develop or confirm marketing strategy. said they plan to increase circulation and 44% plan to increase the number of pages per catalog in 1995. -- In order to gain a competitive advantage, the majority of firms have begun offering more exclusive merchandise to their customers. -- The majority of respondents plan only from season to season, rather than developing long-term strategies. -- Among consumer catalogs, hobbyist, auto parts Auto parts are components of automobiles. They mainly are, in alphabetic order (only car specific articles or articles with car section):
The 1994 Annual Catalog Survey, the second annual study of the industry, is available from Bruce, Dean and Co., in its San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden headquarters office. The firm also publishes The Bruce Report The Bruce Report is the commonly given name to two reports of the Glasgow Corporation (the former local authority area for the Scottish city), the First Planning Report, which was published in the closing stages of the Second World War in March, 1945 and the newsletter each month for senior executives involved in the catalog industry. The company employs a staff of experts with a total of more than 75 years' experience in catalog management. CONTACT: Bruce, Dean and Co., San Francisco Phred Huber or Bill Dean, 415/512-7305 |
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