How to Create Catalog Sales
Many companies that sell products retail or by mail produce catalogs to boost their sales. Catalogs provide a convenient tool for consumers to shop without having to physically visit a specific retail location. Nevertheless, the process of deciding which products to include in a catalog, designing the catalog and deciding how to market it can be a challenging endeavor for any business.
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Instructions
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Creating Catalog Sales
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Decide which products to include in the catalog. Go online and search for a wholesaler for your products if you are starting from scratch or want to include additional products in your catalog.
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Establish a price for any new products. Take a variety of products over to the post office or to United Parcel Service and find out how much they cost to mail. Set a shipping price based on dollar volume. Contact the county administration office and find out what percentage to charge for sales tax. Register your business and apply for a vendor's license if you do not have one.
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Order some catalogs and study them. Decide if you want to produce a larger catalog or a smaller version about half the size of an 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch sheet of paper. Use your local business phone directory or go online and find a catalog design company. Meet with the company and come with a concept for the look of your catalog that should include taking photos of your products and writing product descriptions. Get the catalogs printed along with an order form and a return envelope with your companies address on it.
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Do research online for mailing list vendors. Find out which vendors sell mailing lists of consumers that have purchased products from catalogs the same or similar to those that are in your catalog. Order 2,500 or 5,000 names for your first mailing. Do a test mailing of 1,000 to 2,000 names from the lists and see what kind of response you get. Do more mailings if you are making enough sales to cover the cost of your mailings and catalogs, and are also making a small profit.
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Place classified ads in national newspapers and magazines that are read by people that purchase your types of products. Include enticing information about your products and invite people to call you for a "free catalog." Place catalogs in doctors and dentists offices as well as car dealerships and other places with lots of customers. Include additional order forms in these catalogs.
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Get a web designer to create an online catalog for your business. Give people the option of receiving a catalog by mail on your website. Increase traffic to your website by using popular search engines to market it.
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Send catalogs to customers that place orders. Give catalogs to customers at your store if you are also selling products at a retail location. Maintain a database of customers that order by catalog. Mail to these customers several times per year, including sending them a catalog four to six weeks before the holiday season.
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Tips & Warnings
It can be very expensive to strictly mail catalogs to people from a mailing list. You will likely have more success with this endeavor if your product is unique or seasonal. Otherwise, it is much more cost-effective to use classified ads to get your catalog into people's hands. Remember, the bulk of your sales will come from repeat purchases.
Never overextend yourself financially in any catalog business venture. Keep your catalog simple in the beginning and expand and enhance it as you increase your profits.
