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Past CatalogSuccess.com Poll Results
I got into the catalog/multichannel business, because I...
6% was prepared, having earned an MBA
0% got the job through a family connection
11% responded to a want ad
83% just got here totally by accident
What’s your biggest worry this year in light of the slow economy?
52% Lack of sales
13% Rising printing and mailing costs
17% An inability to prospect aggressively
17% Having to cut staff
0% Other
On an overall staff-wide basis, what are your company’s plans for attending this year’s catalog/multichannel-related conferences, compared to last year?
27% We’re sending more people to conferences
18% We’re sending fewer people
36% We’re sending the same number of people
18% We’re skipping all the conferences this year
How many catalog co-op databases, if any, do you use?
(20%) 1
(10%) 2
(30%) 3
(30%) 4
(10%) more than 4
(0%) none
On Feb. 11, the USPS announced a CPI-capped postal rate hike effective this May. The 0.86 percent increase for non-carrier route flats is a far cry from what the category saw with last year’s hike. What’s your reaction?
(15%) Relief. It won’t affect us
(15%) Mixed feelings. We’ll make further adjustments to mail profitably
(54%) Outrage. We still haven’t recovered from last year’s increase
(15%) Encouraged. A step in the right direction for catalogers
Compared to last year, what’s your total employee headcount, including part-timers?
(23%) Greater than February 2007
(62%) Less than February 2007
(15%) Exactly the same
What’s your sales growth projection for 2008?
(70%) We’re planning for better growth than last year
(10%) Comparable growth
(10%) Slower growth
(10%) Flat, no growth
Our holiday 2007 return rate is …
(11%) Worse (more items returned) than holiday 2006
(56%) Better (fewer)
(33%) About the same
Beyond Mail Preference
Do you accept catalog opt-out requests from third-party groups, such as the recently formed Catalog Choice, or do you rely strictly on the DMA’s Mail Preference Service (MPS)?
(40%) MPS only
(40%) We’ll honor any requests that come to us
(20%)Just one or two non-DMA opt-out services
Product Sourcing
From which country or region do you source the majority of your products?
(44%) Far East
(33%) U.S.
(0%) Europe
(22%) Another region
Catalog/Web Holiday Season Budgeting
How do your holiday 2007 season print and Web marketing budgets differ from holiday ‘06?
(33%) Allocating more money on Web marketing, less on print catalog mailings
(11%) Allocating more on print, less on Web
(44%) Allocating more on all marketing channels
(0%) Allocating less on all marketing channels
(11%) No change from last year
What Others Do
Who do you pay closest attention to?
(53%) My closest competitors
(35%) Any and all multichannel marketers
(0%) Just the financials of the public companies
(12%) Nobody in particular
Have you ever run a free shipping & handling promotion?
(40%) Yes, and it worked great
(26%) Yes, but it worked out marginally at best
(14%) Yes, but it failed miserably
(14%) No, but would like to try it
(5%) No, and I have no desire to try it
There’s momentum building among states for “Do-Not-Mail” legislation, similar to the “Do-Not-Call” law. Following just four states last year, 15 states this year have introduced proposals for “Do-Not-Mail” legislation. How does that strike you?
(0%) I’ve contacted my congressman
(24%) I’ve been in touch with my trade associations
(12%) I’ll let others deal with it
(12%) I doubt anything will become of it
(53%) I wasn’t aware of it
The year is two-thirds over. How are your sales this year compared to your original projections?
(6%) Well ahead
(29%) Slightly ahead
(24%) Right on plan
(41%) Slightly below
(0%) Missing our projections badly
How long has it been since you performed a major overhaul on your Web site?
(64%) 0-2 years
(14%) 3-5 years
(14%) We’re long overdue
(7%) We’ve never needed to overhaul it
Do you have separate e-commerce and print catalog marketing divisions or are they both in the same department?
(35%) Separate
(65%) Together
Since this past January, by how much have you been able to cut your overall cost of doing business in light of the May postage increase?
(45%) 0-5%
(0%) 6-10%
(9%) 11-20%
(9%) 21% or greater
(36%) Costs have gone up
How will your holiday season (or other peak season) hiring compare to last year?
(25%) We intend to hire more part-timers in our fufillment center
(0%) We’ll hire fewer part-timers
(75%) We’ll hire about the same
Have you joined, or are you planning to join, the recently formed American Catalog Mailers Association?
(22%) Yes
(15%) No
(63%) I don’t know what it is
Do you do any business with foreign customers?
(40%) Yes, we mail catalogs abroad and aggressively market to foreign customers
(10%) Yes, though Canada is as far as we go
(25%) Yes, but only when the orders trickle in on our Web site or our toll-free line
(10%) No, we don’t accept any orders from outside of North America
(15%) No, we don’t accept any orders from outside the U.S.
What changes have you made in your catalog make-up and plans so far to offset the May 14 postage increase?
(0) We switched to a lighter catalog paper weight
(17%) We reduced the trim-size of our catalog
(0) We found some co-mailing opportunities
(17%) We did all of the above
(67%) We’ve done nothing yet
How well capitalized is your catalog/multichannel company right now?
(67%) We have plenty of capital to run our daily operations
(22%) We’re just barely at breakeven and will likely need to get more capital soon
(11%) We’re undercapitalized and are seeking one or more investor
On an overall staff-wide basis, what are your company’s plans for attending this year’s catalog/multichannel-related conferences, compared to last year?
(20%) We’re sending more people to conferences
(70%) We’re sending fewer people to conferences
(10%) No change from last year
If the postal rate increase is enacted in May with the rates recommended by the Postal Regulatory Commission, how prepared is your company financially?
(5%) Very prepared
(71%) Working up an aggressive cost-cutting plan right now to make this work
(24%) Totally unprepared; we have no idea what we’ll do
How were your holiday returns compared to holiday ’05?
(11%) We received more returns
(11%) We received fewer returns
(33%) About the same
(11%) We’re still receiving returns
By how much are you changing your budget for paid search this year compared to last year?
(75%) Increasing 1 percent to 10 percent
(0%) Increasing 11 percent or greater
(25%) Same as last year
(0%) Less than last year’s level
Compared to holiday 2005, did the majority of your holiday 2006 orders come in:
(27%) earlier
(36%) later
(36%) within the same time period
Compared to holiday 2005, how many gift cards have you sold this holiday season?
(25%) More
(25%) Fewer
(25%) About the same amount
(25%) We don’t offer gift cards
What is your sales projection for Holiday 2006 compared to last year?
(50%) up 0% - 10%
(13%) up 11% - 20%
(13%) up 21% or greater
(13%) flat
(13%) down
Are you preparing for the 2007 postal rate increase?
(80%) yes
(20%) no
With regard to holiday season promotions, this year will you run:
(46%) more than last year
(8%) fewer
(46%) the same
How, if at all, will your holiday season catalog circulation levels change?
(43%) mailing more catalogs than last year
(14%) fewer
(43%) the same
Next year, the portion of private label products offered in your catalog and Web site (as a whole) will be...
(0%) more
(0%) less
(100%) about the same
How did your part-time fulfillment center staff change this holiday season, compared to holiday 2005?
(50%) We’ve employed more part-timers this year
(0) We’ve employed fewer part-timers this year
(50%) We’ve employed the same number of part-timers
6% was prepared, having earned an MBA
0% got the job through a family connection
11% responded to a want ad
83% just got here totally by accident
What’s your biggest worry this year in light of the slow economy?
52% Lack of sales
13% Rising printing and mailing costs
17% An inability to prospect aggressively
17% Having to cut staff
0% Other
On an overall staff-wide basis, what are your company’s plans for attending this year’s catalog/multichannel-related conferences, compared to last year?
27% We’re sending more people to conferences
18% We’re sending fewer people
36% We’re sending the same number of people
18% We’re skipping all the conferences this year
How many catalog co-op databases, if any, do you use?
(20%) 1
(10%) 2
(30%) 3
(30%) 4
(10%) more than 4
(0%) none
On Feb. 11, the USPS announced a CPI-capped postal rate hike effective this May. The 0.86 percent increase for non-carrier route flats is a far cry from what the category saw with last year’s hike. What’s your reaction?
(15%) Relief. It won’t affect us
(15%) Mixed feelings. We’ll make further adjustments to mail profitably
(54%) Outrage. We still haven’t recovered from last year’s increase
(15%) Encouraged. A step in the right direction for catalogers
Compared to last year, what’s your total employee headcount, including part-timers?
(23%) Greater than February 2007
(62%) Less than February 2007
(15%) Exactly the same
What’s your sales growth projection for 2008?
(70%) We’re planning for better growth than last year
(10%) Comparable growth
(10%) Slower growth
(10%) Flat, no growth
Our holiday 2007 return rate is …
(11%) Worse (more items returned) than holiday 2006
(56%) Better (fewer)
(33%) About the same
Beyond Mail Preference
Do you accept catalog opt-out requests from third-party groups, such as the recently formed Catalog Choice, or do you rely strictly on the DMA’s Mail Preference Service (MPS)?
(40%) MPS only
(40%) We’ll honor any requests that come to us
(20%)Just one or two non-DMA opt-out services
Product Sourcing
From which country or region do you source the majority of your products?
(44%) Far East
(33%) U.S.
(0%) Europe
(22%) Another region
Catalog/Web Holiday Season Budgeting
How do your holiday 2007 season print and Web marketing budgets differ from holiday ‘06?
(33%) Allocating more money on Web marketing, less on print catalog mailings
(11%) Allocating more on print, less on Web
(44%) Allocating more on all marketing channels
(0%) Allocating less on all marketing channels
(11%) No change from last year
What Others Do
Who do you pay closest attention to?
(53%) My closest competitors
(35%) Any and all multichannel marketers
(0%) Just the financials of the public companies
(12%) Nobody in particular
Have you ever run a free shipping & handling promotion?
(40%) Yes, and it worked great
(26%) Yes, but it worked out marginally at best
(14%) Yes, but it failed miserably
(14%) No, but would like to try it
(5%) No, and I have no desire to try it
There’s momentum building among states for “Do-Not-Mail” legislation, similar to the “Do-Not-Call” law. Following just four states last year, 15 states this year have introduced proposals for “Do-Not-Mail” legislation. How does that strike you?
(0%) I’ve contacted my congressman
(24%) I’ve been in touch with my trade associations
(12%) I’ll let others deal with it
(12%) I doubt anything will become of it
(53%) I wasn’t aware of it
The year is two-thirds over. How are your sales this year compared to your original projections?
(6%) Well ahead
(29%) Slightly ahead
(24%) Right on plan
(41%) Slightly below
(0%) Missing our projections badly
How long has it been since you performed a major overhaul on your Web site?
(64%) 0-2 years
(14%) 3-5 years
(14%) We’re long overdue
(7%) We’ve never needed to overhaul it
Do you have separate e-commerce and print catalog marketing divisions or are they both in the same department?
(35%) Separate
(65%) Together
Since this past January, by how much have you been able to cut your overall cost of doing business in light of the May postage increase?
(45%) 0-5%
(0%) 6-10%
(9%) 11-20%
(9%) 21% or greater
(36%) Costs have gone up
How will your holiday season (or other peak season) hiring compare to last year?
(25%) We intend to hire more part-timers in our fufillment center
(0%) We’ll hire fewer part-timers
(75%) We’ll hire about the same
Have you joined, or are you planning to join, the recently formed American Catalog Mailers Association?
(22%) Yes
(15%) No
(63%) I don’t know what it is
Do you do any business with foreign customers?
(40%) Yes, we mail catalogs abroad and aggressively market to foreign customers
(10%) Yes, though Canada is as far as we go
(25%) Yes, but only when the orders trickle in on our Web site or our toll-free line
(10%) No, we don’t accept any orders from outside of North America
(15%) No, we don’t accept any orders from outside the U.S.
What changes have you made in your catalog make-up and plans so far to offset the May 14 postage increase?
(0) We switched to a lighter catalog paper weight
(17%) We reduced the trim-size of our catalog
(0) We found some co-mailing opportunities
(17%) We did all of the above
(67%) We’ve done nothing yet
How well capitalized is your catalog/multichannel company right now?
(67%) We have plenty of capital to run our daily operations
(22%) We’re just barely at breakeven and will likely need to get more capital soon
(11%) We’re undercapitalized and are seeking one or more investor
On an overall staff-wide basis, what are your company’s plans for attending this year’s catalog/multichannel-related conferences, compared to last year?
(20%) We’re sending more people to conferences
(70%) We’re sending fewer people to conferences
(10%) No change from last year
If the postal rate increase is enacted in May with the rates recommended by the Postal Regulatory Commission, how prepared is your company financially?
(5%) Very prepared
(71%) Working up an aggressive cost-cutting plan right now to make this work
(24%) Totally unprepared; we have no idea what we’ll do
How were your holiday returns compared to holiday ’05?
(11%) We received more returns
(11%) We received fewer returns
(33%) About the same
(11%) We’re still receiving returns
By how much are you changing your budget for paid search this year compared to last year?
(75%) Increasing 1 percent to 10 percent
(0%) Increasing 11 percent or greater
(25%) Same as last year
(0%) Less than last year’s level
Compared to holiday 2005, did the majority of your holiday 2006 orders come in:
(27%) earlier
(36%) later
(36%) within the same time period
Compared to holiday 2005, how many gift cards have you sold this holiday season?
(25%) More
(25%) Fewer
(25%) About the same amount
(25%) We don’t offer gift cards
What is your sales projection for Holiday 2006 compared to last year?
(50%) up 0% - 10%
(13%) up 11% - 20%
(13%) up 21% or greater
(13%) flat
(13%) down
Are you preparing for the 2007 postal rate increase?
(80%) yes
(20%) no
With regard to holiday season promotions, this year will you run:
(46%) more than last year
(8%) fewer
(46%) the same
How, if at all, will your holiday season catalog circulation levels change?
(43%) mailing more catalogs than last year
(14%) fewer
(43%) the same
Next year, the portion of private label products offered in your catalog and Web site (as a whole) will be...
(0%) more
(0%) less
(100%) about the same
How did your part-time fulfillment center staff change this holiday season, compared to holiday 2005?
(50%) We’ve employed more part-timers this year
(0) We’ve employed fewer part-timers this year
(50%) We’ve employed the same number of part-timers