Catalogs Even More Popular With E-Commerce Success
from the paperless?--no-way... dept
For years, we've always heard stories about how digital technologies would help get rid of paper, but it hasn't really happened. The supposedly "paperless office" increased paper usage, and now for all the talk about how online commerce was going to kill the traditional paper catalog business, we find out that catalogs are doing better than ever, with more of them going out every year. The catalog retailers say that the the paper catalogs actually drive a lot of business to their online storefronts, and help get people interested in going to the site. Of course, it's possible that this is just a temporary blip driven by generational issues. After all, for all the talk about how the paperless office was a myth, more recent studies have shown that some companies are starting to reduce paper usage, and it may have just taken a generation shift to move those who were attached to paper out of the office. It will be interesting to see if the same thing happens with paper catalogs as well.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Catalogs Are Online Shopping's Curse
I try to do all my gift shopping online, so that I don't have to face the malls. It's fast, easy, efficient. I search, browse, and buy, and let UPS and USPS do the driving. My gifts arrive on-time and stress free.
But then, the nightmare starts. Most of the online stores decide that I must want their monthly catalog since I bought a spice rack in December. Even though I try hard to click every opt-out button I can, I still get a mess of emails and catalogs sent to me starting mid-December. I dutifully unsubscribe to all that I can, phoning the catalog guys, etc. By June, I have stemmed the flow. But every year, it happens again.
I always wondered why online retailers took an electronic customer like me, and blasted me with paper, but the post above from Mike explains why. I'm lumped in with those that browse on paper, and buy online. bummer. Please, stop killing trees in my name.
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National opt out snail mail
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Re: National opt out snail mail
Why is that even legal at all? Maybe I shoudl just report them for littering... I hate cleaning up after them...
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Re: National opt out snail mail
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I'm guilty
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laziness = more unwanted paper
i just throw the catalogs that i get in the bathroom, that way they're not going to complete waste ;)
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Me, too
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A running joke is that every time someone says the phrase "paperless office" the paper manufacturers have to build a new factory. (oops I did it again)
There is a difference in the types of paper being used in offices, though. There is less pre-printed paper - business forms, etc - and more blank paper being used as needed.
The "paperless office" will not even happen in the lifetime of our grandchildren. What we are attaining is the "less paper office" with cheaper paper - laser printing on blank is cheaper than pre-printed.
Software and technology are not the bottleneck - people are.
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