While party supplies mailer Stumps reports that its consumer catalog sales are outpacing its business-to-business books, many other b-to-b marketers are having a decent spring.
Zion, IL-based aquatic gear and apparel cataloger Kiefer targets community pool facilities and swim teams. “Although we haven’t seen the increase that we would have liked, there are more pools and recreation centers being built, which means we get more customers all the time,” says marketing director Robin Blank. The company’s year-over-year growth is in the double digits.
At Scottsdale, AZ-based DBL Distributing, which sells consumer electronics to retailers and wholesalers, first-quarter sales increased 20%. That’s less than its goal of a 25% increase. “But considering what is going on out there,” says president/CEO David Lorsch, “I think we came out okay.”
At stamp and scrapbook products wholesaler Hero Arts, based in Emeryville, CA, “spring sales are off the charts, and we have been working overtime since early January,” says executive vice president Louise Burns. Being a business marketer has helped the company’s sales quite a bit, claims Burns. “The scrapbook market is a burgeoning one and is doing really well, and especially now, home crafts are a hit.”