Financial Reports: Williams-Sonoma, Dover Saddlery, Bombay Co., uBet
Williams-Sonoma grew sales and income, but not as much as it had hoped. Dover Saddlery had a galloping year. But Bombay Co.’s wider loss has it seeking strategic alternatives
Marketing
Live from NEMOA: Resilient Catalogers Will Survive
Cambridge, MA
Live from NEMOA: Washington Still Needs to Understand Rate Increase Impact
Cambridge, MA–Even if the catalog industry cannot avoid the U.S. Postal Service’s rate increase, which could be as high as 40% for some catalogers come May 14, New England Mail Order Association members said the industry cannot afford to take its foot off the gas pedal
Live from NEMOA: Talk of Postal Hikes Kicks Off Conference
Cambridge, MA–The New England Mail Order Association (NEMOA) spring conference is usually a relaxed, happy event. This year, though, the conference opened on a serious tone, as attendees discussed ways to mitigate the postal rate hikes
Financial Reports: Systemax, Charming Shoppes, Blair
Manufacturer/marketer Systemax had a solid fourth quarter and 2006. Charming Shoppes’ Crosstown Traders catalogs ended the year with a whimper. And Blair Corp. hasn’t gotten 2007 off to a rousing start
Grainger Unveils Plumbing Supplies Catalog
Continuing its push to delve more deeply into its product lines, Lake Forest, IL-based maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) marketer W.W. Grainger introduced a 318-page catalog devoted to plumbing products and supplies in March.
Postal Board Approves Majority of Rates for May 14 Implementation
The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors (BOG) approved on March 19 the majority of the recommendations issued by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding the pending rate case.
Wilhelm: Compliance Will Fend Off Regulation
It’s the same message the Direct Marketing Association has often delivered to its List and Database Council membership, but one Markus Wilhelm says bears repeating.
If mailers do not comply with the DMA’s mailing guidelines, the industry will face further regulation.
Amazon Thinking Outside The Box With Inserts
Amazon.com says it is thinking outside the box, both figuratively and literally, when it comes to insert media.
The Seattle-based online behemoth said it has added insert opportunities such as on-the-box advertising as an option for marketers willing to ride along with Amazon, which ships about 80 million packages a year in the U.S.