Operations and Management: Computer-Generated Service
For Miles Kimball, speech recognition technology worked best for handling callers requesting catalogs. Voice recognition prompts can divert routine calls
News
Falling Flat
Forget last fall’s double-digit circulation increases and expectations of equally heady sales boosts. Among the marketers interviewed by Catalog Age in
California’s Energy Crisis Zaps Mailers
Imagine a typical day at work. Your warehouse employees are unloading the most recent shipment of widgets. In the call center, headset-bedecked phone
The Secret Shopper: Picking Out Porch and Patio Items
This month the Secret Shopper sought furnishings and decor for the porch and patio. Since many of the larger furniture items are drop-shipped from the
Seasonal Employment Plans Remain Steady
Catalogers may find one small consolation in light of the economic downturn: a larger pool of seasonal help. Despite a slight May dip in unemployment,
More Layoffs to Lament
Since Catalog Age first reported on the mass layoffs affecting catalogers in 2001 (Layoffs: Who’s Getting Hit? in the April issue), a number of companies
Senate Shift May Shift Focus on Catalog Issues
The direct marketing industry may now have to explain to the Senate exactly how it uses data The May defection of Vermont senator James Jeffords from
Market Sector Report: Tuning in to Electronics
Consumer electronics margins typically average 15%-20%, vs. 25%-30% in other categories This is the third in a series of Market Sector Reports being published
Tumultuous Times at F&G
A CEO resignation, falling sales, and a lawsuit have Foster & Gallagher in a state of flux Few industry watchers were surprised when multititle mailer
Small Catalogs Forum: Management Software That Fits
When it comes to selecting catalog management software (CMS), small mailers tend to choose the most basic package in order to keep costs down. But such