Breakout Catalog Strategies

“So, what’s new?” You probably hear that a lot. You’ve probably also had dozens of clients get stuck in analysis paralysis, overwhelmed by all of your available options? And how many times have you just needed that spark of inspiration to kick off a new project? 

We’ve all faced down these moments with our clients at one time or another. It can be exhausting to come up with something inspiring and thought-provoking every time one of these questions comes up. Just like it can be hard to remember who had that cool thing or what’s trending in the market right now. And let’s not even start down the road of what is in stock vs not in stock. 

If only there was a way to quickly provide inspiring, specific content, and provide it in a media that end-users and clients find useful and familiar.

Have we got good news for you…

Gone are the days of the thick, printed catalogs. They have long since been impractical with freight costs, storage fees, and changing stock and prices. Many suppliers have adopted a “Look Book” style strategy where they provide mini catalogs rather than one heavy kitchen sink catalog. 

These smaller booklets are easy to update and generally fit around a theme, idea, topic, or trend. Sometimes multiple books can contain the same items but they are presented in new ways. This makes the catalogs easy to use, easy to update, and easy to share. Especially when they’re digital catalogs.

Thanks to the speed and affordability of digital catalogs, there’s no reason to chain yourself to a doorstopper. Niche suppliers have been knocking this breakout strategy out of the park, and the big suppliers are also joining in. Companies like SanMar have been supplementing their larger catalogs for years with theme-specific guides like Team & Fanware, or brand-specific catalogs for different product lines like The North Face 2022.

Companies like GoldBond and PCNA are moving away from thick volumes altogether. Now, they’re creating smaller breakout catalogs that make it easier to find and share their content. Smaller, vertical market-specific catalogs allow you to keep your marketing fresh and focus your sales efforts on the categories your customers care about most.

With a few clicks, you can easily share themes like Best Sellers and Eco Friendly. This makes it easy to inspire your clients. To really up your digital game, try integrating these catalogs into your email and web-based marketing campaigns. They’re sure to generate excitement and maybe even reach a few of those clients who are easily overwhelmed. 

Follow ZOOMcatalog for some more ideas on how to integrate these catalogs into your social media! And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, set up a personal session with one of our team members. We love helping you get the most out of your digital catalogs.