Retailing and Retail Formats, Essays (university) of Trade and Commerce

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Retailing & Retail Formats

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Subject: RETAILING AND RETAIL FORMATS Credits: 4

SYLLABUS

Overview of Retailing

What is retailing? A retailer role in distribution channel; Functions performed by retailers; Social and Economic

Significance of retailing. Selection of retailing and distribution; channels around the world; Retail Management

decision proves

Multi-channel Retailing

Retail channels for interacting with customers; Store channel; Catalog Channel; Internet Channel;

Personalization; Selling merchandise; Role of Brands; Overcoming limitation of an earning format; Expending

market presence

Management of Service

Retailers provides health care services; Strategic advantage through customer service; Customer service

strategies; Customers service at IKEA; Customers evaluations of service quality; Role of expectation; Perceived

service; Knowing what customers what the knowledge gap;

Types of Retailers-

Retailers characterstics; Netlike attracts compitators; Variety and assortment; Food retailers Supermakets; Super

center; Warehouse clubs; Hypermarkets; Convenience stores

Types of Retailers-

Category specialists; Extreme value retailer; Off price retailers; Electronic retailers; Catalog and direct mail

retailer; Direct selling. Services retailing

Retail Customer

Consumer Behavior; Why do people shop; Factors affecting consumer decision making; Demographics;

psychological environmental and lifestyle; perception and learning; culture and subculture; Stages of the

consumer decision process; Consumer decision rules.

Product Management

Role of product management in retail business; the pantaloon store in Mumbai; Brand Management and

retailing; Merchandise budget ;Life cycle stages; Inventory plan; Target market analysis.

Merchandise Management

Merchandising budget; Merchandise planning in units; Merchandising differentiation; Dimension of the

merchandising line; category management; Merchandising management in bowins retail segments; Evaluating

merchandise performance; Financial objectives of merchandising.

Case Studies

Big Bazaar-Indian Wal-Mart; Bharat Petrolium.

Suggested Readings:

Retail Management, Barry Berman and Joel R. Evans, Prentice-Hall of India

Retail Management, Chetan Bajaj, Rajnish Tuli, Nidhi V. Srivastava, Oxford University Press

Retailing Management, Michael Levy, Barton A. Weitz and Ajay Pandit, Tata McGraw Hill Education

1.0.1 What Is Retailing

Retailing can be defined as the buying and selling of goods and services. It can also be defined as the timely delivery of goods and services demanded by consumers at prices that are competitive and affordable.

Retailing consists of the sale of goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store or kiosk, or by post, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be individuals or businesses. In commerce, a retailer buys goods or products in large quantities from manufacturers or importers, either directly or through a wholesaler, and then sells smaller quantities to the end-user. Retail establishments are often called shops or stores. Retailers are at the end of the supply chain. Manufacturing marketers see the process of retailing as a necessary part of their overall distribution strategy.

1.0.2 A Retailer role in Distribution Channel

Retailers

The characteristic that sets a retailer apart from other members of its distribution channel is that the retailer is the party who ultimately sells the product to its end user or consumer. As you know if you’ve ever shopped for anything, retailers come in many shapes and sizes, so to speak. Retailers may be grouped according to any of the following four categories:

Ownership.

Every brick-and-mortar retailer can be classified as a large, national chain store; a smaller, regional chain store; an independent retailer; or a franchisee.

Pricing philosophy.

Stores are generally either discounters or full-price retailers. Within the “discounter” category, there are several subcategories such as factory outlets, consignment stores, dollar stores, specialty discount stores, warehouse membership clubs, and so on.

Product assortment.

The breadth and depth of product lines carried by the store depends a lot on its ownership. An Ann Taylor store, for example, sells Ann Taylor branded clothing—not much breadth of product line there, but extensive depth in that line. A Kmart, on the other hand, carries thousands of brands, but perhaps does not have much depth (not many brands) in any given category of product.

Service level.

The more exclusive or specialized the store, the more types of services it will generally offer—from a name-branded credit card, to on-site alterations, to liberal return policies for its loyal customers. With the “big box” discounters, on the other hand, customers pay for convenience and bypass traditional service, by bagging their own groceries and the like. These distinctions between various types of stores will be important as we discuss their participation in certain distribution channels.

1.1 Functions Performed By Retailers

Functions Performed By Retailer:

• Provides personal services to all

• Provides two-way information

• Facilitate standardization and grading

• Undertake physical movement and storage of goods

• Assembles goods from various sources

• Stock goods for ready supply to buyers

• Extend credit facility

• Create demand by window display etc

People live in different parts of the country may have different cultural values - which has to be analyzed by retail business people/firm. This will help them to reorient their strategy to fulfill the demands of their consumers. Retail marketers have a keen interest in anticipating cultural shifts in order to spot new marketing opportunities and threats. Several firms such as ORG, MARG etc. offer social / cultural forecasts in this connection. For example, marketers of foods, exercise equipment and so on will want to cater to this trend with appropriate products and communication appeals.

1.2.2 Economic Significance of Retailing

All middlemen basically serve as purchasing agents for their customers and as sales specialists for their suppliers. To carry out those roles, retailers perform many activities, including anticipating customer's wants, developing assortments of products, acquiring market information and financing. It is relatively easy to become a retailer. No large investment in production equipment is required, merchandise can often be purchased on credit and store space can be leased with no 'down payment' or a simple website can be set up at relatively little cost. Considering these factors, perhaps it's not surprising that there are jus over a 6 million retail outlets operating across the Indian cities from north to south and from east to west. This large number of outlets, many of which are trying to serve and satisfy the same market segments, results in fierce competition and better values for shoppers.

To enter retailing is easy; to fail is even easier! To survive in retailing, a firm must do a satisfactory job in its primary role - catering to consumers. Rama Subramanian the former head - retail segment Spensors described a successful retailer as a "merchant who sells goods that won't come back to customers who will". Of course, a retail firm also must fulfill its other role - serving producers and Wholesalers. This dual role is both the justification for retailing and the key to success in retailing.

1.3 Selection of Retailing and Distribution channels

It is in retailing that very drastic changes have occurred during the last two decades. Some institutions have disappeared whereas newer ones have been added. This process of deletion / addition still continues in newer forms. There are large-scale retailing shops together with very small units, both working simultaneously. They have from hawkers and peddlers, who have no permanent place, to well organized, settled retail shops like chain stores, departmental stores, etc. The institutions carrying on the retail business can be classified as under

1.3.1 Major Types of Retail Channels

Major Types of Retail Channels

In store-Retailing Non-Store Retailing Franchising

1. Department Stores 1. Direct Selling
2. Supermarkets 2. Telemarketing
3. Discount Houses 3. Online Retailing
4. Chain Stores or 4. Automatic vending
5. Multiple Shops 5. Direct Marketing.

Department Stores

These are large scale retail stores selling under one roof and one control a Variety of goods divided into different departments, each of which specializes in an Individual merchandise. Converse is of the opinion that a department store is retail Shop handling several classes of goods including fast moving consumer goods, each Class being separated from others in management, accounting and location. It is viewed by Clarke as that type of retail institution which handles a wide verity of merchandise under one roof which the merchandise grouped into well-defined departments which is centrally controlled and which caters primarily to women shoppers.

Thus a department store is a retailing business unit that handles a wide variety of shopping and specialty goods and is organized into separate departments for purposes of sales promotion, accounting control and store operation. Recent trends are to add departments for automotive, recreational and sports equipment, as well a services such as insurance, travel advice and income- tax preparation. Department stores are distinctive in that they usually are oriented towards service. They are usually shopping centers.

Classification of Department Stores

These stores may be classified either according to ownership or income groups to which they appeal.

a) On the basis of ownership these are:

(i) The independent; (ii) The ownership group; and (iii) Chain department Stores.

Independent stores are owned by a financial interest which does not own other similar stores

Ownership group stores are those stores which were formerly dependent but now have been combined.

Chain department stores are those stores which are centrally owned and operated.

b) On the basis of income groups,

These stores cater to the middle and high income groups. They usually handle good quality merchandise and offer maximum service to the customers. Other stores cater to the needs of the lower income group people.

c) Sometimes there is also to be found what are called leased department stores.

Although it appears to most customers that all departments in a department store are owned and operated by the store that is not always the case. The operations of certain departments are sometimes turned over to leases and such departments are called leased departments.

5. Many customers abuse the liberal services extended and take advantage of the policy of the 'customers is always right'.
6. The type of salesmanship found in many stores is very poor because of low payments and lack of supervision.

Future of Department Stores

Nothing definite can be predicted whether these department organizations will continue to carry on and will progress in face of overgrowing competition of chain stores, mail order business and other smaller independent dealers. Stores with overhead burdens which cannot be reduced may have to go, but the department stores as an institution are bound to go on with a future. The department store which is properly equipped in plant, stock and personnel to carry on a reasonable sales volume and then does a better job in giving values and services, then its competitors are entitled to, and will receive its business profit. Department Stores are now opening branches in many new areas and making concerted efforts to meet new competition. They have been modernized, redecorated and better services are being developed; and they are being converted to self-service.

4. Super Markets:

These are large, self service stores that carry a broad and complete line of food and non-food products. They have central check out facilities. Kotler defines supermarket as 'a departmentalized retail establishment having four basic department viz. self-service grocery, meat, produce and diary plus other household departments, and doing a maximum business. It may be entirely owner operated or have some of the departments leased on a concession basis.'

Characteristic Features of Supermarkets

Chief characteristic features of supermarkets include the following:

i. They are usually located in or near primary or secondary shopping areas but always in a place where parking facilities are available. ii. They use mass displays of merchandise. iii. They normally operate as cash and carry store. iv. They make their appeal on the basis of low price, wide selection of merchandise, nationally advertised brands and convenient parking. v. They operate largely on a self-service basis with a minimum number of customer services.

Supermarkets came into existence during the depression in U.S.A. At that time they sold only food products, and their principal attraction was the low price of their merchandise. As super markets increased in number day by day they also expanded into other lines of merchandise.

Advantages of supermarkets

i. Super markets have the advantage of convenient shopping, permitting the buyer to purchase all his requirements at one place. ii. Super markets also stock a wide variety of items. iii. These markets can sell at low prices because of their limited service feature, combined with large buying power and the willingness to take low percent of profit margins. iv. Shopping time is considerably reduced.

Limitations of Supermarkets

i. The large and extensive area required for a super market is not available cheaply in important places. ii. The products which require explanation for their proper use can not be dealt in through the super markets. iii. Customer services are practically absent. iv. Another limitation of the super market is the exorbitantly high administrative expenses.

Discount Houses

These are large stores, freely open to the public and advertising widely. They are self-service and general merchandising stores. They carry a wide assortment of products of well known brands, appliances, house wares, home furnishings, sporting goods, clothing, toy and automotive services. They complete on low price basis and operate on a relatively low mark-up and a minimum number of customer services. They range from small open showroom to catalogue type order offices to full line limited service, and promotional stores. They buy their merchandise stocks both from wholesale distributors and directly from manufacturers.

Chain Stores or Multiple Shops

A chain store system consists of four or more stores which carry the same kind of merchandise are centrally owned and managed and usually are supplied from one or more central warehouses. A chain store is one of the retail units in chain store system chains have been interpreted as a group of two or more reasonably similar stores in the same kind or field of business under one ownership and management, merchandised wholly or largely from central merchandising head quarters and supplied from the manufacturer or orders placed by the central buyers. In Europe, this system is called as Multiple Shops and the American call it as "Chain Stores". Under the multiple or chain shop arrangement, the main idea is to approach the customers and not to draw the customers as it as is practiced in the case of department store. In order to draw more customers, attempts are made to open a large number of shops in the same city at different places.

In India apt example for this retail system are offered by 'Bata Shoes', 'Usha Sewing Machines' etc., such multiple shops have 'centralized buying with decentralized selling". Fundamentally, they specialize in one product but with all its varieties or models.

Chief Features of Chain Stores

The chief features of chain stores are: i. One or more units may constitute a chain, ii. They are centrally owned with some degree of centralized control of operation. iii. They are horizontally 'integrated' that is, they operate multiple stores. With addition of each new store, the system extends the reach to another group of customers. iv. Many stores are also 'vertically integrated'. They maintain large distribution centers where they buy from producers do their own warehousing and then distribute their own stores.

Advantages of Direct Selling

i. Consumers have the opportunity to buy at home or at another convenient nonstore location that provides the opportunity for personal contact with a sales person. ii. For the seller, direct selling offers the boldest method of trying to persuade ultimate consumers to make a purchase. iii. The seller takes the product to the shoppers home or work place and demonstrates them for the consumer.

Limitations of Direct Selling

i. Sales commissions run as high as 40 to 50%of the retail price; of course, they are paid only when a sale is made. ii. Recruiting sales people -most of whom are part timers are difficult tasks, iii Some sales representatives use high pressure tactics or are fraudulent.

Telemarketing

Sometimes called telephone selling, telemarketing refers to a sales person initiating contact with a shopper and closing a sale over the telephone. Telemarketing many entail cold canvassing from the phone directory. Many products that can be bought without being seen are sold over the telephone. Examples are pest control devices, magazine subscriptions, credit cards and cub memberships. Telemarketing is not problem free. Often encountering hostile people on the other end of the line and experiencing many more rejections than closed sales, few telephone sales representatives last very long in the job. Further some telemarketers rely on questionable or unethical practices. For instance firms may place calls at almost any hour of the day or night. This tactic is criticized as violating consumers' right to privacy. To prevent this, some states have enacted rules to constrain telemarketers' activities. Despite these problems, telemarketing sales have increased in recent years. Fundamentally, some people appreciate the convenience of making a purchase by phone. Costs have been reduced by computers that automatically dial telephone number, even deliver a taped message and record information the buyer gives to complete the sale. The future of telemarketing is sure to be affected by the degree to which the problems above can be addressed and by the surge of online retailing.

Online Retailing:

When a firm uses its website to offer products for sale and then individuals or organizations use their computers to make purchases from this company, the parties have engaged in electronic transactions (also called on line selling or internet marketing). Many electronic transactions involve two businesses which focuses on sales by firms to ultimate consumers. Thus online retailing is one which consists of electronic transactions in which the purchaser is an ultimate consumer. Online retailing is being carried out only by a rapidly increasing number of new firms, such as Busy.com, Pets Mart and CD Now.com. Some websites feature broad assortments, especially those launched by general merchandise retailers such as Wal- mart and Target. Some Internet only firms, notably Amazon.com are using various methods to broaden their offerings. Whatever their differences, e-retailers are likely to share an attribute. They are unprofitable or best, barely profitable. Of course, there are substantial costs in establishing an online operation. Aggressive efforts to attract shoppers and retain customers through extensive advertising and low prices are also expensive. The substantial losses racked by online enterprises used to be accepted, perhaps even encouraged by

investors and analysts. The rationale was that all available funds should be used to gain a foothold in this growing market. Despite these challenges, online retailing is expected to grow, rapidly and significantly for the foreseable future. Online sales represented about 1% of retail spending in 2005, but one research firm estimates that consumer purchases on the internet with triple by the year 2010.

Which product categories are consumers most likely to buy on the Internet in the future? Consumers' shopping intentions in 2005 placed the following goods and services at the tope of the list: books, music and videos, computer hardware and software, travel and apparel. Of course, given that change on the Internet occurs, these categories soon may be surpassed by others - perhaps groceries, toys, health and beauty aids, auto parts or pet supplies.

Automatic vending

The sale of products through a machine with no personal contact between buyer and seller is called automatic vending. The appeal of automatic vending is convenient purchase. Products sold by automatic vending are usually well-known presold brands with a high rate of turnover. The large majority of automatic vending sales comes from the "4 C's”: cold drinks, coffee, candy and cigarettes. Vending machines can expand a firm's market by reaching customers where and when they cannot come to a store. Thus vending equipment is found almost everywhere, particularly in schools, work places and public facilities. Automatic vending has high operating costs because of the need to replenish inventories frequently. The machines also require maintenance and repairs. The outlook for automatic vending is uncertain. The difficulties mentioned above may hinder future growth. Further, occasional vending-related scams may scare some entrepreneurs away from this business. Vending innovations give reason for some optimism. Debit cards that can be used at vending machines are becoming more common. When this card is inserted into the machine, the purchase amount is deducted from the credit balance. Technological advances also allow operators to monitor vending machines from a distance, thereby reducing the number of out-of-stock or out-of-order machines.

Direct Marketing

There are no consumers on the exact nature of direct marketing. In effect, it comprises all types of non-store retailing other than direct selling, telemarketing, automatic vending and online retailing. In the context of retailing, it has been defined as direct marketing as using print or broadcast advertising to contact consumers who in turn, buy products without visiting a retail store. Direct marketers contact consumers through one or more of the following media: radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, catalogs and mailing (direct mail). Consumer order by telephone or mail. Direct marketers can be classified as either general - merchandise firms, which offer a variety of product lines, or specialty firms which carry - only one or two lines such as books or fresh fruit. Under the broad definition, the many forms of direct marketing include:

• Direct mail - in which firms mail letters, brochures and even product samples to consumers, and ask them to purchase by mail or telephone.
• Catalog retailing - in which companies mail catalogs to consumers or make them available at retail stores.

1.4 Retail Management Decision Process

RETAIL MANAGEMENT DECISION PROCESS

The success of a small entrepreneurial retailer or a major retail corporation, in making these decisions, depends largely on how much it embraces the retailing concept. The RETAILING CONCEPT is a managerial orientation that focuses a retailer on determining its target market’s needs and satisfying those needs more effectively and efficiently than its competitors.

The retailing concept emphasizes that high-performance retailers must be strong competitors. They can’t achieve high performance by simply satisfying customers’ needs. They must also keep a close watch to ensure that competitors don’t attract their customers.

UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD OF RETAILING

The first step in the retail management decision process is getting an understanding of the world of retailing. Retail managers need a good understanding of their environment, especially their customers and competition, before they can develop and implement effective strategies. The critical environmental factors in the world of retailing are:

1. The macro environment
2. The micro environment

Ethical standards and legal and public policy are critical macroeconomic factors affecting retail decisions. Strategy development and implementation must be consistent with corporate values, legal opinions, and public policies. Federal, state, and local laws are enacted to ensure that business activities re consistent with society’s interests. These laws define unfair competitive practices related to suppliers and customers; regulate advertising, promotion, and pricing practices; and restrict store locations.

Retailers rely on ethical standards to guide decision making when confronting questionable situations not covered by laws. Buyers may have to decide whether to accept a supplier’s offer of free tickets to a football game Some retailers have policies that outline correct behavior of employees in these situations, but in many situations people must rely on their own code of ethics.

The introductory section on the world of retailing focuses on the retailer’s microenvironment

• the retailer’s competitors and customers.

COMPETITORS. At first glance, identifying competitors appears easy. A retailer’s primary competitors are those with the same format. This competition with the same type of retailers is called intra type competition.

To appeal to a broader group of consumers and provide one-stop shopping, many retailers are increasing their variety of merchandise. By offering greater variety in one store, retailers can offer one-stop shopping to satisfy more of the needs of their target market. The offering of merchandise not typically associated with the store type is called scrambled merchandising.

Scrambled merchandising increases intertype competition – competition between retailers that sell similar merchandise using different formats.

Increasing intertype competition has made it harder for retailers to identify and monitor their competition. In one sense, all retailers compete against each other for the dollars consumers spend buying goods and services. But the intensity of competition is greatest among retailers located close together with retail offerings that are viewed as very similar.

• Since convenience of location is important in store choice, a store’s proximity to competitors is a critical factor in identifying competition.
• Management’s point of competition also can differ, depending on the manager’s position within the retail firm.

CUSTOMERS. Customer needs are continually changing at an ever increasing rate. Retailers need to respond to broad demography and lifestyle trends in our society.

To develop and implement an effective strategy, retailers also need to know the information about why customers shop, how they select a store, and how they select among that store’s merchandise.

DEVELOPING A RETAIL STRATEGY

RETAIL STRATEGY – indicates how the firm plans to focus its resources to accomplish its objectives. It identifies:

1. The target market toward which the retailer will direct its efforts;
2. The nature of the merchandise and services the retailer will offer to satisfy needs of the target market; and
3. How the retailer will build a long-term advantage over competitors.

STRATEGIC DECISION AREAS

• The key strategic decision areas involve determining a market strategy, financial strategy, location strategy, organizational structure and human resource strategy, and information systems strategy. When major environmental changes occur, the current strategy and the reasoning behind it are reexamined. The retailer then decides what, if any, strategy changes are needed to take advantage of new opportunities or avoid new threat in the environment.
• The retailer’s market strategy must be consistent with the firm’s financial objectives.
• A retailer’s organization design and human resource management strategy are intimately related to its market strategy.
• Retail information and supply chain management systems will offer a significant opportunity for retailers to gain strategic advantage in the coming decade

the Internet and purchased at retail stores. Whereas, 37 percent of women and 28 percent of men browsed through catalogs and purchased at retail stores.

There appears to be a natural connection between catalogs and online purchases. Half of those that browsed in a catalog and purchased online (53 percent of women and 38 percent of men) used a product code from the catalog online.

Not surprisingly, consumers are still unwilling in many cases to buy big-ticket items online. Music, movies and books were purchased online, but consumers were more than happy to browse for big-ticket items online without buying online. Forty-five percent of consumers preferred to browse on the Internet for home electronics and computer software/hardware in particular.

"Results from this data demonstrate the need for marketers to have tools in place in order to better measure how one channel is driving sales to another channel," said David Rosenblatt, President, Double Click. "Consumers will continue to browse in one channel and purchase in another, reflecting their goal to find the best selection, service and pricing. Tracking these results by channel represents an enormous opportunity for marketers if they align their promotional dollars with this trend."

2.0.1 Store Channel

Store-Based Sellers – By far the predominant method consumers use to obtain products is to acquire these by physically visiting retail outlets (a.k.a. brick-and-mortar). Store outlets can be further divided into several categories. One key characteristic that distinguishes categories is whether retail outlets are physically connected to one or more others stores:

ƒ (^) Stand-Alone – These are retail outlets that do not have other retail outlets connected. ƒ (^) Strip-Shopping Center – A retail arrangement with two or more outlets physically connected or that share physical resources (e.g., share parking lot). ƒ (^) Shopping Area – A local center of retail operations containing many retail outlets that may or may not be physically connected but are in close proximity to each other such as a city shopping district. Regional Shopping Mall – Consists of a large self-contained shopping area with many connected outlets

2.0.2 Catalog Channel

This Business Scenario Map is designed for the consumer products/retail industry. It shows you how three parties - a service partner, a catalogue retailer, and a customer - use the business Internet to sell goods in the Catalog Retailing environment. The map illustrates the benefits of collaboration. The result is a streamlined purchasing process which saves time and money.

This Business Scenario Map addresses the challenge of selling goods through the Internet in the Catalog Retailing environment. The collaboration occurs between the catalog retailer and

a service partner, and covers the business processes and the flow of information between the two parties and the consumer.

The consumer selects the goods he/she wants to purchase from an online catalog. This catalog may be hosted either on the SAP Marketplace or on the retailer's Web site. Once the order is complete, the customer confirms it and notes the order number. The order is then transferred to the retailer's SAP System, the necessary materials are reserved, the internal order is triggered, and the goods are sent off and delivered by a service partner. Using the confirmed order number, the customer can check the status of the shipment at any time on the Internet.

Once the goods have been shipped and the customer has received them, the goods receipt is confirmed and based on this, billing then takes place

Catalogs at the Vanguard of Multi-channel Retailing

Malls, the Internet and rising postal rates haven't killed off printed catalogs. In fact, many store-based and Web retailers send printed catalogs to expand their business. According to the 2006 The State of the Catalog/Interactive Industry , produced by the Direct Marketing Association, seventy eight percent of respondents believe that a better ROI is yielded when a multi-channel approach is incorporated into their direct marketing campaigns. Catalogers continue to mail more efficiently, sending out mailings at an average rate of once- per-month.

Catalog Showrooms: Retailers that offer high-turnover, brand name products at discount prices. Customers usually order from a Catalog in the showroom where the product is only displayed, then pick up the goods at a designated location. Ikea has pioneered the Catalog showroom concept around the world.

Catalog Retailing and Direct Mail Retailing: A venue for selling merchandise to consumers using catalogs and other types of direct mail. It allows for the international expansion of retailers, but must be adapted to local market needs and practices. There are many obstacles to Catalog Retailingin developing countries: deficient telephone service, unreliable mail service, and low income, among others.

How to Succeed in Catalog Retail Professionals who understand mass customization -- the ability to customize marketing, delivery and services to meet the needs and desires of masses of individual customers -- and who can execute full-scale programs successfully in this new milieu will have the most attractive resumes. People with skills and interest in both marketing and data processing should find excellent career opportunities in catalogs and other types of direct marketing.

The Future According to Hodgson, catalogs will continue to be the foundation of successful direct marketers for years to come. Even dotcoms and traditional store-based retailers may be mailing print catalogs in this era of multi-channel retailing. It's an increasingly complicated day and age, but it's still the catalog age.