Old Catalogs: What To Do With Them?

[jessicafawn]

It's almost time for a new season of catalogs and we are now able to order new ones for this season... my question for everyone is what do you do with you old ones??? I still have a lot and have no idea what to do with them and I'd hate to just throw them out. I know not to order as many next time that's for sure...

 

[DebbieJ]

use them. You don't HAVE to order the new ones. They have the same products in them, just a different layout and pictures. I just ordered 100 of the "old" ones--you better bet I'll be using them!!!!

 

[jessicafawn]

I'm not ordering the new ones for this season... there's really no reason to. But when Fall comes around that's when I won't be able to use them anymore... That's really when I want to know what to do with them.

 

[rennea]

Those are really good for leaving around with a note that says "for a currant catalog call me". It's good advertising and they don't go to waste.

 

[jessicafawn]

Great idea!!!! Thanks!!!!

 

[DebbieJ]

I hand out old ones at craft fairs and such.

 

[pamperedlinda]

I leave them in doctor's offices and hospital waiting rooms. I've had several orders that way - just got one last week as a matter of fact

 

[Christ Follower]

Almost time for me to start searching out the files for the poem sticker...

 

[chefann]

Here's the poem I put on my old catalogs, before I use them at craft/vendor fairs:Though the date on this catalog may be old,
Just look inside and you'll be sold.
Many fine products you will see.
Call me to learn how to get some free!
If extra income is what you need
I can help you to succeed.name, phone, email, websiteI print them on the large shipping labels that come 6 to a page and stick them right in the middle of the front cover.

 

[jbachen]

I like your poem, Ann, I might just use it. Only one question, though - do people ever complain if they see an item in the old catalog and the price has since gone up? That happened to me a couple of times in the change from F/W to S/S - There were old catalogs in the host packets, and people ended up underpaying for their items.

 

[chefann]

I make sure that my host packets have the correct catalogs for the date of the show. I haven't had a lot of response from old ones that I pass out at fairs, so I can't really answer your question as it pertains to those situations. I use the old catalogs at fairs, though, because a) I might as well use them rather than just throw them out; and b) why use new catalogs that I'll have to replace for the current season (at sometimes considerable expense) when 99% of the people who ask for one at a fair will NEVER place an order.

 

[jbachen]

I think I had given out my host packets before the new catalogs were out, IIRC. Maybe with the F/W changeover I will hold hostess packets until I have the new catalogs, to avoid that problem... I usually give them out at the show where the future show is booked, to save on postage.But my concern would still be that someone ordering from an old catalog would want stuff at the old price. Although, I guess you are right - at least it gets information out there, and since most of the time they don't order anyway, at least it is better than throwing them away.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I think I had given out my host packets before the new catalogs were out, IIRC. Maybe with the F/W changeover I will hold hostess packets until I have the new catalogs, to avoid that problem... I usually give them out at the show where the future show is booked, to save on postage.

But my concern would still be that someone ordering from an old catalog would want stuff at the old price. Although, I guess you are right - at least it gets information out there, and since most of the time they don't order anyway, at least it is better than throwing them away.

I give out host packets without the catalogs when they are booking for a new season. Then, I mail 2 catalogs to them when I get them. That way, they can still be working on their guest list, and they can start putting together their own wishlist from their personal catalog....

 

[sk8rgrrl99]

Here are the labels in Microsoft Word.