Catalog and Publication Outlook: A Cautious New Year

Within the catalog sector, personalized and more targeted catalogs continue to be the trend, serving as idea generators that prompt readers to visit catalogers' Websites for more purchasing options.

"Catalogs will increasingly shift from being standalone direct response vehicles to drivers of Internet and in-store purchases," explains Transcontinental's Jensen. "We also anticipate more frequent catalog events with fewer pages, while transactional Websites continue to expand as order hubs."