A Watchful Eye on the Bottom Line
What catalog/e-commerce operation couldn't use a little cost-cutting and productivity boost from time to time? While the economy appears more robust than just a few short years ago and consumers seem to be buying in a more consistent fashion, it's still a good idea to ensure that your expenses don't start to creep up and your staff's productivity remains high.
To help you with these tasks as they relate to your company's operations and merchandise fulfillment, we've compiled several expert-written articles for this issue. Curt Barry, president of consultancy F. Curtis Barry & Co., outlines 15 ideas that are sure to boost your bottom-line results. Nicholas Isasi of DM Transportation discusses sure-fire ways to save on your merchandise inbound-freight program. Consultant Bill Spaide of Spaide, Kuipers & Co. offers productivity-enhancing strategies for multichannel marketers.
On a Personal Note
This will be my last Editor's Notes for Catalog Success. I have taken an editorial director's position with another publisher, one not affiliated with the direct marketing industry. It has been my pleasure to serve you, our valuable readers, these past five years.
I leave Catalog Success in the very capable hands of its new chief editor, Paul Miller, the former senior news editor and Web site editor at Catalog Age. Paul's extensive experience covering the catalog industry undoubtedly will bring a fresh voice and sound insights to Catalog Success. I know you join me in wishing Paul the very best in his new position.
Paul retains the assistance of the Catalog Success staff: Nicole Rollender, managing editor; Kendra Clayton, senior copy editor and assistant editor; and Matt Griffin, associate editor, as well as the staffs of our sister publications Target Marketing, FundRaising Success and Inside Direct Mail.
I always judge a job by what I learned while I worked there. And I leave the direct marketing industry with valuable lessons:
- the imperative of testing ideas, promotions and offers using sound analytics and measurement tactics;
- the downstream impact on marketers from legislative, postal and other groups; and
- a profound respect for those marketers who stay at the top of their games day after day, who serve customers well and are responsible, enlightened members of the corporate community.
I want to send a special "thank you" to our columnists and the Catalog Success Editorial Advisory Board for their hard work and wise counsel through the years.
I will miss the wonderful catalogers, consultants and vendors I've met. My consciousness has been raised; I thank you all for that.
—Donna Loyle
