Catalogers are Turning to the Co-op Databases for Prospecting

As a mailer that has worked with several co-ops, Crutchfield has found pluses and minuses to each. Calling Abacus "the Wal-Mart of the catalog co-ops," Michie says, "Their lists and models tend to outshine the others in terms of performance and the sheer volume of transactional data." But, he adds, the other co-ops often have data that bring unique elements to the mix.