Great to Be Back

I'm writing this, my first column for Catalog Success, on a train from New York to Philadelphia, a day before formally joining the magazine. Although I'll focus my future Editor's Takes solely on the catalog business, please bear with me this go-round as I reintroduce myself to you all.

I started covering the catalog business as a journalist back in 1986. Over the years, I reported on various goings-on in the field, such as the mainstream use of 800 numbers, credit cards, and express delivery; the advent of co-op databases; the rise of Williams-Sonoma, CDW and The Sharper Image; the stunning collapse of Foster & Gallagher and the demise of the old Sears Wishbook; the rise, fall and rebirth of countless catalogers such as Spiegel, Boston Proper, Fingerhut and Tiger Direct; and the stunning acquisitions of Lands' End, Quill and Viking.