Stupid Catalog Tricks

“So how are sales?”

“Not great.”

I’m amazed by how many catalogers are embarrassed by the products they sell, and I see it in all product categories. It doesn’t correlate with the products themselves, either. They’re usually well-designed, well-built, fairly priced good-sellers.

So, why do these catalogers find their quality products to be ugly, unstylish, chintzy and/or tacky? Is it simply a mismatch between the catalog’s niche and the personality of the cataloger’s staff?