National Geographic-Maintaining the Gold Standard (1,449 words)

Best-selling Items

The catalog has increased its product offerings by about 80 percent since its 1998 relaunch, and can credit its best-selling items with enabling it to do so. Top sellers include telescopes, atlases, books, shoes and licensed children's T-shirts.

Of course, animal-themed products form part of the book's core offerings, although Molholm is quick to note that certain animals sell better than others. "National Geographic is known for elephants, tigers, birds, penguins and polar bears," she affirms. "Things like monkeys tend not to sell as well."