B-to-B Cataloging: Hire or Outsource?
A similar decision may apply to your call center. If reps need a high level of technical knowledge to explain your products, then managing your own call center makes sense. On the other hand, inventory management is a function that more and more companies find transferable to outside vendors.
Think strategically about your outsource decisions. With any function that you outsource, you want to do more than just save money; you want to bring more to the table than you could find in a single hire. A good outsource choice is a portal into other areas of expertise, which would provide you with a strategic advantage that benefits you in ways beyond any one core competency.
A columnist for Retail Online Integration, George founded HAGUEdirect, a marketing agency. Previously he was a member of the Shawnee Mission, Kan.-based consulting and creative agency J. Schmid & Assoc. He has more than 10 years of experience in circulation, advertising, consulting and financial strategy in the catalog/retail industry. George's expertise includes circulation strategy, mailing execution, response analysis and financial planning. Before joining J. Schmid, George worked as catalog marketing director at Dynamic Resource Group, where he was responsible for marketing and merchandising for the Annie's Attic Needlecraft catalog, the Clotilde Sewing Notions catalog, the House of White Birches Quilter's catalog and three book clubs. George also worked on corporate acquisitions.