Product Catalog
How To Put Together A Catalog
If your company has reached the point where you feel a product catalog will help you serve your customers better, we’ve got a few tips for you to help you put together a great one.
The Mockup.
When you have an idea of hoe many products you have to sell, start creating some sample pages, either in a software program such as (Quark Xpress or Adobe Indesign) or by merely sketching them out on the size of paper you intend to use. Put the pages together and put words like “cover” and “table of contents,” etc., on the sheets where you envision these going. This is a great way to help you start to envision your catalog as a complete, real-world object.
You should also start to sketch out individual product pages. When you are doing this, you will want to make sure there is enough room for fairly high resolution photos and enough copy to do just the right amount of selling. In order to break up the monotony, you will want to feature some products more than others, giving them, for example, a two page spread, or a model shot, etc. Now is the time to start deciding these things, and to start strategically planning how best to display your products for the singular art of catalog sales.
The Copy.
There is an art to writing copy for catalogs, and it’s far too detailed to properly explain here. You have to use enough space to make the case for the product without taking up too much space – a fine line indeed. If you feel like this task is more than you can handle, keep in mind that there are plenty of professionals out there who are more than capable. Just look around online for someone whose work you admire.
In order to make your catalog as entertaining as possible, you might want to include such things as testimonials, lots of graphics, story sidebars and special offers. These are the type of things that keep you reader’s eyes on the page. Another thing to consider might be an opening letter from the company president.
The Cover.
There are no hard and fast rules here except for one: make them want to open it. Make your photographs include a person or people living the good life with your product. Also hint or “tease” with special offers and the like. There are so many things vying for the attention to the average consumer these days, so you want to do everything you can to make sure you pique their interest and keep it as long as possible.
The Order Form.
Do not take this lightly! There are too many things to take into account when you are putting together an order form. For instance, you want to make sure that it is clear what sort of payments you accept, how to order more than one of a given product, how to calculate sales tax, and different shipping options. One good solution? Find a good example from one of the big boys and crib from it.
Print and Bind It.
Glossy? Semi-Glossy? Go down to your local printer and take a look at your options. Remember that pages that are too glossy can be difficult to read in some kinds of light. As far as binding, a lot of companies just go for normal two-staple saddle stitch, but more and more are finding that plastic comb or spiral coil bound catalogs tend to hang around the customer’s house longer before they find the recycle bin.
About the Author
If you are interested in more information about how the right Spiral Coil Binding Machine, can help you create a great catalog, you might want to visit MyBinding.com. They offer a great price on binding equipment and they even offer Free Shipping on orders over $75.00. Plus, they carry a full line of Binding Accessories, of all styles, types and capabilities. Check it out today!
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Chandler & Farquhar + Providence Mill Supply Catalog E 1974 Industrial Products $29.99 |
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1977 CONSUMER TOY PRODUCTS CATALOG FULL COLOR 48 PAGES $12.99 |
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1960′s Scotch Irvington Brands Electrical Products Catalog FREE SHIPPING Tape $18.00 |
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Vintage Catalog #944 – MISSOURI VERMILLION AMERICAN HARD WOOD products catalog $15.00 |
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Tektronix Television products Catalog 1978 $22.75 |
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SNOOPY – BELLE MAISON FANCY PARK PRODUCT CATALOG WINTER 1994-1995 $16.99 |
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Spyderco Knives 2012 Product Guide Catalog Brochure $4.99 |
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90′s Product catalogs Terror on the Tundra Sgt. Slaughter is Missing $0.99 |
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Casio Boss SF organizer ultra rare 1994 product catalog “MINT” Collectors dream $249.99 |
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2011 Seiko Product Catalog with august supplement $0.99 |
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MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS 1998 PRODUCT VIDEO AND MTH CATALOGS $19.95 |
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K-Line 2001 First Edition Product Catalog $3.00 |
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1996 Coleman Auto Racing Products Catalog Car Parts J $9.99 |
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1996 AFCO Auto Racing Products Catalog Car Oval Track J $9.99 |
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BOLEX H 16 REFLEX PRODUCT BUYING GUIDE CATALOGUE BUNDLE $12.99 |
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NEW UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS 44104 Catalog Envelope, Side Seam, 9 x 12, White, 250/Box $42.38 |
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Catalog: Kodak Products For The Photo Finisher, 1950 $19.20 |
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ATARI HOME COMPUTERS PRODUCT CATALOG….1983 $6.99 |
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VINTAGE 1968 Western Wood Products Assoc FENCES Catalog Portland Oregon WWP OR $16.99 |
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New Vintage Stebco Tufide Classic Catalog Case GE Lexan Products Division w/ Key $29.99 |
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Vintage Catalog #979 – MI-KO PLASTIC PRODUCTS advertising catalog $15.00 |
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1920s SYRACUSE MARINE MOTORS Gas Engine WORKS Product CATALOG $9.95 |
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1900 BUFFALO PITTS Co TRACTION ENGINES + THRESHING MACHINERY Product CATALOG $56.00 |
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1930s McCORMICK-DEERING Harvesters + THRESHERS Product CATALOG $16.38 |
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1930s McCORMICK-DEERING CORN PICKERS Equipment Product CATALOG $23.73 |
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Vtg Sanymetal Products Company Catalog~Partition/Toilet $8.98 |
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Vtg Allen Marking Products Catalog~Signs/Plate Allenite $8.98 |
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VINTAGE 1973 Colonial Workshop Woodworking Products Catalog West Sacramento CA $9.99 |
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1954 JEANNETTE GLASSWARE Product CATALOG + Original ENVELOPE $9.95 |
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Vtg A.P.W Product Co Catalog-Onliwon Paper Towel/Tissue $7.48 |
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Vtg Construction Products Corp Catalog-Laundry Chutes $7.48 |
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1973 SOUTHWEST TECHNICAL PRODUCTS CORP. CATALOG 31 $6.00 |
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2002 AC Delco Wiper Product Catalog 8A-100-GMP Original Excellent Condition $17.50 |
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1983 Matchbox Product Catalog Booklet Reference Book $11.99 |
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K-Line 2009 Product Catalog V1 $2.09 |
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Wolverine Toys 1982 Product Catalog Tin Plastic Playset $29.99 |
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1946 NEW PRODUCTS & SELLNG IDEAS Modern Distribution Dealer Catalog $19.99 |
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1966 FoMoCo PRODUCTS STANDARD & UTILITY PARTS CATALOG $15.95 |
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RUGER Product Catalog 2012 Gun specifications pictures acessories NEW $4.75 |
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KIMBER Product Catalog 2011 Gun specifications pictures acessories NEW $5.10 |
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Mig Productions Product Catalog 2011 $5.99 |
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Jackson Guitars 2012 Edition Product Catalog $4.99 |
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DAYTON AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS CATALOG-1953-BELTS-RADIATOR HOSES-CAR MATS $4.99 |
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Hasselblad System Product Catalog, 1979 $12.90 |
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American Asbestos Products Catalog Amaspro Roofing Tenkote Roof Shingles $179.00 |
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Federal Mogul H.D. Fleet Products Catalog ( VINTAGE ) $3.00 |
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Vintage Information Unlimited Catalog of Amazing Products from 1980 $1.00 |
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Hasselblad Color Product Catalog, 1999: Original $10.32 |
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1947 RJ Dorn ASBESTONE ASBESTOS-Cement Roofing Siding Product Catalog US GOV use $195.00 |
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ASBESTOS used in JENKINS Bros Products VALVES Packing,Pads 263 page CATALOG #23 $95.00 |
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1974 WIREMOLD Co Fire Resistant FLEXIBLE Duct ASBESTOS Coated Products Catalog $125.00 |
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CRANE CO VALVES Fittings PIPING CATALOG 1941 ASBESTOS Product,fr Aerojet Library $199.99 |
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1925 AMERICAN Radiator STANDARD BOILER Products Heating Catalog ASBESTOS use $125.99 |
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BELL & GOSSETT 1954 HydroFlo Heating HOME & INDUSTRY Products Catalog ASBESTOS $95.00 |
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1938 CELOTEX Corp ACOUSTICAL PRODUCTS Catalog WHITE ASBESTOS building materials $125.00 |
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BELL & GOSSETT B&G 1947 BOILER Heating Products Catalog ASBESTOS use promoted $95.00 |
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1970s A.P. GREEN Refractory Refractories Products Catalog ASBESTOS $225.00 |
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1947 HH ROBERTSON Co PA Roofing PRODUCTS Catalog GALBESTOS ASBESTOS US NAVY Yd $195.00 |
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1978 HALSTEAD & MITCHELL Industrial Cooling Towers ASBESTOS Product Catalog Page $95.00 |
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1988 ERNST GAGE COMPANY Industrial Products Catalog ASBESTOS Gaskets $95.00 |
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1943 EHRET MAGNESIA Manufacturing Catalog products 85% Magnesia 15% ASBESTOS $195.00 |
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1975 HOFFMAN Blowers Exhauster Systems Industrial Products Catalog ASBESTOS $95.00 |
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1947 JOHNS-MANVILLE TRANSITE Products Catalog ASBESTOS Roofing Siding Walls Pipe $225.00 |
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Vtg Woven Wire Products Association Brochure~Grilles/Diamond Mesh~Catalog~1946 $9.98 |
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Vtg Elkay Manufacturing Co Brochure~Sturdibilt Metal Products/Sinks~Catalog~1946 $9.98 |
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Vtg Acme Metal Products Brochure~Thriftee Steel Cabinets~Catalog~1946 $8.48 |
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Vtg Sanymetal Products Co Brochure~Toilet Compartments/Partitions~Catalog~1946 $12.98 |
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August 1940 True Temper Products Fishing Rods & Baits Catalog $34.99 |
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1947 JOHNS-MANVILLE J-M Built Up Roofs Specifications Catalog ASBESTOS PRODUCTS $125.00 |
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1947 UNITED STATES GYPSUM Co Roofing Siding ASBESTOS cement Product Catalog $95.00 |
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1930s DUROTEX PRODUCTS Trenton, NJ Catalog Fund Raising $11.00 |
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WATKINS PRODUCTS-Catalog-New York World’s Fair-1964 $14.99 |
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Tektronix Measurement and Monitoring Products Catalog 2001 $3.50 |
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1965 Sunbeam Products Catalog – Blender, Mixer, Clock, Lighter, Lawnmower RAD!!! $2.99 |
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Blizzard Entertainment Product Catalog booklet 2003 Diablo Warcraft Starcraft $0.99 |
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LITTCO Products Boat & Marine Hardware 1960′s Catalogs LeRoy Co. Littlestown, PA $9.49 |
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1996 & 1997 Paul’s Model Art Minichamps Product Catalogs Edition 2 PMA F1 18 43 $10.00 |
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Hoya Filters for Still & Video Camera Product Catalog #8810E ca 1980s $4.49 |
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TOM’S PEANUT’S….Display Catalog of…1950s displays and products $9.95 |
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Automatic Transmission Parts Catalog, Windsor Products, 1968 $3.00 |
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HARTZ MOUNTAIN 1950′s PET CARE and PRODUCT CATALOG $2.35 |
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Atlantic Metal Products ASBESTOS Core Insulation Door Catalog 1962 $250.00 |
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THER-MO Thermo Products Catalog 1962 ASBESTOS SPRAY Roof Coating $275.00 |
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1962 WEATHERGUARD Products Catalog ASBESTOS Fabroid Mastic Coating Alumaguard $125.00 |
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EVANS Products HASKELITE Curtain Wall Panels Catalog ASBESTOS CEMENT 1962 $250.00 |
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Ford – Motorcraft 1981 All Products Catalog AP 205S $7.95 |
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BROADWAY LIMITED HO SCALE PRODUCT GUIDE 2005 CATALOG W/PRICES $4.95 |
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Metalprep page from 1949 Sherwin Williams automotive paint catalog prep products $4.00 |
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1958 DOG SUPPLY HOUSE CATALOG, DETROIT, MI. HUNTING, DOG PRODUCTS $10.00 |
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GLOBE-STRUT 1974 Complete System Catalog, Metal Products Division $10.00 |
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Vtg Cogsdill Tool Products Catalog~Bearingizing Tools $12.98 |
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Yours For Better Living Catalog from A.M.G. Products Co.,Pittsburgh 30,Pa $5.00 |
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Product 3Com Catalog $5.00 |
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Marklin Fall New Items For 2008 Product Catalog LN $1.00 |
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Vintage 1950s Wholesale Catalog Missouri Petroleum Products Co. $10.99 |
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1985-86 Sears Roebuck & Co Industrial Products Catalog $28.50 |
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HO Gauge Model Railroad Equipment 1948 Catalog MANTUA Metal Products Company $14.49 |
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MTH 2001 Product Calender wLarge Photos of Featured Catalog Items SEALED $9.99 |
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2012 Rays Wheels All Products 127 Page Catalog Volk Racing Toyota 86 Brochure $24.99 |
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1947 HEALTHWAY PRODUCTS MEDICINE CATALOG from Illinois Herb Co. $3.99 |
