The annual Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog – which is renowned for showcasing an array of over-the-top luxury gifts – is now available and, for the first time, consumers can access the catalog as well as place orders from via an Apple iPad. Neiman Marcus is the latest cataloger to look to digital technology for a way to keep its print catalog fresh and relevant with today’s tech-savvy consumers. Barneys Co-Op recently released a 3D catalog that came with 3D glasses for viewing while Abercrombie & Fitch recently relaunched its magalog, A&F Quarterly, as part of an integrated marketing campaign that includes online and social media elements. In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Neiman Marcus President Gerald Barnes said that one advantage of the iPad is that once consumers have downloaded the catalog, they can browse it from anywhere without an Internet connection. Read the entire interview, which has some interesting information about Neiman Marcus’ direct sales volume and catalog circulation, here. The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book iPad app, which can be downloaded for free from Apple’s App Store, comes imbedded with videos highlighting some of the items on display in the catalog. Browsers can also click through directly to product information pages to learn more about items they are interested in. The company is reportedly planning to make additional catalogs available for the iPad in the near future. In August, Neiman Marcus began selling via a mobile-optimized shopping Web site.
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By Ronnie on Oct 06, 2010
Finally an advertising use for the iPad that makes sense. Neiman's client base is more likely than most to actually have an iPad,( although still a small %) so it would make sense for them to have this available.
By Chantal Tode on Oct 06, 2010
Ronnie, I agree that this is the right audience for a tablet-based catalog. There's even evidence that suggests Neiman Marcus' iPad-owning customers may spend more time browsing the catalog than those who pick up the print edition. A new http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reading-revolution-is-on--harrison-group-and-zinio-survey-reveals-that-tablet-based-technologies-and-ereaders-have-widespread-consumer-appeal-104326983.html" rel="nofollow">survey from Harrison Group and Zinio shows that tablet and eReader owners spend 50% more time reading print materials than the general population.
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