Sears is introducing several new features around its holiday Wish Book catalog that include QR codes in the print edition and new versions for Facebook and the iPad. As paper and postage costs have risen in recent years, many retailers have played down their catalogs, cutting circulation while building up their Web sites. Recently, however, catalogs have been the focal point of several innovative retail marketing strategies that take advantage of newer technologies that dovetail nicely with print content – such as QR codes and the iPad.  Sears is the just the latest example of this trend, with other recent examples including Neiman Marcus introducing an iPad app for its holiday catalog and Abercrombie & Fitch relaunching its magalog, A&F Quarterly, with a social media tie-in. It’s too soon to say if these efforts will drive sales or help turnaround the drop in catalog circulation. Sears customers this year will find QR barcodes throughout the Wish Book print catalog. These barcodes can be scanned using a cell phone to view more information on items via videos and product pages. Shoppers can also visit the Sears Facebook page and click on the Wish Book tab to see holiday shopping ideas, share wish lists and purchase products. Or, customers can also download the free Wish Book app to their iPad and find gifts using a variety of tools. There’s also a mobile Web experience for shoppers with smart phones, enabling them to view the entire Wish Book online. There's also a robust Web site presence for the Wish Book.