Frank Catalogs Catalogs
IKEA announced that they will no longer print their catalog, so Frank takes a nostalgic look back at the history of mail order catalogs, from 1872 and the first Montgomery Ward catalog, to Sears, to JC Penney, to IKEA. While there are still printed catalogs, most marketing is online these days.
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Discussion
By Bryan Gordon on Jan 15, 2021
Frank: Thank you for bringing us good stories about the history of printing. I loved the story about how mail order catalogs came about and then declined. No I did not love the decline part but the passing of the IKEA catalog is sad. - Bryan
By Dov Isaacs on Jan 15, 2021
Ironically, if Sears Roebuck stayed the course for about 8 years before discontinuing their catalog and their mail order operation, they would have been in an exceptionally strong position to compete with Amazon, at least in terms of infrastructure for rapidly fulfilling and shipping orders.
Of course there were many catalogs and mail order operations back when. I remember watching the process by which the Lafayette Radio annual catalog was put together back in the 1950s and 60s (my Dad was head of that operation back then)!
By John Henry on Jan 19, 2021
Dov at one time Sears was the Amazon of the day. They missed the change like you said. I have the last sears catalog in a box.
By Robert Godwin on Jan 22, 2021
The only catalog that stirs my nostalgia is the Whole Earth Catalog by Stewart Brand.
Discussion
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