Catalog Choice - Paperless Blog

Certified Organic Skincare: Natural Beauty from an Inspiring Company

Jill — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:17:49 +0000

Imagine mixing up a luxurious, organic skin cream that you keep in your fridge and refill from eco-friendly packaging. L’Occitane offers a wide variety of natural beauty products inspired by the fields of Provence.

L’Occitane is also is an amazing company in its approach to supporting communities and environmental initiatives. We’ve always loved the products, and now that we know about the company’s socially responsible ways, we can’t wait to buy more. Click here to learn about their Braille labeling, sustainable she butter development project in Burkina Faso, and their organic immortelle plantation in Corsica.

Ma Creme Nature – $42.00

Size: 5.1 fl.oz

Item #: 144428

Certified organic by ECOCERT, Ma Crème Nature is a moisturizing cream that you can prepare at home and keep in your refrigerator. Its quick and easy-to-prepare formula, with organic olive tree extracts, brings your skin nothing but the essential ingredients it needs to stay lastingly moisturized, and glowing with health. It allows skin to recuperate from daily over-stimulation, leaving it revived and more receptive to your regular routine with a soft and gentle touch. Can be used daily on face and body.
In effort limit the waste of cosmetic packaging, an eco-refill for Ma Crème Nature has been developed. The refill contains the quick and easy-to-prepare formula, with organic olive tree extracts as well as a new label.

Looking for great gifts or other natural skin & beauty products? Check out the L’Occitane iCatalog which is packed with their entire product line. Shop right here or click Get & Share to put it on your desktop or personal homepage.

Less Paper, More Social – iCatalog Debuts at SEMA 2009

Chuck — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:31:17 +0000

The Catalog Choice iCatalog is a great fit for organizing photo, product description and company information. We have deployed the iCatalog in association with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

The widget, shown below, profiles the new products and featured cars at the show. Bloggers, Enthusiats and others are using the widget to profile products from the show on their site. We are constantly updating it with new images, videos and product information. If you love cars, click “Save This” on the widget and share it with your friends. Wish you could be at the show, click through and see what is new in the world of after market auto parts.

Still Receiving Unwanted Catalogs?

Chuck — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:34:23 +0000

You’ve made requests to stop receiving unwanted catalogs through Catalog Choice. Many have stopped, but some are still showing up in your mail box. Why is this happening? What can you do about it? Read on to gain more control of your mailbox.

Reason #1: Inactive Account – You haven’t activated your Catalog Choice account. We verify your account by roundtrip email before we process your mail preferences. If you never received our confirmation email with the activation link after creating an account, the request might be caught in your SPAM filter.

Action: Check your SPAM and junk folders. Make sure to white list register@catalogchoice.org to receive our activation email. You can also send a request to this address and we will manually activate your account. You must send the message from the email address you used to set up your account.

Reason #2: It takes a little longer – After declining a catalog through Catalog Choice, you haven’t waited long enough. It typically takes ten weeks to remove your name from a mailing list, but it may take longer. Action: Look at the date you made the request and make sure you allow enough time for the request to be confirmed.

Reason #3: You made a recent purchase from a Participating Catalog Choice Merchant - Most of our participating retailers will remove a name from their mailing list unconditionally. However, some merchants will mail you a catalog if you have made a purchase in the past year. In “My Choices” the “Member Since” tag identifies participating merchants. You can also view them alphabetically in “Cool Catalogs.”

Action: Please write to our customer service (team@catalogchoice.org) and we’ll contact the mailer on your behalf.

Reason #4: You’ve made a recent purchase with a catalog mailer. As noted above, sometimes a retailer will honor a catalog opt-out request and then put you back on the mailing list if you make a purchase via catalog, store or internet.

Action: Make a “Still Receiving” request or contact the merchant directly. Also make your mail preferences known at the point of purchase.

Reason #5: The mailer is not formally participating in Catalog Choice. Some mailers simply refuse to accept our requests. To address this issue, we’ve added two new delivery methods: contact form pop-up and direct email. While not as convenient, these methods ensure successful delivery of your requests.

Action: Select “still receiving” by the title in “My Choices” and we will deliver your request through the best means available. Copy your unique Catalog Choice email at the top of the contact form pop-up and substitute for your personal email. This protects your personal email address and allows delivery of responses from the mailer to your account dashboard.

Reason #6: Names are commonly traded, rented, shared or sold. If you receive a catalog in a new name/address variation, it is likely that this has occurred.

Action: Make a new mail preference with the different variations of your name/address and we will deliver the request. To reduce the amount of prospect mail you receive (companies you’ve never purchased from), register with www.dmachoice.org. Be sure to add the name/address variations to the DmaChoice.org account as well.

Thanks for using the service. Please keep us posted on your results!

Timberland Earthkeepers Boot: Green Coming & Going

Chuck — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:06:28 +0000

What could be better than buying boots that use green materials and can be recycled when worn-out? Timberland’s new Earthkeepers 2.0 boots are made with green rubber and are designed to be taken apart so the materials can be recycled when you are done wearing them.

Men’s Earthkeepers™ 2.0 Remakeable 6 Inch Boot
Style #19569
$160.00

Our Earthkeepers™ range features tough, rugged footwear made with the environment in mind. The Earthkeepers 2.0™ boot takes things one step further: it’s designed for disassembly and recycling, for people who want to tread more lightly on the planet. After wearing them on life’s many adventures, simply return them to any Timberland store and then 80% of each boot can be recycled or reused. Imported. Looking for other cool products from Timberland? Their iCatalog is packed with their entire product selection. Shop right from here or click Get & Share and put it on your desktop or personal homepage.

U.S. Postal Service Goes Green

April — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:31:39 +0000

Did you know that the U.S. Postal Service has taken significant steps to turn a deeper shade of green? Recently, the agency voluntarily conducted an inventory of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and included emissions from all of its air, highway, rail, and ship transportation sources. The study establishes a baseline for future, annual evaluations to help the agency meet its GHG reduction goals. The Postal Service’s direct GHG emissions total 5.3 million tons. That’s one twentieth of one percent of the total GHG emissions in the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this is about equal to one million gasoline powered cars driving an average of 12,000 miles each year. Contracted transportation represents 52% of these carbon emissions. Emissions from facilities represent 36%. Given that the Postal Service has 43,000 alternative fuel vehicles delivering mail across the country, only 12% of the carbon footprint is attributed to vehicles. Read more about the GHG emissions study announcement in this press release. Here are some interesting facts about the Postal Service’s environmental goals and commitments, which have earned the agency numerous awards and accolades. The United States Postal Service…

Aims to reduce energy use 30% by 2015, reduce petroleum fuel use 20% by 2015, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% percent by 2020
Increased alternative fuel use 61% since 2005 and retired 10,000 inefficient vehicles from its fleet
Recycles more than a quarter of a million tons of paper and plastic annually through its recycling initiative in 6,000 Post Office Box lobbies
Operates the world’s largest civilian fleet of alternative fuel-capable vehicles
Saved $3 million and nearly 100 million kilowatts in an agency-wide energy challenge
Avoided $1.05 million in costs through green information technology initiatives

And remember, the Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. To read more about the USPS environmental initiatives, click here.

Marketers Prefer Paper, Consumers Prefer Choice

Chuck — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:18:41 +0000

Jeffrey Ball, a Wall Street Journal reporter covering environmental and energy issues, published an excellent article on the issues facing catalog marketing. Jeff thoroughly researched the topic and put together one of the more balanced pieces I have read. Take a moment and give the article a read. Make sure you check out the comment string.

Jeff clearly articulates some key facts that are shaping the debate around paper-based direct marketing:

More than 17 billion catalogs were mailed in the U.S. last year — about 56 for every American.

In the U.S., catalogs account for 3% of the roughly 80 million tons of paper products used annually.

Much of what used to be done through the mail, including bill payments and personal correspondence, is now handled electronically.

The average U.S. catalog retailer reported mailing about 21 million catalogs in 2007, sending out a new edition every 26 days.

Only 1.3% of those catalogs generated a sale

The paper typically used in catalogs contains about 10% recycled content, according to industry consultant RISI. That is far less than paper in general, which typically contains about 30% recycled content.

Consumers who received catalogs from a retailer spent 28% more on that retailer’s Web site than those who didn’t get a catalog.

Jeff’s article includes some clear insight on the topic. As the title of his article “Marketers Still Prefer a Paper Trail” implies:

But catalogs pay. Like so many environmental initiatives, from solar energy to hybrid cars, reducing the impact of catalogs runs into economic realities that favor the old way of doing things.

But there is hope and that is where Catalog Choice comes in. First, consumers who want to slow the flow of unwanted catalogs can use our service to opt-out. Now that we are two years into our effort, our systems are honed and we are efficiently delivering and verifying that the mailer will honor consumer requests to over 1,000 mailers.

Jeff notes:

The catalog industry says it is working hard to reduce the environmental impact of its mailings, by pushing retailers to increase their reliance on recycled paper and by making it easier for consumers to opt out of mailings they don’t want to receive.

But we have to do more than just close down a channel. In order to facilitate significant change in the direct mail industry, viable digital alternatives need to emerge. Jeff clearly describes the vision behind our iCatalog program following a lenghty call with me.

Jeff writes:

Chuck Teller, executive director of Catalog Choice, is working on an idea that could wean catalog retailers away from paper-based marketing without hurting their businesses. His “iCatalog” aims to adapt the accessibility of a paper catalog to the digital realm. Using an online widget that consumers can install on a personal Web page or social-networking site, Catalog Choice continually updates and customizes retailers’ product selections.

This is where you come in. We need you to use the iCatalogs and give us your feedback. What works; what needs improving? Collect your favorite brands and build your list of favorites for the coming holiday. When you are ready to buy, click through to the brands web site from the Buy Now link in the iCatalog. Each retailer provides a small percentage of the sales price back to Catalog Choice, which helps us fund our free mail preference service.

People respond to “fun”

Chuck — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:45:01 +0000

See how making something fun can affect people’s adoption rate. Brought to you by our friends at Volkswagen.

Using the trash can just got intriguing:

Got any ideas how to make reducing unwanted mail more fun, let us know by posting a comment.

Own an Oscar-Winner

Jill — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:39:14 +0000

National Geographic, one of our participating merchants, offers a wide range of green products. They have everything from rechargeable batteries and organic cotton towels to the 2007 Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature: An Inconvenient Truth.

An Inconvenient Truth DVD

Price:$29.95

Item#:1073375

Director Davis Guggenheim eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Al Gore’s personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change in the 2007 Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature. An Inconvenient Truth makes the compelling case that global warming is real, man-made, and its effects will be cataclysmic if we don’t act now. Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way: often humorous, frequently emotional, always fascinating. In the end, An Inconvenient Truth accomplishes what all great films should: it leaves the viewer shaken, involved and inspired.

Looking for other cool products from National Geographic? Their iCatalog is packed with their entire product selection. Shop right from here or click Get & Share and put it on your desktop or personal homepage.

Do you know your Customer’s Channel Preference

Chuck — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:31:27 +0000

Promo Magazine report that a study published by Forrester Consulting on behalf of ExactTarget found that “80% of marketers claim that customer preference is a key factor but only 12% ask customers their preferred frequency for email messages.” A few other interesting facts:

Only 32% of the marketers surveyed reported knowing how customers behaved across channels and only 37% even knew what channels their customers preferred to use. Even more interesting, only 37% of marketers know what channels their customers prefer to use.

The take away from the study is clearly articulated by Morgan Stewart, ExactTarget’s director of research and strategy:

The bottom line is that in an industry where new digital communications make it easier to send a variety of messages, it’s imperative that marketers not only send the right message, to the right person, at the right time, but that they use the right channel as well

Companies that use Catalog Choice know consumer preferences for direct mail and why consumers are making opt-out choices. Based on 6.5 million survey responses collected over two years 55% of consumers do not want direct mail because they want to use digital tools, because they either prefer to use the internet (15%) or want to help the environment (40%).

If your company works directly with us, your merchant account reports the primary reason why consumers opt-out of your direct mail. Contact us to get access to your free Merchant Account if you don’t already have one.

Then and Now…Catalog Choice Celebrates its Second Anniversary!

April — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:09:15 +0000

Today, Catalog Choice celebrates its second anniversary. We thought it would be fun and informative to reflect back on our beginnings in 2007 and compare things to how they look now.

Then: Before Catalog Choice, there was no free, title-specific service that let you reduce unwanted mail.

Now: With Catalog Choice on the scene, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) dropped its fee and dramatically improved its service DMAChoice. More convenient choices for the consumer.

Then: We didn’t have a lot of friends in the direct marketing world.

Now: We’ve gained the trust of not only the consumer, but also the industry. We have strong supporters, including some of the biggest mailers around (L.L. Bean, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma). We are endorsed by the American Catalog Mailers Association.

Then: We had two ways to deliver mail preference requests (email and file).

Now: Today, we have five secure methods to ensure that each and every request we receive from you is delivered.

Then: It was all opt-out.

Now: Our service provides a way for consumers to request a catalog or decrease frequency of a mailing, if offered by the company. Consumers can also sign up for a company’s email newsletter through a subscription service we offer to mailers.

Then: It was just catalogs.

Now: We’re adding other forms of mail, including coupons, credit card offers, and phone books. Look for upcoming changes to the service to help you opt-out of these forms of mail easily.

Then: When we launched we had 600 catalogs in our service.

Now: Today, we have nearly 1,056 titles in our system.

Then: By the end of 2007, we had about 350,000 individuals using Catalog Choice, requesting to stop the mailing of 4 million unwanted catalogs.

Now: Today, we’re a community of nearly 1.2 million members strong! On your behalf we have delivered more than 16 million opt-out requests. Thank you for your continued support and participation! We could not have done it without you.