If you are into local businesses, you probably already know that the era of catalogs is coming back. Not only can businesses use them to bring customers online, but also design them to fit the constantly changing and evolving marketing environment. Catalogs are the best way to showcase your products.
Are you wondering how you too can design a printed catalog that works for the modern audience? Don’t worry, catalog printing is not rocket science – and yes you can get it done! The following guide will give you an idea of what you will require to create a printed catalog and offer you some useful advice when it comes to making sure the catalog does what it’s supposed to do – sell more of your products.
In order to create a catalog, you will need:
- Product Images
Since our goal is to create a printed catalog, we will require high-quality product images with high resolution, at least in the range 200-300 dpi. Any less resolution or image quality might result in a bad print.
- Product data
It’s likely you already have this data lying around somewhere in an excel sheet or a product database. Typically, product data would include the product name, product codes (item numbers / SKUs), barcodes, category, subcategory, product description, salient features (if any), and many more details depending on the type of catalog you are trying to create.
- Catalog Layout
You may need the help of a graphic designer in designing a layout for the catalog. Even more so, if this is the first time you are creating a catalog for your business, or if you want to revamp the previous layout. Some of the common elements you would find in most catalogs are:
– Covers (front and back cover)
– Thumb index
– Table of contents (TOC)
– Chapter Separators
– Product showcase
So the layout is done. Let’s move towards the next steps:
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Make the Design Appealing for Your Audience
Since a catalog’s performance is linked to how well it sells the products, you will need to tailor the design of your catalog to appeal to your target audience. For example, if you are planning to target a younger audience, the color shades and themes that you use will be much different than a catalog designed keeping older people in mind.
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Make it Easy for Them to Contact You
It’s a nice idea to have your contact information mentioned on every single page of your catalog. You can place it alongside the footer. Make sure you include your email, phone number, and website URL so that the customers (or retailers) can easily get in touch with you to ask any questions they may have or to place an order.
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Tell a story with the product descriptions
Apart from providing all the information that a customer (or retailer) may want to know about your product before deciding if it’s a good fit for them, you also want to tell the whole story of your product. You can mention what makes the product unique, what it is made up of, where they are manufactured, size or dimensions, pricing, etc. Always remember that the content is an important aspect.
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Make Your Catalog a Fully Functional Sales Machine
Treat your catalog as a sales tool. Make sure you provide them all the details they need to place an order. Also, it helps to have a section solely dedicated to the terms and conditions of sale, minimum order requirements, shipping options, turn-around times, refund/exchange policies and payment methods accepted. The back page of the catalog is a good place to place these details.
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Keep Improving the Catalog Design
It’s important to take the time and evaluate how well your catalog has performed for you. Here are some questions which can help you evaluate the results you get from the previous edition of your catalog:
– What items were sold more than others? Where were they placed in the catalog?
– Were there any products that got no sales and where were they placed in the catalog?
– Was the overall look and feel (or design) of the catalog helpful or hindering to your sales?
– How soon did you start seeing sales come in after you released the catalog?
In addition to this, you can also ask your sales team on how the catalog is performing, or if they have received any feedback from the customers.
How much does it cost to print a catalog?
Before you look up “how much to print a catalog”, it’s important to consider some variables which are tied to the catalog printing costs, such as:
- Number of pages (and their thickness) in the catalog
- Number of copies of the catalog to be printed
- Quality of the paper used
- Any special processing required
Of course, bulk catalog printing costs less per copy, but it’s good to have a budget in mind before you approach a printing company and ask them for a quote for wholesale catalog printing.
Additional Tips:
– Try to use a combination of your understanding of your target audience and creativity in order to highlight what makes your products appealing.
– Find a reliable partner for professional catalog printing.
– Try not to save on printing costs if you want high-quality output.
– Try planning well in advance and avoid giving too short deadlines to your printer.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know creating a catalog is a process that’s going to take time, patience and a lot of testing. Finding the right formula for designing your catalog will help you drive more sales in the long run. While it may seem daunting at first, once you have your first catalog out, there’s no looking back!
Hand reaching out to infographic elements
