Work Force
Tenth, the major need in cataloging will be people. During 2000, and back to 1998, during the high-intensity focus on Internet and e-commerce development, the primary concern of catalog CEOs was, and still is, finding qualified people to staff the catalog companies. Only a severe economic downturn will relieve the shortage of experienced people. As the direct marketing, catalog and e-com industries expand, the demand for human capital will continue to grow apace. With an inherent shortage of people in the industry, the problem can get only worse. Productivity is improving as a result of better operating systems, but value-added thinkers and creators will remain at critically low supply levels. Consequently, the cost of human capital will continue to escalate as long as the economy continues to expand.