Harry and David

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Customer experience analytics firm ForeSee today released its annual analysis of Cyber Monday customer satisfaction suggesting that some online shoppers may not be as satisfied with the holiday shopping season as retailers likely are. ( Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110819/DE54780LOGO ) Sponsored by: Comscore reports that compared to last year, online commerce was up 26% on Black Friday and 22% on Cyber Monday, and the National Retail Federation is reporting that sales over the four-day holiday weekend increased 16% over last year. But while sales are up, website browser satisfaction is down. A browser

“Once we divested ourselves of Jackson & Perkins, we turned our attention to finding businesses that would leverage our infrastructure and expertise.” That’s how Bill Williams, president/CEO of Harry & David, neatly sums up the Medford, Ore.-based food marketer’s array of sale and acquisition activity over the past 18 months. “And that naturally took us to food and gift food businesses.” Indeed, it’s been a rapid transformation for this marketer and grower of fruit, cakes and other food gifts. • April 2007: Sold its interest in the horticulture multichannel business, Jackson & Perkins. • January 2008: Acquired Wolferman’s, a cataloger known for its

During a session on how best to blend housefile and prospect mailing strategies for optimal results held at last week’s Annual Conference for Catalog & Multichannel Merchants in Kissimmee, Fla., catalog mailers Melissa Watson, director of catalog and e-mail marketing for food marketer Harry & David, and Ronda Anderson, marketing manager of American Time and Signal Co., a B-to-B cataloger of master and wireless clock systems, offered pointers on measurement, segmentation, results scrutiny and mailing timing, among others. Below are takeaways from the session. 1. Measure everything. Measure campaigns, Watson said, by capturing the source of orders and conducting matchbacks. Order sources can be

As the number of channels through which catalogers promote their products increases, so, too, does the need for consistency among an organization’s marketing materials. If you want both existing customers and prospects to recognize your brand, the elements that are used in your catalog must appear on your Web site, in your e-mail campaigns and, if applicable, at the retail level. It sounds like common sense, but if your creative processes aren’t streamlined, consistency can be difficult to achieve. “Some companies, like Harry and David, are really good at keeping it all aligned: their Web sites, e-mails and stores,” notes Carol Worthington-Levy, partner

A true story: This past Sunday I decided to order a Christmas gift for our friends Doris and David and another for my cousin Suzy — ideally the same gift for both, something foodie and festive. I went to the following Web sites: Swiss Colony, The Wisconsin Cheeseman, Hickory Farms, Red Cooper, Fortnum & Mason, Amazon.com, See’s Candies, Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., Jelly Belly, Mrs. Field’s Gifts, Figi’s, Dean & DeLuca, Cross Creek Groves, Godiva Chocolatier, and Harry & David. All were happy to take my order for two of the same item. I could not for the life of me figure out how to

We all need road maps, particularly us merchants. There’s so much good stuff out there to choose from, so many different directions you can take in merchandising your catalog, that you need to find ways to navigate. In my 20-plus years as a creative merchant, I’ve always made product fit charts my strategic tool of choice as I sift and sort through thousands of product possibilities for each brand’s offerings. I treat them as my merchandising road maps, driving me to the very heart of each brand I work with. They help me edit the multitude of products I see at trade shows

Catalogers’ Updates Metrostyle: This unit of New York-based Redcats USA, is emblazoning the cycle two winner of “America’s Next Top Model” TV show, Yoanna House, on the cover of its spring catalog in an attempt to showcase the catalog as a women’s apparel fashion authority. Selecting the contest winner comes after Redcats changed the name of this value-priced book from Lerner. Harry & David Holdings: In April, this multichannel marketer agreed to sell its Jackson & Perkins catalog/ wholesale plants and gardening tools business to an investment group led by Donald and Glenda Hachenberger for $49 million. In a separate deal, Harry & David also agreed to

Beyond death, taxes and postal rate hikes, most catalogers’ primary worry in life is retaining customers. Aside from continuously offering appealing products and services, there are a number of effective approaches you need to take to keep your customers happy and doing repeat business with you. Naturally, the question is, “What methods can I try that I haven’t already tried 10 times?” For a few possible answers and techniques for you to test in different departments, consider the strategies offered by several catalog experts. Customer Service Good customer service starts with the first interaction you have with customers. And if your call center

By Carolyn Heinze How to maintain consistency in creative endeavors throughout your sales channels. As the number of channels through which catalogers promote their products increases, so, too, does the need for consistency among an organization's marketing materials. If you want both existing customers and prospects to recognize your brand, the elements that are used in your catalog must appear on your Web site, in your e-mail campaigns and, if applicable, at the retail level. It sounds like common sense, but if your creative processes aren't streamlined, consistency can be difficult to achieve. "Some companies, like Harry and David, are really good

By Carolyn Heinze How to maintain consistency in creative endeavors throughout your sales channels. As the number of channels through which catalogers promote their products increases, so, too, does the need for consistency among an organization's marketing materials. If you want both existing customers and prospects to recognize your brand, the elements that are used in your catalog must appear on your Web site, in your e-mail campaigns and, if applicable, at the retail level. It sounds like common sense, but if your creative processes aren't streamlined, consistency can be difficult to achieve. "Some companies, like Harry and David, are really good