A Merchant’s Job: Teasing and Pleasing

Like many women, I'm in lust with J.Crew. I just don’t know how it does it, season after season, catalog after catalog, offer after offer, email after email. It continually tantalizes me with merchandise that inspires me to stop everything and place an order. Who can resist?

In a recent catalog from J.Crew, in addition to spread after spread of craveworthy collections, the apparel retailer snuck in a little “surprise” tucked in between pages 20 and 21 — a 20 percent off coupon “to get you excited for fall.” Then, back between pages 56 and 57, it included another surprise — a personal shopper for you to call when you need expert advice. Best of all, the service is completely free, and available online or over the phone.