A Child's Dream Come True Goes Full-Color
The first full-color catalog from the family-owned and operated
enterprise A Child's Dream Come True features 32 pages of "Natural
crafts, toys and more... To nurture the child's sense for life and imagination."
On the inside cover, a brief introductory note from owner Debbie Staggs informs shoppers of the change in format, which she hopes will make shopping easier. She also encourages shoppers to call if they need any help finding a particular item. Products in the annual catalog are grouped by category in one to four-page spreads under straightforward headings such as "Sweet Music," "Art & Supplies" and "Knitting." Pricing varies widely, from books below $20 to a $269 wooden kitchen playset. No order form is included in the catalog; customers are directed to call a toll-free telephone number or visit the catalog's Web site, AChildsDream.com, to order. However, order forms for fax or postal orders may be downloaded in PDF format online.
CARE Describes Life Before and After Taliban
The front of a mailing from humanitarian group CARE touts the humble pencil as "The powerful tool that helped defeat the Taliban."
Lending
symbolic emphasis, the #10 envelope carries an actual pencil embossed
with the words, "I Am Powerful," as a freemium. Additional contents are
spare, but include a two-page letter and a reply form. The letter tells
the story of a young student named Khatera and her journey from a
secretive grade school education during Taliban rule to an open high
school after their defeat, all the while attending community schools where teachers were trained by CARE. The letter cites 23,000 students in 466 CARE-supported schools across Afghanistan, and itemizes the many
benefits that women gain as a result of education, from longer lifespan
to higher income and better health care. In asking for donations, CARE
further explains that it works to fight poverty in 70 countries, including Honduras and Thailand, not only in Afghanistan. In the postscript, however, an urgent plea cites the recent increase in violence in Afghanistan, including arson at three CARE-supported schools. A color photo on the reply form shows a woman in traditional covered dress partially concealing her mouth, but clearly smiling. Donors are presented with an ask ladder of $15/$25/$40/$100/$200/other, and urged to reply, "Yes! I want to make my mark against poverty" with their gift.
Lamps Plus Offers Function and Style
Focusing almost exclusively on the illumination of our favorite spaces, the latest catalog from Lamps Plus provides lighting choices in nearly every mode imaginable.
The 52-page catalog arranges lamps by style and designer, making it easy for shoppers to compare and contrast similar items. Customers can choose from crystal chandeliers by James R. Moder and Schonbek ($129 - $799), surf and island themed lamps by Cabana Joe's ($99 - $299), contemporary lighting by Nova ($79 - $129), and a collection designed by model Kathy Ireland ($59 - $499). Lamps Plus also features an array of outdoor fixtures and ceiling fans to shed light on a late night party or provide a cool breeze inside. Remote controls, dimmers and shades allow customers to personalize their selections. In addition to lighting, the multichannel retailer also offers a selection of mirrors that reflect the design of many of the lamps. Two versions of the catalog were tracked -- one offering free shipping with orders of $100 or more, and a "New Homeowner" edition directing shoppers online where they can register for free shipping and $20 off orders of $100 or
more.
The direct mail promotions appearing in Mail Stream are tracked and analyzed by ParadyszMatera, a media brokerage services company, through its MarketRelevance(tm) Promotion Library. Click here to visit their site: ParadyszMatera.com.
The direct mail promotions appearing in Mail Stream are tracked and analyzed by ParadyszMatera, a media brokerage services company, through its MarketRelevance(tm) Promotion Library. Click here to visit their site: ParadyszMatera.com.
