Product catalogs aren’t yet outdated but rarer than ever. They can still be found in certain places and on certain occasions. The product catalog is excellent for business exhibitions, when clients haven’t got time to stop and chat but want to know the specifics of your product line. They are great for product launch events, showing off all of your hardware to clients, media, customers and investors. Product catalogs are also useful for premium products, such as real estate, jewellery, antique auctions, and so on. So whether you’re a small or large business, a product catalog can be of use to you. So how do you generate it and what should you include in it?
The first meeting
Whenever something like a Product Catalog first put on the table, there should be a big gathering. This is because, once your catalog has been printed or distributed online, you can’t retrieve it. So whatever mistakes you make in spelling or product, bad photos, wrong ordering information, and possibly other problems, you cannot fix. It’s not like a product where you can remember everything. Technically you can, but the damage has been done and that doesn’t suggest the person who bought your catalog is going to return a copy or buy a new one.
So the executive meeting should involve all the managers, team leaders and diverse teams that will participate in the production. This means marketing, sales and PR all must line up with ideas, solutions to problems etc.
Things to include
A product catalog is no different from the website you have. Products will be shown in their best light with nice photographs, specific details such as specifications and features of every product will be included. However, product catalogs are more personalised, for wealthy buyers or investors. So you want to include the background of the product, the tail of how it happened, the idea behind it and diverse other specific information like where did the material come from, how long did it take to make it, design changes that have been made; it is general evolution.
You should also list the price. Make sure everything is obvious for everybody to see. It should even have diverse information about taxes, VAT (if any), warranty, etc. Ensure that any package deals are recorded, i.e. if you’re selling tools, certain drills if purchased, will provide a discount on other equipment. Package deals, discounts and sales should all be included in the catalog.
Catalog aesthetic
Appearance catalog is everything. Repeat, that’s everything! It must shine. Catalogs are supposed to be the premium content that wealthy shoppers want to have on their coffee table. Let’s be honest, Prada, Mercedes, and Apple product catalogs would be something that prosperous shoppers would want on dining room tables, coffee tables, foyer areas, etc. These kinds of catalogs are charming, best showcase brands and what they’ve to offer, and plus, they simply act as a status symbol that some people want. So ensure your photos are done very well. The lighting, angles, color scheme, tone, editing, must be perfect. Don’t get too artsy, remember it is practical stuff too. Use a inkjet digital printing machine for the highest quality and best finish. Product catalogs can be printed on gloss paper, meaning they will reflect light very well, feel smooth to the touch and have an upper echelon vibe about them.
Contact information for purchase
The product catalog will have pre-order information. It’s not hard to write them down, depending on your actual buying process for clients. The catalog should have a product number for each product, a dedicated catalog buying phone line or e-mail address, and details such as shipping costs and exclusive purchase offers or offers from the catalog to speak to or mention in contacts. Include this contact information and procedures clearly at the start of the catalog and make them easy to conform with.
Product catalogs are a joy to create and it’s something that many premium brands are still working on for their clients and customers. Make sure you check all of these items before you print and finalize your catalog for ordering.
