mail catalog

Initially, it was conducted through mailed catalogs, but now, more often, on the internet.

After learning accounting by correspondence, they began mailing catalogs to thousands of hobbyists.

Both are from the Martha by Mail catalog, www.marthastewart.com or (800) 950-7130.

Printing and mailing catalogs would be too costly, but on eBay, sellers can tap into an international market for much less.

Currently she lives in New York and models for mail catalogs like Macy's.

As enticing as these success stories are, not every online retailer is sold on the idea of mailing catalogs.

The company has started mailing catalogs for its female apparel line, called Nikewomen, to some 600,000 residences.

The company sells merchandise through four retail stores, nine mailed catalog titles and a company Website.

Frette's mail catalog business ran for 90 years, and the last mail-order catalog was issued in 1976.

In the '80s, Johnston & Murphy also launched its direct mail catalog featuring men's footwear.

"A couple of years ago we mailed catalogs to like 1,000 of our best customers," said Lauren Marrus, the site's chief executive.

The Bloomingdale's By Mail catalog launched in 1978 and this expanded the store's reach to households across the United States.

The initial revenue from their product line came from their sales and marketing to bulk mail catalogs and department store gift sections.

This summer, Mr. Bass said, Lands' End will roll out sites in several European countries where the company does not mail catalogs.

The following year, Shure published its first direct mail catalog, which was one of only six radio parts catalogs in the United States at the time.

But when the Martha by Mail catalog turns up in my mailbox, I find myself shrieking in disbelief over the "Martha markup."

Web sites have opened the mail-order meat business to dozens of upscale restaurants, like Smith & Wollensky and the Palm, that have never mailed catalogs.

An oversized yellow beach towel with a 19th-century fish drawing, 52 by 72 inches, is $56 from the Martha By Mail catalog, (800) 950-7130, or www.marthabymail.com.

Nan Bush, his longtime companion and agent, was able to secure a contract with Federated Department Stores to shoot the 1978 Bloomingdales mail catalog.

Johnston & Murphy's Retail Operations division operates 160 company owned stores and sells products via direct mail catalogs and via the company's web site.

And last summer, Fat Brain Toys rolled off a bright, picture-filled direct mail catalog with hopes of exciting the faces of thousands of potential young customers.

SoundForth produces and markets religious music recordings through a music download website, SacredAudio as well as a mailing catalog.

The only one ample enough for plump loaves was the reproduction box by Martha Stewart ($62 from the Martha by Mail catalog, 800-950-7130 or www.

Nonetheless, Mr. Drew said, 800.com had hedged its bets against a possible plateau in the Internet population by doing what many other Internet retailers were doing: mailing catalogs.

But many companies remain convinced of the paper catalog's power as an advertising vehicle - so much so that many businesses that started out as Internet-only companies now mail catalogs, too.