Most catalog sectors have seen universe declines over the past two years, but individual successes remain — especially for those with a focus on price and practicality.
A recent Metrics graph in The New York Times called Shoppers’ Shifting Priorities draws a not-too-pretty picture of retail sales from 2003 through 2009. Dramatic falloffs abound, and not just for automobiles, but also apparel, home furnishings and department stores. Folks that work in these beleaguered industries probably won’t be surprised to learn that the “liquor store” category is doing quite nicely.
The NYT study pulled data directly from the U.S. Census Bureau Retail Trade Report, which is a great (and free) resource for anyone looking for sales trends. For direct marketers, another critical and more impactful measure of sector health can be found in housefile universes, specifically 12-month buyer counts.