There has been a long held view that Catalogue and Home Shopping companies are a little staid, a little outdated or just plain old old-fashioned. There is also a slightly more modern view that the internet and shopping on the internet in particular, is for techies or whiz kids or dare I say, for young people.
I'm sure you'll have your own view on the matter, but opinions aside, there is a growing audience who recognise that neither viewpoint has any substance today.
If there's such a thing as a mercenary shopper, then I believe I'm it, and I strongly urge you to join me. Any retailer of any description will curse me for saying this but the fact is, there are an incredible number of places for you to spend your hard earned cash and in today's retail environment, finding the best deal no longer involves fighting your way through the weekend crowds or pounding the pavements up and down the high street.
The Internet has brought the high street right into your living room and in doing so it has also brought both opportunity and dilemma for both the staid old Catalogue businesses and, the snappy new web only retailers. It's also because of the internet that neither can afford to sit on their laurels.
Catalogue and Home Shopping retailers can no longer rely on the lure of extended credit terms to attract new customers because credit can now be obtained with ease and far cheaper, which is where the newer internet only retailers are cashing in. It's fair to say that the traditional Catalogue and Home Shopping retailers recognise this fact and the more astute ones now have an internet presence as well. However, despite their traditional credit hungry customers being in decline, they still account for a significant chunk of their business and as such, cutting them loose would be commercial suicide. They have no choice but to endeavour to satisfy their old customers and their new ones.
The upshot of these dilemmas for you and I is opportunity. To keep pace with web only retailers, Catalogue and Home Shopping retailers are being forced to come up with new initiatives to attract new customers and yet despite the undoubted success of some of these new initiatives, there is no shortage of irony when they play their ace. Their ace is that they still produce printed catalogues and not only that, they produce very good printed catalogues. The production of these very good catalogues has been fine tuned over many, many years and to their readers, they have always been held dear. The printed catalogue of today is a brilliant shop window which offers plenty of product information, beautiful detail filled photography which is as colour accurate as possible to ensure customer satisfaction.
The new mercenary shoppers (me!) are taking advantage of, and are enjoying the opportunity to pick up a catalogue, browse, read and compare, before going online to browse, read and compare, and only when they have found the best deal, do they place an order. No crowds, no queues, no sore feet, no communal changing rooms just the best possible choice at the best possible price. Consumer heaven.
I urge you to become a mercenary shopper. Go online, order a free catalogue and browse, read and compare to your hearts content and then, and only then, part with your hard earned cash and enjoy your choice.
As always, Happy shopping.
Copyright (c) 2007 Sam Benton
America is a country of consumption. The home shopping networks that you see on TV generate billions in revenue even when the economy is tight. The number of people who are home shopping online grows every day. The online shops of this country are providing a service of convenience and savings for all of us.
So what does this have to do with your retirement account evaporating? Opportunity. Simply opportunity. You might do quite well setting up your own online business but before you forge ahead, there are three things you can do to assist you in your quest for success.
Start with these three concepts.
1.Don't listen to losers.
2.Develop an inspiring motivation for success.
3.Expand your energy.
Don't Listen to Losers - This is not a judgmental statement about the status of your fellow human being. This is about the practical and realistic point of view.
A tennis professional is not spending his time looking for mediocre people to play just so he can win. He is not challenged by people with lesser skill and he knows that that not only doesn't help his game it actually hurts his game.
Find people that are successful in their lives and their business and talk with them. You don't have enough time on this planet to make all the dumb mistakes yourself. Learn from others but choose carefully who you are learning from. Develop an Inspiring Motivation for Success
If your motivation for success is fear, you're screwed. If your motivation for success is to experience joy and help others, you have a chance! Needing to prove to someone your worthiness is another way to fall flat on your face. The only sustainable motivation must come from your heart. When you see your business plan in terms of purpose and joy you attach meaning that will inspire you and the people you need to build it.
If you are angry, obsessed with the competition, or using any less-than-inspiring tactics to achieve your goals your success will be short lived. Choose to empower yourself with marketing tools, supportive people, and a heart-centered inspiration for achieving your goals.
Expand Your Energy - To enjoy the benefits of money and success you need to be healthy in all areas of your life. It's not possible to achieve a perfect balance between work and other areas of your life but it is possible to create a rhythm that ebbs and flows to allow you the energy you need to build your business and have a life!
If you work 80 hours a week, eat like crap, and don't exercise, you might make a lot of money in the short run but your health will catch up with you. Your diet, your downtime, and your relationships are just as important to your long-term success as your sales are.
Everything is energy and once you accept that your awareness will help you to see the opportunities in balance. Eat properly, exercise consistently, get the rest you need and then you will have the energy you need to build that business and create the life you want.
Both Sam Benton & Donald Pratt are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sam Benton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Debts Loans, Massage and Site Promotion. Catalogue & Home Shopping: Bare necessities or complete indulgence, the choice is yours. Sam Benton urges you to be among the first to take advantage of some of the best offers and the best brands, from the most respected and innovative names in Catalogue. Sam Benton's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.
Donald Pratt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Finances and Make Money Online. Are you interested in checking out the best online shopping site where we give you free credits to make bids on items at discounted prices? Go to