New Catalog Pining...

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Permalink Reply by Paula on June 18, 2008 at 10:02am

:-) Don't you just love these new designs?! I say buy them all!

Jennifer really does a great job working with the artist to be sure that a puzzle has the absolute most it can offer as far as puzzling experience. It amazes me everytime I have the opportunity to sit in.

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Permalink Reply by Erik on June 18, 2008 at 10:52am

Only so much $ to go around.

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Permalink Reply by David Minton on June 25, 2008 at 8:05pm

Do Stave release new puzzles and new catalogues at set times of the year? Or do they just release new puzzles as and when they're ready?

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Permalink Reply by Erik on June 25, 2008 at 8:48pm

I think it is a mix from what I've seen, they seem to have targeted times where a bunch comes out but a lot of it seems to be when it is ready, Paula will know for sure.

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Permalink Reply by Paula on June 27, 2008 at 4:10pm

Hi Puzzlers, here's the deal.

About three years ago we printed a few new catalogs. We even named them: classics (becuase everything in there is a known seller and continues to do well), clown cover (it has rolling clowns on the cover), and puzzle piece (guess what's on the cover). Our marketing strategy was that we could send each a few times throughtout the year - mix the holiday catalog into July and late fall mailings - and it would still seem "fresh". That was a good plan, and it worked for awhile. But as we round into year three with those catalogs it feels a bit like "I've seen this before". So, while I loved those catalogs, I'm glad that our supply has run out. Well, we still have several thousand of the clasics, but that's what we send to our new puzzling friends.

We have talked about printing a new catalog and are up against several challenges. If we go to 4-color press the quantity has to be high enough to keep the price down. If the quantity is high we risk having to send the same catalog out over and over. If you are on our mailing list you probably know that we copy most of our month-to-month short-lived mailings right here at Stave. These are the New Teaser designs mailings, new offerings of Traditional style puzzles, Time Share, Limited Editions, and our regular monthly Trick & Teaser offerings. We try to supplement this by showing Sneak Peeks in this community with emails to our eExclusive Club. Oh, you're not a member yet? Well, go to Stave.com and click the link to join or let me know directly and I'll be sure you get on the list.

So, couple the catalog issues I've discussed above with the rising postage rates. If you can keep a catalog in a 6x9 envelope you save postage. If you go to a 6x9 envelope how do you keep your quality and elegance? If you're getting this picture then you've realized that I take my job home with me - but as my friend (and fellow community member) Alex says "That's okay as long as you love your job". Alex is right - it is okay - I do love my job!

The long and short of it is this: we have had many discussions about what to do about a new catalog. Will we print a new one? Yes - it would be a mistake not to. I can't say that it will be on an annual basis or how often we will mail it. In the meantime, we will continue to show things through this community, our web site, and our special mailings. If for some reason you are not receiving any of this PLEASE let me know. I will be sure to rectify that :-)

Let me know, too, if I can answer any specific questions.

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Permalink Reply by Erik on June 27, 2008 at 4:33pm

Personally for me Paula, I would be happy/happier getting a PDF download of the catalog periodically (either email the link or email me the PDF) instead of the "dead tree" format from the standpoint (1) easier to access on the go (2) saving you guys costs == cheaper puzzles to me and (3) being a bit more environmentally friendly.

Not sure if others would agree, but perhaps a poll?

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Permalink Reply by Paula on June 27, 2008 at 4:43pm

Thank you for that feedback. We actually have been playing with a flipbook in the background of our website and have considered asking people which format they prefer. For those that don't respond - they would get the paper version with reminders about opting for the web version instead.


I'm not sure the flipbook can be downloaded as PDF, but I can look into that. I do know that flip book allows you to see things larger and offers a clickable link right to the store.

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Permalink Reply by Erik on June 27, 2008 at 4:56pm

If I couldn't download it, that would be a "dealbreaker" for me, I want to be able to easily "keep" a copy for myself independent of whether "you" want it online.

So, I'm gonna give flipbook a thumbs down as a catalog replacement.

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Permalink Reply by Paula on June 27, 2008 at 5:25pm

ok - I'll keep this in mind. Sounds like you may be a good "tester" for this, though.

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Permalink Reply by David Minton on June 27, 2008 at 5:31pm

I agree with Erik. A pdf would be fab. I'd know exactly where to find it (unlike my paper catalogues) and I wouldn't have to be connected to the internet everytime I wanted to browse through it. I'm not familiar with flipbook, but I find some of the online "catalogues" a real pain to navigate and zoom in/out etc. Plus, some use plug-ins that won't run on my Apple Macs. Like I said, I'm not familiar with flipbook though. PDF does seem a pretty universal format though.

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Permalink Reply by Paula on June 27, 2008 at 5:40pm

More good feedback - thank you! We may even opt for both versions. Being able to browse without being on the internet is something I hadn't considered.

I'm a Mac lover, too! It''s all we use here! :-)

Permalink Reply by Tammy & Joe on June 29, 2008 at 6:52pm

Instead of a paper catalog, how about burning them on to a CD? Seems like the way a lot of companies are going these days. Once you have it set up on your pc, it is then easy to go in and make changes such as adding new puzzles or making price changes and you can just burn copies as needed for mailing. You would be able to have more puzzles it each issue. Plus you could add fun things like some sort of game or Stave trivia that when completed gives you a code for a discount on your next purchase.

Just a thought, since I have no clue about the cost involved for either method.

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