The Big Fat Marketing Blog

Look out: Abercrombie & Fitch is bringing back its racy magalog, A&F Quarterly, back to the U.S. The casual apparel merchant will start selling the 176-page magazine/catalog hybrid next month for $10.

Don’t send the kids down to the mall to pick one up, though—you have to be 18 or older to buy A&F Quarterly. Why’s that?

If the new A&F Quarterly is like its predecessor, expect lots of nudie—sorry, artistic—photos (of gorgeous young people without any clothes on) and other content parents don’t like. For instance, previous editions dispensed editorial such as sex tips and best practices for drinking games. more

I am a huge music fan. One of my favorite artists is Nick Lowe. I see him every time he’s in the Milwaukee area (3 times over the last 25 years). The last time he was in town I convinced my wife and friends to wait after the show so I could meet him.

All was going as planned until we realized that we had all neglected to bring a camera so we could “capture the moment.” more

One advantage of having to furnish an entire house almost from scratch is that you can indulge your decorative cravings. For years I’ve wanted a ceramic Chinese garden stool, and now I have my chance.

I’m certainly spoilt for choice. The array of catalogers and online sellers offering these stools is mind-boggling. That there seems to be little to differentiate one from the other makes the choice even tougher.

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We told you last month that the iPad was going to make m-commerce mainstream, and it looks like we have more proof. A study released before sunrise today by in-store pickup solution provider Shopatron says sales conversion rates on the Apple iPad are much higher than rates on other mobile devices.

How high? Based on data Shopatron collected since early March, the average conversion rates for non-optimized stores on mobile devices, including iPhone, Android, and iPod devices, average 0.37%. But the iPad had an average conversion rate up to 2.04%, and for some of its retail clients, the iPad conversion rate was as much as double the conversion rate from personal computers. more

Of late, apparel marketers have tightened the reins on their inventories. Successfully, it would appear: According to financial reports a number of chains did not rely as heavily on end-of-season promotional pricing as they did in times past.

This is admirable, from an operations point of view. But several chains reported cutting their direct mail activity as well, as they did not have to move soon-to-be passé merchandise from their shelves. And several of those link their reduced reliance on mail on the lessened need to move overstock. more

For you futurists out there - well - all I can say is look out because right over the next enormous crest comes the next greatest leap ahead in technology in the form of two internet delivery vehicles - the TV and the mobile device. What’s that? The TV? Absolutely! Follow me here……… more