Friday 10 December 2010

Whither Catalogues; Catalogues Wither?

The recent publication of the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 provides me a great opportunity to return to one of my favourite topics.  No, not self-promotion (although I am involved with two companies on the list; M8 Group and Endura Ltd) but something I enjoy *even* more: catalogue bashing.

Criteria for inclusion in the index are private companies with most recent year sales over £5m that have posted a profit in most recent year, ranked by turnover growth over most recent 4 years.

Now, this is "just a bit of fun", but a quick analysis of the supplement shows there are 10 dedicated online product retailers on there;

http://www.buymobilephones.net/
http://www.watchshop.com/
http://www.moonpig.com/
http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/
http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk/
http://www.petplanet.co.uk/
http://www.greenfingers.com/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/

In addition, there are at least 7 other consumer websites featured.
http://www.staysure.co.uk/
http://www.globalpersonals.co.uk/
http://www.directline-holidays.co.uk/
http://www.bullionvault.com/
http://www.quidco.co.uk/
http://www.menkind.co.uk/
http://www.getabed.co.uk/

Number of catalogue retailers or mentions of catalogues?  None.

Just saying, that's all.