Shopping By The Book Christmas Catalogs Are Out In Force, Fueling A Growing Stay-At-Home Market
You know the holiday shopping season has begun when the catalogs start arriving.
From European linens to garden gargoyles, the range of items available in catalogs has made them the home shopper’s dream.
More than two-thirds of U.S. residents have let their fingers do the walking sometime this year, said Tina Caprio, spokeswoman for the Direct Marketing Association of New York, which represents 3,600 direct marketers and tracks catalog sales.
More than 10,000 specialty catalog titles are in print, and 132 million people - largely Generation Xers and baby boomers - have spent $75 billion this year, an increase of $25 billion, she said.
What are they buying? Home decorating items and unusual gifts are the best sellers, Caprio said, but toys and electronics remain strong holiday favorites. And one of the hottest tickets, she said, is a kit to make an edible face mask from Jello, priced at $12.98 in the Lighter Side catalog; call (813) 747-5566 to order.
The reason for the growing popularity of catalogs is, obviously, convenience. You can escape the mall’s maddening crowd and avoid beating your bunions. There’s no embarrassment about putting your reading glasses on in public, no parking hassles and no intimidating salesperson to follow you around and tell you an item doesn’t come in your size. And, best of all, there’s no parent/child/ spouse to hurry you.
If you can think of all those fab gifties as being as near as your phone or computer keyboard, arriving at your doorstep packaged in boxes suitable for mailing, here’s a sampling of what you’ll find: Sears Wish Book:
This smaller-than-usual catalog features 200 pages of toys, sporting goods and musical instruments divided into categories (like action toys and ride-on toys). Among the gotta-have gifts is the Deluxe Continental Breakfast Silver Service, a way-cool two-decker serving cart with casters, complete with a silver-finished tea set, as well as cups, plates and utensils for four, plus napkins and an etiquette book, all for $19.99. Farther along in the catalog, past the “101 Dalmatians” slumber tents, priced at $24.99, is My Little Doll House Bed, a toddler’s fantasy bed that converts to a bookcase and bench as the child grows. It’s $104.99. Call (800) 775-5555.
Neiman Marcus Christmas Book: Every year, this company outdoes itself with a grown-up fantasy gift, and this year’s no different. Ready for Christmas morning delivery is a 1997 silver Jaguar XK8 convertible with all the bells and whistles worthy of a $74,975 set of wheels. This sleek automobile with oatmeal-colored leather interior takes a $5,000 deposit, but hey, you’ll get 25,000 NM credit card bonus points.
For pampered pets, there’s a well-bred bed in the shape of a neoclassical mansion painted in pure gold and featuring an interior green velvet cushion and three circular windows and a rear hinged door, all for a mere $9,400.
More price-friendly gifts in this luscious catalog include a Russian Santa purse made of acacia wood by Timmy Woods for $195 and a four-piece set of handblown stemware made with glass confetti, $48. For the men in your life, there’s a champagne label-design vest of Italian silk for $225, and a set of brass collar stays in a black leather storage case for $30. To order, call (800) 825-8000.
Bloomingdale’s Christmas 1996: This store and its catalog are crazy about the city of New York, often focusing on landmarks from yellow taxi cabs to the Statue of Liberty for gift items. Among the newest designs are a Limoges signed and numbered porcelain replica of Lady Liberty for $99, and a black cotton denim jacket with a sequin-covered taxi for $198.
Other hot tickets include a glamorous leopard-print dog bed, $109, and stackable sterling-silver cocktail rings, $50 each. To order, call (800) 777-0000.
Macy’s Catalog: Called the “Individualize” catalog, this paperback gift guide is packed with fashionable fashions, including leopard-print velour shirts by Lizsport, $98; a double-breasted banker’s check pantsuit by Jones New York, jacket is $208 and cuffed trousers are $126; and a swank faux mink scarf for $125. To order, call (800) 746-7148.
Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Holiday 1996: The redesigned catalog features the cover of the new book “Ship of Dreams” by Dean Morrissey. It’s filled with high-fashion gift-giving ideas, from fur coats to imported cigar humidors. Among the less pricey goodies are a leopard-print fake fur headband by Marina Killery, $85; sterling-silver cuff links of a dog head with bone by Links of London, $125; and carved sterling-handled toothbrushes by John Hards at $350 each.
Hammacher Schlemmer Holiday 1996: This is the catalog guys love for all those autographed baseballs and Star Trek toys - but wait, there’s more. Among its 100 pages are a singing umbrella that plays “Singin’ in the Rain,” priced at $39.95; a portable “Jeopardy!” electronic game that has a tiny LCD screen and 30 categories for $29.95; and a replica of a 1950-styled English radio for $299.95 that comes with modern features like a telescopic antenna and headphone jack. To order, call (800) 543-3366.
Pottery Barn Early Fall Catalog: Animal prints are hot in everything this year, including Pottery Barn’s cheetah-bound jute rug, priced at $69. More animal prints are available on pillows at $59 each, which go well with the store’s wrought-iron furniture, such as the Riviera-inspired bar stools for $149 each. Call (800) 922-9934.
Warner Bros. Studio Store Fall 1996: Put a funny face on your mantel with Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes clocks at $15 for a single character or $45 for a group of characters handing over the dial. Call (800) 223-6524.
Hearth Song Autumn 1996: This is a sweet little catalog with family-friendly gifts that spark your youngster’s imagination and creativity. Among the unusual gifts are an herbal soap kit that includes dried flowers and herbs and everything you need to make six bars of handmade soaps, $19.95; a crystal-growing kit to make realistic geodes, $19.95; and a child-size lap harp made in Russia, $49.95. Call (800) 325-2502.
The Jazz Store Catalog: A small catalog aimed at jazz lovers, featuring calendars, videos, CD sets and T-shirts. High-profile gift ideas include the series of videos “Live at the Village Vanguard,” a New York jazz mecca since the ‘30s. Freddie Hubbard, Michel Petrucciani and the Mal Waldron Quartet are among the featured film clips, priced at $19.95 each. Call (800) 558-9513.
Talbots: Dedicated to traditional womenswear, this retail catalog has the new purple look in pantsuits (silk charmeuse shirt, $88; jacket, $180; trousers, $118) and several pages of wowie-red cocktail party dresses for the holidays, priced at $164 and up. While you’re checking them out, take a gander at the black velvet swing jacket lined in red satin for $170. Call (800) 825-2687.
The Territory Ahead: This is a catalog for those city folks who can’t make it back to the farm, but wish they could. Colorful, comfy shirts are abundant, but the Red River Canyon shirt featuring a soft cotton twill with a New Mexico print for $59 is a knockout. Another Wild West item is the Physician’s Gladstone Bag, a soft natural leather tote with nautical brass to hold medical instruments, clothes or screenplays. It’s 15 inches tall and 18 inches wide, priced at $288. To order, call (800) 882-4323.
Harley-Davidson Motor Clothes: Fans of the classic motorcycle need to have all the right stuff, and this artsy catalog shot on location is filled with apparel and accessories. Among the must-haves are black leather jeans for her at $190, an antiqued silver-plated wrist watch with the Harley-Davidson logo engraved on the bracelet for $140 and a cowhide mini-backpack with the metal winged wheel logo, $85. Call (800) 588-2743.
xxxx New catalogs this year The Flavor of the New West Features buffalo meat products. To order, call (303) 831-1299. Scintilla - Features unusual handcrafted lighting fixtures and accessories. To order, call (800) 975-0191. The Bavarian Gaming Society - This catalog has unusual games and puzzles for the entire family. To order, call (909) 861-9652.