A printed catalog mailed to customers might seem like an old-school medium for advertising, but with a wave of nostalgia driving trends lately (think: 90’s fashion, digital cameras and flip phones), it might be worth taking another look at catalogs. Big brands like J. Crew, Nordstrom, Amazon and Walmart have all printed catalogs for this current holiday season.
However, the catalogs of this generation have a new tool at their disposal—an integration with digital. When the tactile experience of a catalog is paired with the ease of online shopping, marketers and consumers alike get the best of both worlds. Let’s take a closer look at why a print catalog could be a valuable piece of your marketing strategy in 2026.
Print Brings More Connection
In a world where we are constantly surrounded by screens, the tactile experience of a catalog can feel disruptive and almost magical. Flipping through the pages of a catalog feels nostalgic and, for many consumers, feels more authentic in a world growing weary of an increasingly artificial online culture. A recent survey from The Harris Poll backs this up, finding that 71% of consumers report print catalogs or magazines feel more authentic than digital ads, and 65% actually look forward to receiving catalogs from brands.
Print pieces like catalogs and direct mail also linger around homes longer than a digital ad, leading to more brand recall for days, even weeks to come after the first touchpoint. Consumers also feel a deeper engagement in a print piece, which can lead to a deeper tie and feeling of connection to a brand as a whole.
B2B Loves Print
Busy sales reps and professional buyers often love having physical catalogs, which can be easier to keep on hand at all times or annotate while on the phone. There’s nothing like have access to your catalog on the road when internet access is patchy. Plus, printed catalogs help to capture attention—no email distractions or notifications popping up when you’re trying to order. Just a focused look at your products and what the buyer’s business needs.
Your Products Looking their Best
Print is also an undeniably great way to display products. High quality images, glossy pages, products displayed in aspirational ways. The immersive storytelling of catalogs gives you an opportunity to invite consumers to imagine their lives with the products pictured. And that emotional pull leads to sales. If you sell technology, clothing, home goods or any physical product, a catalog can be a strong choice to increase brand perception.
Print + Digital Integration
When print integrates with digital, that’s the real secret sauce to success. Within your catalog, incorporate QR codes and custom URLs and direct consumers back to your website to purchase. Or try adding augmented reality features to enrich the catalog experience. Amazon’s holiday toy catalog, for example, has a QR code on every page that can be scanned to see pricing and buying options for a curated list of only the products on that page. Not only do these tools point sales back to the website, which is easy for the consumer, they also provide vital tracking for your marketing team, so you can calculate the ROI of the catalog campaign.
Stand Out with Print
Print can set your brand apart from the competition and be a powerful touchpoint to position you top of mind with consumers. Your audience is craving a tactile break — be there to provide it.
Want to win over your audience with an inspiring printed piece? B&Y can help you strategize a campaign and create print pieces that deliver results. Let’s talk!