Online catalogue business Catalogue Central has defied the ad downturn as it posted 100 per cent revenue growth for the April/June quarter and signed on a number of key retail clients.
Retailers can access Catalogue Central’s 500,000 monthly visitors and 300,000 subscriber database of members who receive catalogues via email. The database has experienced 40 per cent growth since June 2008, with brands such as Optus, Big W, Best & Less, Dell, Kmart Tyre and Auto, Williams and Hairhouse Warehouse signing up to take advantage of the expanding database.
Robert Wong, CEO of Catalogue Central says the current demand from retailers is testament to the sector wanting to balance their offline and online activities. Retailers who have previously been slow to move online now recognise the cost effectiveness and ROI delivered with an online strategy.
“Retailers are recognising that online is now becoming just as valuable as the traditional media sector,” he said.
“Catalogue Central’s guaranteed delivery and performance-based model is attractive to retailers as we take a lot of risk out of their media schedules – they only pay when their catalogues are read which leads to significant increases in ROI for campaign budgets.
“We are definitely an effective alternative to paper catalogues, and the waning performance of newspapers,” he said.
Wong said Catalogue Central will become a drawcard to verticals such as supermarkets in the near future who will lead the charge in Australia’s ad market.
The surge in growth follows the launch of Catalogue Central’s umbrella brand, CC Media – a digital company specialising in interactive advertising services for the retail sector.
Catalogue Central also announced its partnership with ninemsn last month, integrating its syndicated catalogue content within ninemsn shopping, reaching eight million plus internet users who visit ninemsn each month.