This was my second poll question, running in Oct-Nov 2008.
Again visitors were allowed to choose one or more than one answer of the following:
a) Online
b) Stores
c) Catalogue
Most answers were b) and only 10% would select option a). Surprisingly, not even one person selected Catalogue as a preferable shopping way. I, personally, became quite comfortable with catalogue shopping thanks to the English cosmetics company Avon. The Swedish cosmetics company Oriflame has exactly the same sales strategy. And it should be there, because people really prefer it.
Their remarkable marketing strategy has numerous advantages for the buyer:
Firstly, you can shop while sitting at home and watching a movie.
Secondly, you can any time consult your own distributor for advice, because Avon took their time and money to train them so that they can help their own customers in almost all cases. Third, you can always ask your distributor for samples, if you don't know which color of lipstick you need, for example.
Fourth, if you don't like the product (for a convincing reason) you can return it right away and you certainly get all your money back.
Fifth, you have all the time you need to go over and over through the 150-paged catalogue and investigate all the promotions and combined offers, which you wouldn't really be able to know so fast in a store.
Sixth, you pay when you hold the product in your hands. Who wouldn't love that?
Seventh, (only for perfumes) you can actually smell the newest perfumes on the specially scented page.
Eight, you are often given instructions how to use the products for the best results.
Of course, a disadvantage is that you need to calculate a couple of days until you get what you ordered. Sometimes it also happens that the colorful pictures and smooth silky skin of the models makes you buy a product you wouldn't need. This is probably the biggest danger. Still, I consider this a very convenient shopping method, once you have built trust in the catalogue's products and the expertise of your distributor.
