Why Budding Entrepreneurs Can Thrive From Catalog Distribution Jobs

published – Aug 30th 2019

Have you ever dreamed of running your own business, but at the same time have no idea where to start? I’ve been in this position before and I can tell you that catalog distribution work can help you do just that.

Hang on a second, doesn’t a catalog distribution job mean I’m still working for someone else? Well, yes and no. You will be working for an employer as an employee. Although, there are plenty of elements that will mean you will be responsible for earning your own living as well.

By this I mean that you will be responsible for how much additional money you earn in a day on top of your hourly wage. You will also learn how profit, expenses, sales, commission and bonuses work too.

Statistically speaking, an average of 65% of recipients find distribution material sent through their door to be helpful. In my view, this is hopeful. It essentially means that the odds are in the favor of a catalog distributor.

The majority of people will show some sort of interest in whatever it is that you’re distributing even if it’s just a minimal interest.

There are many more similarities between catalog distribution and running any other kind of business. Let’s take a look at how and why a budding entrepreneur could benefit from catalog distribution work.

What does a catalog distributor do?

A catalog distributor has much the same job as someone who distributes flyers, posters and leaflets, with a few significant exceptions. I can tell you that it’s not just about handing out the catalogs and then calling it a day. You will also need to collect them too while attempting to generate leads and sales at the same time.

Who can be a catalog distributor?

You have to be dedicated, resilient, charismatic and tenacious in order to succeed in this particular distribution job. I know for a fact that there is a lot of rejection and some rudeness in catalog distribution. This is mostly down to the sales aspect, so you need to have a thick skin.

This question hinges on you as an individual. This is because I may or may not recommend this work to different types of people depending on their own personal circumstances.

If you already have experience in other sales-based jobs then you might take quite naturally to flyer distribution jobs. I think that this is a good fit for someone of this persuasion.

How difficult is a catalog distribution job?

There is no real stability to any commission-based work. You mostly either obtain lots of sales or very few in a day. It’s wildly sporadic and inconsistent. A catalog distributor needs to prepare for this because there is rarely a satisfactory middle ground. You are going to have your good days and bad days for sure.

It all depends on skill and your overall work rate. You have to be competent. At the same time, the more catalogs you distribute, the more potential sales and leads you might obtain.

How often do catalog distributors earn a sale?

The hard truth is that most catalog distributions won’t end in a sale. This is true in most sales-based jobs so it isn’t a huge surprise to anyone. It’s very much a numbers game. It’s kind of like sifting through tonnes of sand and occasionally finding a pearl, for example.

Clearly, you’re not going to get a sale for every catalog that you drop off. This means that you will be delivering lots and lots of catalogs before you strike gold. Distributors will likely bag a sale for less than 5% of all catalogs that you give out. It can be slim pickings sometimes.

This might not seem like much to be optimistic about but let’s think about it for a second. The people that do buy from catalogs may purchase multiple items in a single order. They might even become repeat customers which is great. There is plenty of money floating around out there if you do things in the right way.

Does it matter if catalog distributors don’t earn many sales?

Even if you don’t achieve a sale, you might get a lead that you can follow up on if you’re fortunate. The recipient might even know other people who have an interest in what you have to sell. They can then refer you to so it isn’t all doom and gloom.

Do commission-only catalog distributors earn more money than others?

Working on commission sometimes means that it is possible to earn more than workers who are on an hourly wage ever will. You just need to be really good at your job. The flip side is that if you perform poorly then you can easily be left earning peanuts or less. I know this from experience as a catalog distributor.

There is no real cap to how much you can earn as it depends on how many units you can sell. Earning commission is based much more on how you work rather than how long you work for. It is definitely more under your control, whether that be for better or worse.

Something like this can be difficult to calculate because some catalog distributors earn bonuses on top of their base pay. Others just earn the commission from sales only. However, there is definitely potential for a catalog distributor to do really well from earning commission.

How often do catalog distributors meet up with supervisors and managers?

Catalog distribution is a pretty solitary job. However, you will have a supervisor or manager that you meet up with every so often. You will normally pass on any order forms to them at the end of each week or month. They can then process all of the transactions and pay you.

They will also check on your progress, answer any queries you have and sort out your wages. You will also need to go to your superiors to return or pick up fresh catalogs and any other equipment whenever you run short.

Although, it might be the case that the employer delivers the catalogs to your home address instead for your convenience. This was the case for me personally.

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How often do catalog distributors meet up with colleagues?

If you are in a team of catalog distributors who are canvassing the area then you might meet with the other distributors during the day. This is helpful for passing on information or if you are all travelling to and from the distribution location together.

Why are catalogs appealing to the customer?

Catalog distribution can be great for the customer. It can also sometimes be quicker to find what you want in a catalog or brochure rather than online. This is down to it being a physical document that distributors deliver straight to you door with the rest of your mail. It’s all pretty much at your fingertips.

Why does catalog distribution work? In terms of shopping, catalogs are an extra lifeline for households without internet connections. A catalog also contains a variety of items. You might find yourself getting lots of things all in one place, not just for yourself but for other people too.

How does the catalog distributor benefit from all this?

It benefits the catalog distributor because they are earning a living as well as making extra bonuses or commission through leads and sales.

Some distributors even like the social aspect. They are talking to recipients and winning people over for sales. It can feel like being a business person or entrepreneur. You will be working alone and you will be solely responsible for making sales for yourself.

You certainly do have to interact with people on the job. At the same time, the worker mostly just has to drop off catalogs and the customer does the rest of the work.

Why do people like catalog shopping?

In fact, catalog distribution can be appealing to almost anyone. It’s so convenient to purchase products from a catalog that has been dropped on your doorstep. The customer doesn’t even have to travel anywhere. It’s great for lazy people like myself.

Are brochures and catalogs still popular?

In the modern age, catalogs have taken quite a hit in popularity when you compare them with their former glory days. A lot of this has to do with the dominance of online shopping. Damn you, Jeff Bezos.

Internet shopping has taken away a big slice of the cake from other methods of shopping. That’s including mail order catalogs. Open your eyes and take a look at the quietness of your local high street relative to 10-20 years ago, if you want another example.

There is no real sign of growth slowing down that much either. Catalogs are still in distribution in the billions every year around the world. People genuinely still do have an interest in browsing through the catalogs that come through their doors.

Consumers have plenty of other convenient purchasing options available to them. Honestly, catalog shopping isn’t nearly as popular as it once was. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t still generate sales and make money as a catalog distributor.

How has catalog distribution evolved over time?

Although, there is still some prospering to do with the likes of specialty catalogs that focus on eco-friendly products and other niches. These examples prove that there is still life in the catalog business yet.

Can a catalog distributor work online?

You can work online although these jobs aren’t usually as common as the traditional outdoor catalog distribution work. On the other hand, I can easily envision most (if not all) catalog distribution work moving on to the web in the near future.

One of the fairly new innovations in the catalog distribution industry is e-catalogs. You would be right in thinking that this is basically an online catalog, sort of like a shopping website. This means that you can promote catalogs online and make sales from them.

The beauty of this is that you won’t need to leave the home and walk for miles on end. We catalog distributors know that this is can be even worse if the weather conditions are treacherous. No more knocking on doors, how cool is that?

Do you recommend catalog distribution work?

If I’m being brutally honest with you then I would advise most people to steer clear of catalog delivery jobs. This is unless you really want to do it and believe you have what it takes.

I would suggest that you might be better off doing something else like flyer, poster or leaflet distribution work instead. These are much easier and more accessible options but at the same time lesser earners.

You can find some great freelance distribution jobs on websites such as Fiverr. Here you will be able to work for yourself and you will have thousands of customers around the world at your disposal.

The job of catalog distribution might well be the highest paying street-level position within the arena of distribution work. For this reason, I recommend it if you are someone who really cares about maximizing their income.

We now have a greater impression of the duties and responsibilities of a catalog distributor in particular. This a great business opportunity for someone new to self-employment or entrepreneurship. It definitely was for me. They might want to learn how the nuts and bolts of all sorts of businesses really work.

We can learn how both parties benefit from catalog distribution. We also know what a catalog distributor does, who can be one and how difficult the work is.

I suggest your next step should be to do more research about distributing catalogs specifically. Ask yourself if your personality is a good fit for a sale-based job such as this. I also recommend that you read even more articles and books about flyer distribution.

If you want to learn more about business and entrepreneurship in general then you can. You can do this by checking out Working For Yourself vs Working For “The Man”: 142 Reasons To Do Both.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a catalog distributor? In your opinion, what are the benefits or drawbacks of catalog distribution for both the customer and employee? Please don’t forget to share this with your friends and comment below. Thanks for reading!

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