Catalogue Mart: Over 850 Canadian Sources for Shopping by Phone, Mail or Fax

Marcia Sweet is head of the Information/Reference Unit, Douglas Library,
Queen’s University.

One may have reservations about shopping by mail because of fear of
faulty merchandise or because handling charges may seem excessive for
small or single items. A recent article in the Canadian MoneySaver,
however, extolled the advantages of shopping by catalogue.

Malik, a consultant to the catalogue marketing industry, has compiled a
list of more than eight hundred Canadian sources for shopping by phone,
mail, or fax. Entries are arranged under headings that include Bon
Appetit, Home Sweet Home, and Things That Go. There is also a useful
section listing wholesale sources for fundraising products, sports
equipment, and the like. The in-depth product index illustrates the
directory’s broad coverage of items (from kiwi vines to poultry
equipment). The source index is intriguing as well as useful. (Question:
What can I order from Dalhousie University? Answer: A free catalogue of
distance education courses.)

Anticipating misgivings about catalogue shopping, Malik includes advice
about being an informed shopper and lists direct-marketing organizations
and government bodies that protect catalogue shoppers.

Those who consult this directory may save themselves a lot of
driving-around and telephone time. For example, one company offers a
24-page brochure on “neoclassical architectural items for home
decorating.”