Mail Order Catalog Day

Mail Order Catalog Day commemorates the time when orders were made through catalogs listing products. People chose products, compared prices, studied features, and made pleasant purchases. This was especially true for those who lived in remote areas.

The History

In 1872, Aaron Montgomery Ward of Chicago created the first merchandise catalog. True, it looked more like a brochure, as it had a single page with the product, cost, and ordering instructions.

The catalog prototype was invented even before that. The famous scientist Benjamin Franklin released a catalog to sell scientific books.

Later, the catalog became a large book with 540 pages – more than 20 thousand items were concentrated here. The illustrations were more elaborate, creating favorable conditions for shopping.

Aaron’s idea appealed to many entrepreneurs: one by one, new catalogs appeared. By 1971, sales in the US had grown to $250 million!

Now this has been replaced by Internet sites and applications through which purchases are made.

Interesting facts

• Many stores still use catalogs. To receive them, you just need to get into the mailing list;
• Hammacher Schlemmer is a company that is a pioneer in the field and is still operating today;
• Catalogs are of great importance for the history of the United States.

How to take part

Find old directories! Perhaps your relatives have them. You can look for them, for example, at garage sales or from collectors.

On Mail Order Catalog Day, you can order something from the catalog to support the store and remember the past.

When is Mail Order Catalog Day celebrated in 2023?

Mail Order Catalog Day is observed on August 18 each year.

Observations