The number of automotive catalogs has more than doubled from 2002 to 2007, jumping from 261 to 553 (118%), according to the 2007 edition of The National Directory of Catalogs (via CM).
Religion catalogs also more than doubled, growing from 144 to 301 (109%), and education catalogs grew 52%, from 333 to 506, according to Oxbridge Communications, which publishes the catalog.
Overall, the number of catalogs in the directory increased more than 27% (from 9,522 in 2002 to 12,136 in 2007), according to Deborah Striplin, Editorial Director of The National Directory of Catalogs.
“The catalog industry continues to be strong, particularly with the rapid growth of online catalogs,” said Striplin.
“In 2002, there were over 2,000 catalogs with an online presence out of the 9,522 catalogs listed in the directory. In 2007, that number was 8,402 out of a total of 12,136 catalogs.”
That is, 69% of catalogs now have an online presence.
In 2007, the category with the most listings in The National Directory of Catalogs is Books, with 1,148. Other popular categories are Apparel (796), Automotive (553), Education (506) and Gardening (426).
Over the past five years, the categories showing major decline are Manufacturing, from 474 to 239 catalogs (-50%); Gifts and Greeting Cards, from 672 to 345 (-49%); and Computers from 361 to 236 (-35%).
