Kitbag up for sale
Debt-laden Findel has put its Kitbag brand up for sale. The online seller of sport gear is reportedly one of Findel’s most profitable businesses. Findel sold its Letterbox children’s catalogue earlier this year to the parent company of Hawkin’s Bazaar and shut down its unsuccessful Cotswold Company home furnishings title. Last month the company, whose other brands include Express Gifts, educational supplies catalogue NES Arnold, and Nottingham Rehab Supplies, announced that it is considering an equity issue to raise cash.

New name for Homecraft Rolyan, Mobilis Healthcare
Having acquired physiotherapy and sports-medicine cataloguer Mobilis Healthcare in April, rehabilitation-supplies mailer Homecraft Rolyan is now changing its name. Its new moniker, Patterson Medical, reflects its ownership by US medical supplier Patterson Cos. The consolidated business is being restructured into five divisions: Homecraft, which sells living aids to consumers and local authorities; Mobilis Rolyan, targeting the NHS and private practitioners; international, for exports outside North America; home shopping and internet; and CCH, which distributes orthopaedic and orthotic footwear.

Wickedelic Lingerie expands into wholesale
A catalogue seller of “specialist lingerie”, Wickedelic Lingerie has launched a wholesale division. The company distributes 3,000 lines of corsets, PVC fancy dress, and similar items from a 12,000-sq-ft warehouse. The company also relaunched its ecommerce site to accommodate a blog and other social-networking features.

Lands’ End signs with Royal Mail’s Sustainable Mail
Apparel merchant Lands’ End has become the first catalogue customer to sign up for Royal Mail’s Sustainable Mail service, which offers discounts to mailers that meet environmental standards. (For Lands’ End managing director Tim Curtis’s look at what is necessary to meet the standards, see the June issue of Catalogue e-business magazine.)

Maximuscle named supplier to the British & Irish Lions
Sports-nutrition marketer Maximuscle was named the official sports food and drink supplier of the British & Irish Lions rugby team for their tour to South Africa.

ECMOD2009 Exhibition & Conference Update
Taking place on 7th & 8th October at Earls Court, London, the ECMOD2009 Conference promises to be a valuable event for all involved. The multi-track conference, featuring expert speakers from the UK and USA, covers a vast range of topics geared to helping all b2b & b2c catalogue & multi-channel merchants to optimise business performance. Topics include Social Media, Improving Website Performance, Trigger Emails and Contact Management to name but a few … more sessions are being confirmed by the day! Be sure to check out the full list of speakers and sessions at ecmod360.co.uk/conference

Great value conference rates are available (per person per day excluding vat)
Early Bird: £245
CatEx Member Early Bird (-30% discount): £171.50 - including lunch in the CatEx Village
Standard: £295 - if booking after 15th August 2009. To book your place call Jenny on 01271 866112.

STOP PRESS - Rivendell Europe Ltd have just signed up to exhibit at the show!
Follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates: www.twitter.com/ecmodshow
Visiting the exhibition is entirely free of charge and you can register to do so now!

Coming Up in Catalogue e-business

• July issue: special focus on email, plus database hygiene, paper options, returns processing, and more. 
• August issue: special focus on customer retention, plus distribution and delivery, small-business spotlight, and more.