Sales, profits increase for White Stuff
Fashion cataloguer/retailer White Stuff reported record underlying profits of £13.3 million for the year ended 29th April. That’s up 42 percent from the previous year. Sales rose 34 percent, to £58.4 million, while home shopping sales soared 70 percent.

Discover Leisure creditors approve CVA
Creditors of Discover Leisure, a direct seller of camping and caravan gear, have approved a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) that, according to a statement from adviser KPMG, “allows the business to remain a going concern, to keep trading, and to continue the restructuring it began some time ago, offering job security to 300 employees and some certainty to its other stakeholders”.

The Book People, Scholastic divorce
The Book People and Scholastic are ending their partnership in the Red House children’s-books club and the schools-based School Link book club. The Book People will now own and operate Red House, while Scholastic will incorporate School Link into its UK book-club business.

Regatta invests in another warehouse
Outdoor clothing manufacturer/marketer Regatta Group, which owns cataloguer/retailers Craghoppers and Hawkshead, has bought a fourth warehouse to accommodate its continued growth. The company’s annual sales for the year ended 31st January were £110 million, up 28 percent from the previous year.

Theo Fennell returns to Theo Fennell
Theo Fennell is returning to his eponymous jewellery firm as creative director. Also joining the cataloguer/retailer’s board are Rupert Hambro as nonexecutive chairman and Alasdair Hadden-Paton as deputy chairman; former chief executive Barbara Snoad is returning as well, replacing Pamela Harper. Fennell said that the company had lost its way creatively following his departure last year.

ECMOD2009 Conference Programme released
The full ECMOD2009 Conference Programme is now available to download at  www.ecmod360.co.uk/conference. Taking place on 7th & 8th October at Earls Court, London, this world-class multi-track conference has adopted the theme “Driving Profitability” and features over 60 top speakers from the US and UK.

Speakers include James Hart (ASOS), Gillian Muessig (SEOmoz), Dean Donaldson (Eyeblaster), Charles Barnett (Lyco Direct), Chloe Thomas (Indium Web Management), Ewald Hoppen (Wehkamp.nl), Ernie Schell (Marketing Systems Analysis), Julian Moskov (I Want One Of Those), Karen Watson (The Real Flower Co), Ross Stone (Coremetrics), Rosemary Stockdale (Sterling Marketing), Stephen Sacks (Wallace Sacks), Steve Kemish (Adestra), Tim Curtis (Lands’ End) plus many more including the legendary Amy Africa! The conference covers all the burning issues, latest developments, new strategies and techniques for driving profitability in b2b and b2c enterprises and includes several insightful sessions on developing international business.

The early bird rate, inclusive of refreshments, lunch, a bonus VIP breakfast session - is just £245 + vat for delegates with Catalogue Exchange members offered an even greater saving at just £171.50 + vat per person per day. To enjoy these rates places must be booked and paid for by the 15th August. Call Jenny on 01271 866112 to book yours now. Remembering that all delegates can choose the sessions that interest them the most as well as pre-book reserved seats for the website usability/critique sessions.

The latest company confirmed to exhibit is Indium Web Management which joins a raft of specialist suppliers getting ready to wow ECMOD visitors and delegates. Exciting new features for 2009 include the International Boulevard, Catalogue Exchange Village, and a custom built Deluxe Theatre which will accommodate selected sponsor and exhibitor seminars. Companies interested in exhibiting should call Jill or Karen on 01271 866112 without delay to avoid disappointment.

Follow us on Twitter for the latest updates: twitter.com/ecmodshow. Visiting the exhibition is entirely free of charge and you can register to do so now and be kept abreast of all the special deals exhibitors are offering during the show.

Supplier of the Year Awards gets a rebrand & an upgrade
The ECMOD Supplier of the Year Awards will now be re-launched as the Catalogue Exchange/ECMOD Supplier Awards. In addition to the existing seven categories which invite clients to nominate suppliers who have supported their businesses – a further three awards will be created. The new categories will ask supplier companies to submit their own entries and will be judged by a client side panel drawn from the Catalogue Exchange Advisory Board.

Entry forms for the client nominated categories are now under revision but you can still use the former one – download here. An entry form is also now being created for the new categories – which will have a closing date of September 7th. To request this email sam@catalogueexchange.co.uk

The winners will be presented with their trophies at the all new Catalogue Exchange/ECMOD Supplier Awards Dinner which will take place on 7th October at the official ECMOD HQ – The Copthorne Tara in Kensington.

Tickets for the evening which, whilst not being fully black tie, does ask for smart evening dress are priced at £95 + vat per person or £950 + vat per table of ten for the full evening including dinner. These tickets are on sale now. There will also be tickets available for the evening’s cocktail reception & Awards presentation without dinner at £45 + vat per person.  Please contact Sam, Monica or Leanne for further information on 0871 855 5545.

Nine tips for more-productive affiliate marketing
Online affiliate marketing has many benefits: It’s highly trackable; it enables you to reach new audiences cost-effectively; you pay affiliates only after you’ve obtained your desired action, such as an information request or a sale. But reaping the benefits of affiliate marketing isn’t simply a matter of signing up with a network and then waiting for the sales to roll in. To get the most from affiliates, read our advice at www.catalog-biz.com

ECRM and the power of engagement
Electronic customer relationship management — CRM that makes use of the internet and information technology — enables you to home in on the tactics and channels that work best for each segment of your audience. For an example of how effective eCRM can boost your business, click here.

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.