M&S posts better-than-expected quarter
Total first-quarter sales for Marks & Spencer rose 2.9 percent, and UK sales for the quarter rose 1.7 percent. Online sales for the 13 weeks ended 27th June were up 28 percent from the first quarter of last year. Like-for-like sales in the UK fell 1.4 percent, however.

German government grants Quelle a reprieve
The Quelle catalogue division of insolvent German retailer Arcandor was granted a €50 million government loan for six months. If Quelle needs aid beyond the end of December, it will have to present a new restructuring plan.

Mamas & Papas heads to Japan — and beyond
Maternity fashion and nursery products retailer/cataloguer Mamas & Papas has signed a distribution agreement enabling it to enter the Japanese market next spring. The company is also in “final-stage negotiations” with franchisers in Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Morocco, and Poland and “is also talking to potential partners in the USA and India”.

Woolies relaunches online
Woolworths has reopened for business — online only, of course. The venerable retailer was acquired out of administration earlier this year by Littlewoods parent company Shop Direct. Woolworths.co.uk houses three departments: the Main Shop, which sells toys, children’s apparel, and consumer electronics; the Entertainment Shop, selling CDs, DVDs, games, and books; and the Party & Pic 'n' Mix Shop. The Hut Group operates the entertainment site, and Party Delights handles the party site; both have independent checkout processes, though they are scheduled to be merged by the autumn.

Book your place at the ECMOD2009 Conference!
The ECMOD2009 Conference Programme and Booking Form are now available to download here. 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.

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 or complete the booking form. 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.

ECMOD2009 - Latest confirmed exhibitors…
Print to Digital and Ivantage are the latest companies to confirm their presence at ECMOD2009. They will join 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. We do have stand space available but 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 or visit www.ecmod360.co.uk

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.

Catalogue Exchange/ECMOD Supplier Awards
This year the ECMOD Supplier Awards take on an all-new look as The Catalogue Exchange partners with ECMOD to extend the reach and the support for these all important accolades. We hope that client side executives throughout the sector will want to support this celebration of excellence by nominating those suppliers who have assisted their businesses throughout the year. In addition to the existing seven categories which invite clients to nominate suppliers who have supported their businesses – a further four 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.

Client nominations are required to be delivered using the official form to the ECMOD offices on or before 4th September 2009. All details must be personally completed by the nominating executive, be dated and signed and be able to be verified. Download the new client nomination form here. An entry form is also now being created for the four new categories – which will have a closing date of September 7th. To request this email sam@catalogueexchange.co.uk

The winner of each category will be the supplier that receives the highest number of fully verified nominations for that category.

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.

Listen, respond, and increase email deliverability
Simply listening to and responding to your customers can dramatically improve your email deliverability and open rates. Don’t believe us? See for yourself at www.catalog-biz.com

Good customer or bad customer?
You might assume that anybody who spends money with your company is a good customer, and the more he spends, the better a customer he is. But that’s not always the case. Given how much it can cost to acquire and service customers, it’s important to consider which of your customers really are worth holding on to, and by extension, which prospects are really worth pursuing. For advice on how to do just that, click here

Coming Up in Catalogue e-business

• July issue: special focus on email, plus database hygiene, advice on buying paper, usingsocial media to boost your SEO, and more. 
• August issue: special focus on customer retention, plus distribution and delivery, small-business spotlight, and more. 

Fundraising Event - South West Birdman 2009
On Sunday 2nd August 2009 Ilfracombe Pier will host the annual South West Birdman competition which involves lots of crazy people or so called 'would-be aviators' flinging themselves off the pier to see who can 'fly' the furthest or at least plummet hilariously into the waiting sea. Organised by Ilfracombe Round Table, it should also raise thousands of pounds for local and national causes; and this year we are pleased to have The Wurzels as our headline act.

South West Birdman 2009 is an all-day event - starting at 11am and running through to 8pm with live music all day. As well as The Wurzels and the wannabe aviators, there will also be rides, stalls, BBQ, lots of entertainment including free magic shows and much more. All this adds up to a fun-packed and unique day out in a stunning setting.

To view more details about Birdman 2009, why not visit the Ilfracombe Round Table website at www.ilfracomberoundtable.co.uk  Tickets are £6 for Adults and £3 for Children. You are free to come and go as you like after paying the initial admission fee. For more information call 01271 883502