National Mail Order Catalog Day

National Mail Order Day – why, yes, I do suffer from the online shopping bug. To some point, I believe that every human being has shopped online. I understand that this is National Mail Order Catalog Day, but even when we browse a catalog we still hop online and complete the order. If I’m wrong, please tell me why you still use the catalog only. Not judging, just curious.

#NationalMailOrderCatalogDay is celebrated each year on this day as sort of a remembrance of the way things used to be. I believe that you can still shop this way (hence my above question), but I don’t know anyone who does.

The youth and Millennials of today will never know the struggles of writing in the order form. Having to make sure you had the right information filled out (lest you get the wrong item). Trying to find a stamp to mail it in (if it wasn’t postage paid) could be difficult. Then there was the waiting. Oh, the waiting…..

History of this day

It is widely believed that on this day back in 1872, American Entrepreneur, Aaron Montgomery Ward, mailed out his first mail order catalog to customers in Chicago.

Historians believe that one of the first shopping catalogs was produced in the late 15th century, when Italian publisher, Aldus Manutius of Venice, published a list of books his company – Aldine Press – was printing.

Also – In 1667, William Lucas published a gardening catalog in England, and in 1744, Benjamin Franklin became one of the first people in America to print a catalog from which people could choose to buy books and scientific publications.

timeanddate.com

Then there was the helpful way they recommended you place your order:

The owners of both Montgomery Ward and Sears Roebuck also insisted that customers’ personal letters be answered. Mr. Ward answered his personally while Richard Warren Sears expected his employees to do it. He also insisted they were handwritten and not typed as customers thought it impersonal to receive typed letters.

There’s so much more to read about this subject. Try jumping over to this page for more information.

If you missed yesterday’s post then clic on over here.