Catalogs with editorial content?

October 16, 2006 2:17 PM

Point me towards catalogs (or catalog websites) that include editorial content along with the things they sell. I need this as reference material for a project I'm working on.

The J. Peterman catalog is a classic example of the kind of thing I'm looking for. I've also seen the Williams Sonoma catalog which mixes recipes and techniques in with the cooking utensils they sell.

Can anyone point me to other websites like these or merchants who print catalogs along this line? It would be ideal if the merchandise was electronics or telecom.

Thanks.

posted by jeff-o-matic to Shopping (14 answers total)

You might try searching odd terms at Google Catalog Search.

A quick search yields a lot of front-of-the-catalog-letters like this one:
Audio Advisor
posted by mattbucher at 2:50 PM on October 16, 2006

Rivendell Bicycle Works perhaps?
posted by fixedgear at 2:50 PM on October 16, 2006

Highland Hardware. Dick Tools (yes, I know, it's a funny name - but a great catalog). Layline sailboat racing parts and cordage.

And of course the greatest of all hardware catalogs (and the best of all catalog-based Web sites): McMaster-Carr (examples: "About Braided Hose", "About Diaphragm Pilot-Operated Solenoid Valves", "About Hand Cleaners and Cleaning Power").
posted by nicwolff at 4:59 PM on October 16, 2006

Oy, I broke the link! Here: McMaster-Carr
posted by nicwolff at 5:01 PM on October 16, 2006

Wow, I broke two of the links! Here again: Highland Hardware
posted by nicwolff at 5:05 PM on October 16, 2006

The Right Stuf catalog is an institution of sorts within the American anime community... it always includes editorial content.
posted by jal0021 at 5:06 PM on October 16, 2006

The Real Goods catalog has this to some extent.
posted by jimfl at 5:48 PM on October 16, 2006

Here in the UK Howies do a pretty good catalogue with info about how they make the product and other fun and games stuck in between the product pages. I dunno if they'll ship to the states though.
posted by philsi at 5:50 PM on October 16, 2006

Just after I pressed "post" I realised that they have a PDF here of their catalogue. Enjoy.
posted by philsi at 5:52 PM on October 16, 2006

check out Lush Cosmetics . They have some good descriptions/content for each thing
posted by ShawnString at 8:20 PM on October 16, 2006

Trader Joe's has a sales flyer with high editorial content. Here's an example (pdf)
posted by culberjo at 8:57 PM on October 16, 2006

Moosejaw, an outdoor activity gear store. Lots of abstract, humorous and weird editorial content.

Example:
"If I were a North Face Fleece Jacket like the North Face Denali Jacket, I'd probably be a lot more popular and have way more fun. I'm studying at the North Face Jackets School of Arts (NFJSA) this semester and my goal is to start as a North Face Khumbu Jacket, then evolve into a North Face Denali Jacket and finally, morph into the extra warm North Face Denali Thermal Jacket."
posted by Señor Pantalones at 10:46 PM on October 16, 2006 [1 favorite]

Penzey's Spices tends to cover quite a lot of general info about herbs and spices. Recipes, too
posted by libraryhead at 11:29 PM on October 16, 2006

Boden will have the editors say things like "This is our favorite skirt EVER". Of course that makes more sense than saying "This top is rather mediocre."
posted by clairezulkey at 8:32 AM on October 19, 2006