Shopping Site Brings Print Catalogs To The iPad

Leena Rao

Leena Rao is currently a Senior Editor for TechCrunch. She recently finished graduate school at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where she studied business journalism and videography. From 2004 to 2007, she helped lead Congresswoman Carloyn Maloney’s community outreach and relations efforts in New York City. She graduated from Columbia University in 2003, where she was... → Learn More

Monday, October 18th, 2010

As online e-commerce continue to grow, the act of buying from shopping catalogs continues to decline. But Catalogs.com is hoping to change this trend by bringing its library of retail catalogs to the the iPad with a new, free app.

The app features a magazine-like feel for shopping, including over 30 catalogs for both online and brick and mortar retailers such as MacConnection, Home Depot, Petco, Little Tikes and Spiegel. As Catalogs.com’s co-founder Richard Linevsky says, it’s like having a coffee table full of catalogs on the iPad.

The app itself allows users to turn pages similar to browsing through traditional catalogs, but users can zoom in on products for details, tap to buy the product from the catalogs’ online stores, or build a personal wish list from multiple catalogs all in one place.

Personally, I love flipping through catalogs (especially for holiday shopping) but find that perusing for items online is a much quicker experience because you can purchase directly from the listings. This app could be a great way to get the best of both worlds.

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