Each holiday season, the world seems to glow with digital intensity—screens flicker late into the night, algorithms predict our wants before we articulate them, and online shops race to keep up with demand. Yet in this fast-moving landscape, shoppers in many countries are quietly rediscovering something slower and surprisingly delightful: the printed holiday catalog. Once assumed to be on the brink of disappearance, it is now reclaiming a meaningful place in global shopping culture.
Across regions, the appeal is strikingly consistent. In a recent multi-market study, 68% of UK households said that receiving a printed catalog “marks the beginning of the holiday season.” In Japan, nearly 60% of families still consult seasonal gift guides as part of their New Year tradition. In Germany, catalog circulation for winter campaigns rose by 11% in 2024, suggesting a growing appetite for tactile shopping resources. This renewed interest is not about nostalgia; it is about clarity and calm in a season that often feels overwhelming.
A catalog slows the tempo. Instead of scrolling through endless grids, shoppers settle into a different rhythm. In Canada, 52% of shoppers say catalogs “help reduce digital overload” during the holidays. In India, where multi-generational households shop collaboratively, 41% of families report using printed brochures to coordinate gift planning. Even in sun-soaked Australia, where the holidays are spent outdoors, retailers note that catalogs are often carried to cafés and beaches—absorbed leisurely and shared freely.
Touch remains one of print’s quiet superpowers. Research in Italy and France shows that physical media increases memory retention by up to 20% compared with digital equivalents. In the United States, a 2025 consumer study found that nearly half of Millennials and Gen Z feel a stronger emotional connection to a brand when they receive something printed. This emotional response deepens when people interact with the pages—folding corners, circling items, leaving notes. These gestures, while simple, anchor the shopping experience in a way that digital interfaces can’t replicate.
But the modern catalog is not an analog relic, it is a hybrid tool. Retailers worldwide are merging print with technology in thoughtful ways. In Spain, a home décor brand integrated QR codes into its winter catalog and saw a 38% increase in mobile conversions. In South Korea, a beauty company introduced AR-enabled catalog pages that let customers preview products; the result was a 25% rise in average order value. Across the U.S., brands report that customers who engage with both catalog and digital channels spend 20–30% more than online-only shoppers. Print inspires; digital completes.
Longevity gives catalogs another strategic advantage. While digital ads vanish in seconds, printed catalogs remain in the home for an average of three weeks, according to tracking studies across seven countries. During this time, they are typically revisited multiple times—61% of households report returning to the same catalog two or more times before making final decisions. And unlike digital media, which competes for instant attention, a catalog rests quietly until someone is ready to engage.
Sustainability, once a concern, is becoming a pillar of modern print. In Europe, over 70% of catalog paper now comes from certified sustainable forests. Many North American printers have shifted to recycled fibers and low-VOC inks, while Asian manufacturers are adopting waterless and energy-efficient production methods. These advancements have made it easier for brands to embrace print without compromising environmental values—something consumers increasingly notice and appreciate.
The resurgence of the holiday catalog is not a sentimental return to the past. It is a response to the emotional and sensory void left by an over-digitized world. In a season defined by speed, alerts, and algorithmic predictions, a printed catalog offers something more grounded: a pause, a tactile moment, a spark of imagination. It has re-emerged not because people long for yesterday, but because they long for depth in the present.
And so this year, as festive lights shimmer across cities and screens alike, a simple printed booklet continues its quiet journey into homes around the world, inviting shoppers to slow down, dream a little, and rediscover the pleasure of turning a page.
