Break The Chain

Over the past five years, there's been an explosion in the number of catalogs available to inventors-meaning you should be able to find at least 10 catalogs in which to sell virtually any product. But how to choose? The following resources should point you in the right direction:

• The Catalogs of Catalogs VI: The Complete Mail Order Directory by Edward L. Palder (Woodbine House): This book lists more than 15,000 catalogs in 920 different categories, as well as 5,000 catalog Web addresses. Many libraries carry this book, but make sure they have the current edition. To order a copy, write to 6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817 or call (800) 843-7323. Cost: $25.95.
  
  
• The Directory of Mail Order Catalogs by Richard Gottlieb (Grey House Publishing): Call (800) 562-2139 to order or check your local library. Cost: $275.
  
  
• The Directory of Overseas Catalogs by Leslie MacKenzie and Amy Lignor (Grey House Publishing): Call (800) 562-2139 to order or check your local library. Cost: $190.
  
  
  

This article was originally published in the May 2000 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Break The Chain.