Doorstep catalogue that sold ‘useful’ items like egg separators

A doorstep catalogue that sold useful products you never even knew was a familiar part of many households for decades.

Years ago, families across Merseyside and beyond would flick through the slim catalogues of household goods and gadgets that would fall out of newspapers all time – and Betterware was the mother of them all. Selling everything from egg separators to light-up LED dog leads, long handled nail scissors and more, the catalogue was a staple part of many households and customers young and old.

Best known for its wide array of homeware and cleaning products for over 75 years, the business was founded in East London back in 1928 and was said to have originally been called Betterwear, initially selling brushes door to door. But, the business became Betterware to reflect the wider range of products it had expanded to offer.

Read More:

In the days before TikTok hacks, the internet and online shopping, customers would glance through the Betterware catalogue and then fill in an order form to be left in a plastic envelope outside their door. Their chosen products would later be delivered.

In its latter years, the business was based in Birmingham, but through the years, many will remember seeing a Betterware catalogue posted through the door, or a member of the team picking up an order form. In later years, Betterware, like many print form businesses, evolved to sell products online.

Back in 2017, the ECHO also shared a list of things “you never knew you needed” from the Betterware catalogue. At the time, customers could buy the likes of a ladybird chenille cleaner, egg separator, decorative window fly traps, a crystal pineapple, remote control candles, long handles nail scissors, an onion keeper and a novelty tyre bird feeder.

At the time, you could also purchase LED shoe lights, an LED light up lead and collar and an ice scraper with LED. Up until recent years, it was still free tosign up for the catalogue and browse through the goods advertised inside on the Betterware website.

Do you remember the Betterware Catalogue? Let us know in the comments section below.