Ten years may as well have been a lifetime with so much water under the industry bridge; so to speak. I looked back and saw how our little weekly newsletter became what is now the largest, and only monthly, publication that focuses on the Truss, Wall Panel, and Building Components Industry.
The Story Begins.….
In 2007, I sat with a few friends at BCMC and lamented the demise of Automated Builder as the primary publication for our industry. JobLine, The Advertiser’s parent company, needed a reasonable way to advertise and options were limited. With the crash at full effect as far as recruiting went, advertising dollars were scarce but time wasn’t. The simple answer was to start our own publication. Simple answer, not so simple task. Our goal was a cross between Auto Trader, Automated Builder, and a little advertising publication I saw on a restaurant table top called “The Local Advertiser.”
We started as a weekly, 8 pages (1/2 pages actually), and ran weekly from 2008 until the end of 2013. Materials by Thursday, publication out on Friday. At the 2013 BCMC, I told my advertisers that I wasn’t able to continue as the effort to put out a weekly newsletter was too consuming and December was going to be my last edition. What happened next made me realize The Advertiser was more important to them than I ever thought. They got together and suggested that I consider making it a monthly publication. From that outpouring of support, I found new energy and the monthly eMagazine version of The Advertiser debuted in January 2014.
That is what The Advertiser has been about from the beginning, what we can do for each other. The support our family of advertisers showed that day was eye opening and humbling. It helped me rededicate my efforts and find energy to make the monthly Advertiser the best forum for them, and to that end, we found Anna Stamm.
Anna has taken The Advertiser to the next level. Her experience and dedication to our readers, advertisers, and contributors has fueled our growth to become the largest, and only monthly, publication in our industry. Still keeping with the goal of being the most reasonable advertising venue in our industry, Anna has added many contributors as well as the concept of our Open Forum. No dues, no membership, just access. It must be working as we are still here and growing.
I look forward to what the next 10 years brings to our little publication and hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did the first 10 years….