We have some news to share, and we can’t contain our excitement! Recently, we had the incredible opportunity to attend the H+H America’s conference in Rosemont, IL marking our first trade show since acquiring and resuming production of the digital magazine. The beginning of this year was all about finding our rhythm and producing the publication on a quarterly basis. Now that we have that down, it’s time to take the next steps towards growth and building a sustainable business.
We were initially a bit overwhelmed with the prospect of setting up a trade show booth. It made us wonder if we were truly ready for this. There’s a reason why we’ll be sharing more content in the future on how to prepare for trade shows. 😉
Our publication was always intended to be a digital magazine. However, we’ve often been asked if we would consider producing a print version as well. Our response has always been a firm “no.” Why was that? Starting up a print magazine poses significant challenges, from managing subscriptions and dealing with mailing logistics to meeting minimum print quantity requirements. Trust us, we’ve spent months exploring various avenues to find the best way to make it work. There are a number of barriers to entry in that industry. Even print on demand solutions are quite expensive for magazines.
During the show, we decided to conduct an experiment. We took our digitally designed product and had it printed to resemble a physical magazine. This was a unique and unconventional process, not the standard way of doing things. But it allowed us to showcase the printed magazine to hundreds of people and gather valuable feedback.
The response we received was overwhelming: “When can I get a subscription?” We delved into every aspect, from content to layout, and nothing was off-limits. We’re gradually incorporating those learnings into the magazine, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about the changes that lie ahead. Moreover, we received an incredible amount of support and collaboration at the conference, helping us navigate the challenges of launching a print edition. What felt impossible when we walked into the conference is becoming more and more possible as we make progress on overcoming barriers.
So, why are we sharing all of this with you? Because we need your help! If you genuinely want to be able to subscribe to the print edition, we would love for you to sign up below to receive more information when we are ready. And if you have friends who might share the same interest, please pass this along to them.
Based on our initial estimates, a yearly print subscription will likely cost around $50 USD. Yes, printing is expensive! Rest assured, this will be an additional option for those who prefer a print magazine, while our digital subscription will remain free.
We are grateful for your support and excited to embark on this new chapter. Together, we can bring the joy of our magazine to even more readers. Our goal is to start making this available in the fall if we can overcome the last few hurdles. Let’s make the print edition a reality!
