and my world...

 I was just at a large trade show in Toronto over the weekend called Print World 2010. I really do enjoy trying to learn about various aspects of the magazine and newspaper industry. Needless to say printers are a big part of it, on the flip side periodicals (5%) and papers (2%) are a small portion of their overall industry. That being said, one of the printers to speak at one seminar was Transcontinental. They are the fourth largest printer in North America and is Canada's leading publisher of consumer magazines and when they said that they believe in print and that they have invested a billion dollars on improved technology that makes my day! Bring on those magazines...

 Also part of my world is my manager Angela Carlsen, photographer. I just want to pass on something from her 

Images on first page are on 16x20 paper, hand-printed by yours truly in a darkroom. That's right,  these prints are old school. They are all on sale for the low price of $50, which is 1/3 of the original $150 price. The first 20 sold come packaged with a mat. All are signed.

Plus, I have just added some digital prints to the mix. These images are of buildings that no longer exist. They are digital prints on 13x19 paper and are also selling for $50 a piece. Mats are available while supplies last.

http://angelacarlsenearlyworkssale.weebly.com/
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Has nothing to do with magazines!

My brother, Chef Michael Howell of Tempest Restaurant (Wolfville) recently participated in The Chefs Challenge in Toronto for The Grate Canadian Grilled Cheese Event. Up against three other chefs from across the country he went on to grill up the winning sandwich. Have a read of Wed's Toronto Star . Way to go brother, I can't wait to have you make me one!

 Our Sun hours will be changing as of Sept 1. We will now be open from 9-9.

It was our pleasure recently to be able to provide The Queen with her morning papers! Some time ago we were contacted and asked if we would be able to get four British newspapers for the duration of Her Majesty's visit. I love the fact that with the technonlogy of Newspaper Direct (our digital newspaper supplier) we were able to print off the papers. I am always amused though when we print our European papers because we receive tomorrows paper today! Bit of a time warp.

 Tea, toast and a newspaper anyone?

I was not exaggerating.

Mind you I wasn't accurate though. The paper is actually 32" wide by 23"  so not quite 3 feet x 2 feet but pretty close. The Globe and Mail is 24" wide x 23"  and The Chronicle Herald is 22" wide x 21.5.

I just came across the following blog on the Masthead Online (Canadian Magazine Industry site). The editor was also checking out newsstands in Australia

I just spent a wonderfully relaxing month in Australia staying with my husbands family in Newcastle, the farm in Guyra and with friends in Tasmania. Needless to say I did check out the newsstands of which there are many. Lots of the towns still have all their shops lining the main street. They have canopies that reach out from the side of the buildings allowing you to stroll protected from the sun. Some of the smaller towns will even have two newsstands. They are quite different from ours, as they are more a stationary and general goods shop with magazines added to the mix. Boy you should see the size of the Sydney Morning Herald it is huge, the dimensions must be nearly 2 ft by 3ft opened. I have to ask myself if I am exaggerating?? I am going to have to give a quick email to my parents in law to ask them to measure it....

 I also checked out the North American titles to see what their "import" retail prices were like.

                                   Here             There

Dance magazine          $4.99           $13.00

Grafik                         $25.50         $33.90

Adbusters                     $8.95           $9.95

Wired                          $5.99           $11.95

Yoga Journal                $6.99           $11.95

Collectible Automobile   $11.95         $14.95

Not too surprising really considering how far they have to go. Mind you the various differences don't make alot of sense particularily when you look at Adbusters with just $1 difference and then Dance with $8.00. 

The staff did a great job while I was away, as I had every confidence they would. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of "must attend to" notes on my desk.  

All about newspapers!

The state of the newspaper industry has fostered lots of radio stories and articles, including one on the cover of TIME called "How to save your newspaper". Our experience is that many people still like the hard copy of their newspaper (and magazines for that matter!). Newspaper Direct is our digital supplier of over 800 papers ( the selection has grown rapidly since this interview). We print licensed copies on demand for our customers. Click on the link below to see our interview with CBC's Living Halifax to get the full picture of this amazing service.

Living Halifax and Atlantic News

And what a brutal month it was!

It all started with an email from a friend re an NYTimes article on the death of PC Magazine's print edition. Well you know those "related post" tabs?? I got carried away following lots of paths to more magazines that were either dead or on their way out. Much if it comes down to diminished ads sales. Thankfully we still have thousands of other titles!!