10 Years of All About
January 2019
‘So how did it start?’ is a question I am often asked when people find out I run All About Magazines.
Until 2009 my working life was spent in the voluntary sector, but with the arrival of two small children work had to change, which is when the idea of starting a community magazine came along. I really liked the fact a magazine could contribute something to the local community, while helping local businesses at the same time.
I was nervous about the idea of starting a magazine, but I took the jump just before Christmas 2008. I gave myself two months to produce the first magazine in time for March and I spent £500 on software to create adverts and to layout the magazine. I had to quickly learn how to use the software and with the money invested, there was no going back!
As soon as the New Year came, I had to start selling advertising space, to pay for the cost of printing. Fortunately, local businesses loved the idea and so the first magazine went to print on time. Together with family and friends, we then delivered 2,500 magazines to homes around Cradley and Colwall.
Things have grown a lot since then. Today we print 32,000 magazines, in three entirely unique editions covering St Johns and villages, Malvern and the area West of the Hills. My job is still designing the adverts, laying out the magazine pages, chatting to local businesses and readers plus a hundred and one other tasks involved in running a small business.
An idea that started in a back room, with just me and a computer, has today grown into a business employing five people, plus work for dozens of deliverers. Tina takes care of a lot of the sales of advertising space and looks after our customers, Julie works from the office on finance, sales, our website and a host of other tasks. In 2013 my husband James came on board to look after the articles, What’s On listings, and magazine distribution, which is also managed by Mike in Malvern and Martin and Diane in Worcester.
We are supported by a huge team of deliverers who walk the streets in all weathers to deliver the thousands of copies through the doors of homes each edition. A big thanks to all of them!
I would genuinely like to thank the staff for their hard work and support over the years. It is only thanks to them that All About Magazines continues to thrive. There’s also a big thank you to you, dear reader, for reading the magazine and using the businesses and services advertised in the magazine. Not only that, our readers contribute so much, from articles and events to ideas and comments about how we can constantly make the magazines even better.
Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank our customers, the businesses and individuals who advertise with us. In ten years we have supported more than one thousand businesses locally, some of which are long-established, long-term customers and some who are starting up.
We are proud to be a local, independent company, celebrating everything that’s good about the area. My work as magazine editor over the past decade has been a pleasure. I’m looking forward to the next ten years of supporting everything local!
Sascha - The Editor & Owner of All About Magazines
Here is what some long standing customers have said:
The book has been brilliant for promoting my business. To be honest, mainly due to its good reputation. I would highly recommend the book to anyone as it has generated a lot of work for me with customers then recommending my services to others. Thanks to Sascha and the team at All About Magazines for your help and support in helping to promote my local business. Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary.
Wesley Small, W.S.S Roofing & Building Solutions Ltd
01684 541366 / 07926 861565
As a new business start-up, we were very grateful to Sascha and All About Magazines for finding an advertising package to suit our budget. The phone is always busy after the magazines hit the doormats and we really appreciate the business All About Magazines generate.
Colin Hadley, Oven Wizards Hereford & Worcester West
01885 400337 / 07812 440780
I have been advertising with All About since they started 10 years ago, and have nothing but praise for Sascha and her team. They are consistently helpful and professional, and assist with any changes required very efficiently. I wish them every success for the coming 10 years and beyond.
Matt Scriven, Branchworks Tree Surgery
07931 808 121 / 01684 437481
I knew when I saw the magazine back in 2009 it was a platform I wanted my business associated with, and I haven’t been disappointed. Sascha and her team have been fantastic to work with, they helped promote our business to the unsuspecting public in 2010 and we haven’t missed a month since. It has been a privilege and an honour to be part of such a fantastic product, thank you Sascha for your vision and delivery.
Rob Weale, Smith Weale Associates, Independent Financial Advice Practice - 01684 577037
We have supported each other from the beginning and the amount of business advertising in All About has generated for me over the years has been astronomical. I would never not advertise in the magazine. It raises my profile, its professional style and attitude fit my business values, it works hand in hand. Thank you very much Team All About, it has been brilliant to be part of the 10 year journey. Congratulations from
Nick, That Smy Plumber - 07914 245015
Many many congratulations to Sascha and all the Team at All About Magazines on your 10th Anniversary. It’s a great achievement. (We are also celebrating 10 years of business in March too!) We have been advertising in the All About Magazines regularly for several years now – it’s so easy to work with Sascha to update our advert for each edition. Customers always mention they have seen our advert so we know it works for us... GOOD LUCK for the future and at least another 10 years of All About Magazines promoting all things local to our area.
Mark, Newent Plant Centre - 01531 670 121
We have been delighted with the All About West of the Hills magazine and with the personal service Sascha has given us over the last ten years - in fact we find it hard to believe that ten years have gone by! The All About brand has gone from strength to strength and we regularly receive good quality leads as a result of our advertising. Sascha and the team are always on hand to help with any design or changes and pride themselves on giving the best of service to their clients, as we do to ours, and we wish them many more years of success!
Helen Tinson, Clover Conservatories & Construction Ltd
cloveryourhome.co.uk
Congratulations to Sascha and all the team on reaching this important benchmark. I can honestly say we hit it off with Sascha from the word go. Our businesses have continued to grow together and David and I look forward to our annual get-together with Sascha when we compare notes and chew the cud! Her reliability and business-like approach have been appreciated, not forgetting the very necessary sense of humour. Here’s to you Sascha and good luck for the next 10 years!
David and Hilary, David E J Prosser FRICS Chartered Surveyor - 01684 893778
All About Magazines have been invaluable to our small business. The coverage for Shaun’s Tyres Ltd has given us the scope to reach more people and enhance our customer base. The service we receive from all the team at All About has been second to none and we have loved working with them and their professionalism is great.Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary and long may it continue.
Shaun and Jo, Shaun’s Tyres Ltd
www.shaunstyres.co.uk
Thank you!