How's WB doing...?

[goodbasil]

On the news yesterday it was reported that Gourmet magazine has gone under due to the economic downturn. In fact, over 400 magazines have folded in the last year. The one doing well and infact is making a profit is The Economist.
So that had me wondering what shape our host is in. Doing well I hope.

[Yeadon]

Their advertising is all over the internet ... or at least it's tracking my movements.

[Scot L T]

I'm doing my small part by buying every WB mag as it comes out, a tool from the store when I need it and all the WB books I can read. Don't have anything to sell or I'd buy some space to advertise.

If we all keep on keeping on with our little part...hopefully all will be fine.

[Paul Pless]

publisher's statement (http://www.woodenboat.com/wbmag/pdfs/WBJune09Audit.pdf)

section 7 is kinda interesting to me at least

[JimJ]

The one doing well and infact is making a profit is The Economist.
Is this because all the "economists" are buying it to pass on their "advice"

[Bob Triggs]

It is still a favorite magazine for me. Like Fine Woodworking Magazine, the earleir isues seemd more pithy at times. It was more fun when it was less glossy and trendy, not so stylish. I remember it as being more grass roots from the earlier issues, more of a cult status icon for the pine tar and oakum crowd. Perhaps it was simply the novelty factor wearing off; with the advent of epoxy, high tech carbon fibers, and all of the other space age stuff that has come along in the ensuing years. Everything changes with time. But one thing I realy apereciate is that with every issue I have learned something new and added to my skils, understanding and appreciation of wooden boats.

This intrnet culture is something else though...:rolleyes:

[Paul Pless]

I agree with what Bob said. The magazine definately has changed over the years. I still enjoy it a great deal and look forward to every new issue. But, I'll admit to being more enthusiastic about the articles of guys doing it on their own - either the hippie type builder (thinking of the article on Windfall years ago)from the seventies or the guys that Ken Hutchin's spirit represented greatly - guys that just do the whole damn thing from scratch in their backyard exhibiting great ingenuity and resourcefulness and perseverence. Seems like there's been an editorial move away from that type of builder more towards the first builds for amatuers that are probably only going to build one boat (a canoe) to the other end of the spectrum being the high end yachts that are being built or the over - restored classics in major boat yards in one of three or four places in the world (maine, seattle, the med, or southern california). I do think they still do a very good job on historical articles of specific boats, naval architects, and builders as they've always done.

[John Meachen]

I regard my subscription as something that will go on forever and I hope the magazine and the forum are valued as highly by other consumers of printed and electronic media.I know from local sources that print media are having to make rapid adjustments to cope with the alternatives and I hope that adherence to high standards will ensure not just survival,but continued eminence.I suspect that the unremarkable and the mundane publications will have bigger hurdles to overcome.

[JimConlin]

It looks as though Professional Boatbuilder's circulation has also not been badly hurt.
If someone is curious, they could compare past and current pages of advertising. Is there any public data on ad rates?

The editorial direction is another large topic.

[C. Ross]

publisher's statement (http://www.woodenboat.com/wbmag/pdfs/WBJune09Audit.pdf)

section 7 is kinda interesting to me at least

The fact that subscriptions are down from 49,927 in 2004 to 43,971 in June 2009 -- 12% down -- isn't great news.

I agree with most of the comments above, but especially Scot L T's...I try to buy supplies from the store, and put WB items on my christmas wish list every year. I'd pay a little more subscription price to keep the magazine going, but I suspect they've thought that through and I'm not the typical customer....

[gert]

With the Canadian loony climbing it may be a good time to renew:D