October 21, 2003
Mystery Achievement
Where's my sandy beach?
Been busy trying to make deals for the magazine. It's funny to note the timing of a recent magazine order. I was talking to my advertising team about circulation during a conference call and (I couldn't help it) I noticed the new email dropping into my inbox. One was from a distributor that wanted 500 copies to go to his top 100 accounts at a certain mainstream retailer. If you're a semi-regular reader of this blog, then you might recall the controversy of last week where a certain Christian retail chain buyer was threatening to cancel his order for 459 copies of the Nov/Dec issue. Isn't it neat to see how this 500 quantity gain kind of makes up for the potential loss of those 459 copies?
I'm starting a new season on my Madden 2003 game tonight. Last "season" saw my Cowboys riding Quincy Carter's arm to a Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Fun and games.
I'm also working on a press release regarding the new issue. I'm also trying to make a wise call on quantities of the magazine. I got x-number of mags printed, based on current orders for the magazine. I always hold about 500 extra copies in storage at the plant for our "supplemental" mailing. We mail out a second mailing of the mag so someone who subscribes a day or two (or a couple weeks) after the issue is initially mailed out . . . so that person doesn't have to wait 6 weeks until the next issue is printed and mailed. Well, this issue is right in the middle of our latest direct mail campaign, so I've set aside 700 copies for this supplemental mailing, since it's likely to be larger with people responding to our direct mail subscription offer. And now, with this new distributor wanting 500 copies -- and with his order coming well after the magazine's printing, that means that I have to find somewhere to pull those 500 copies from (just in case that earlier retailer changes his mind and decides to take in his 459 copies)... I just thought I'd share a gliimpse of some of the work and decisions I've gotta do.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, tonight are leading the 49ers 21 to 13 at halftime.
