20th Anniversary Issue

[Marty Cozad]

Thanks
At the last "mirco" train show we did here in Nebraska City. ( total of 1 N layout, one HO,, and my G with two dealers) Keep in mind we live in a town of 6,000. I had couple of ladies say they don't even find train sets at garage sales any more. I told her we keep tring to share the Worlds Greatest hobby but kids seem to say thats neat but not for me. Even my own 4 boys only help me when I ask. the older two have their HO trains in boxes for their kids someday. Trucks and girls are the in thing.
As far as the hobby shops goes I think "personal opinion" is that they view us G gaugers as different animals than the rest of the scales. But I know the profit margin is not there to. not sure why.
Hopefully your subscribers will be on a uphill slide and not down over the next few years with all the new products coming out. I wish I could find some of them in our area.
Take care.
PS the two GRR clubs that I'm in, CIGRYS and NEKGRYS have members of garden clubs in them and are tring to get trains to show up at garden tours and shows more. And even in garden mags to share the goodnews. Alot of the gardening tips you share in the mag would be helpful to gardeners to.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Yes, we are one of the bigger companies in the hobby, but GR in particular has less distribution than some of our larger mags, such as Model Railroader and Bead&Button. Our general newstand distribution is a lot less; we aren't at the grocery stores or Wal-mart like you might see MR. And, oddly, there are a number of hobby shops who sell large scale stuff that don't/won't sell GR.

Our total circulation is around 38,000 now, with around 28,000 subscribers and the rest newstand. Don't quote me on this, but I think the print run is around 50,000--leaving enough for damaged copies, new subs, back issues, etc.

Rene

[Marty Cozad]

well if I may,, ask a few personal Qs. Limited distrubution? I thought you all was one of the bigger companys in the hobby? Or are you reffering to GRYs only? Selling enough I can understand unless, we brake the idea of Baby scales that we garden RRers are modelers also. I still enjoy other scale modelers. But when the local NMRA ,,HO club came over I was shocked at what they "thought" GRYing was all about. They now want to come back next year . They see we "all" are not about toyi***hings.
Maybe a few adds would work. I'd love to help if possible , but I know you all know way more than I do about publishing.
OH, I've always wanted to ask... How many copies of GRYs mag is printed VS how many are out right sold? Is there really 38,000 subscribers as I read somewhere? Surely we sell at less enough "great GRRs ." To make a profit.?
Sorry for being nosey.[:I]
Thanks for your openness.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Hi Marty,

That's Ms. Schweitzer to you! Ha ha! [:p] [:p] (Seriously, Rene is fine, and there's no Mrs.)

Yes, we've explored an annual type of publication too. In fact, it was brought up only a few months ago. Lots of ideas for the subject were tried--how to build a garden railroad, a "picture book" with beauty shots, indoor large scale, even a social/club aspect of the hobby.Nothing panned out. Part of the problem is our limited distribution, another part is selling enough copies to be profitable. For now, the idea is tabled, but we plan to revisit it every year.

Wish I had better news. But everyone, please keep those ideas coming. We really do listen to reader feedback.

[Marty Cozad]

Rene, or should I call you Mrs S? Anyway, I've e-mailed Marc H. couple times way back about having a ,,say every three years a "Great garden RRs " issue just like MR does. I still get some of the Great MRR specials cause its light reading and great pictures to fall asleep by. Any chance of printing one in GRRing or do you think they would not sell? I thought of one with a veritity of GRR types. So the word Great does not mean size but quality of the RR and what they have done with what they have. Does that make since??
Just a thought[:I]

[vsmith]

Yes, I agree, this issue is one of the best yet.

[bman36]

Morning Everyone,
Finally opened my copy this morning. Wow, Wow, Wow. Lots of pics, lots to read and yeeeeeessss....plans for a work caboose! My five year old daughter looked with me. She loves steam and kept pointing at the ones she thought were "pretty pictures".
Marc Horovitz:
The picture on page 82 made me laugh. The couple look like they are posing for the shot. You can almost hear them..."Honey look...He's taking a picture. Probably for a magazine article or something". Well done.
Just before I made this post I ordered my 20th Anniversary Boxcar. Better hurry guys and gals if you haven't ordered one yet. I'll bet they will go quick!
Very nice issue! Congradulations to everyone at Garden Railways! I'm paid up for the next three years so keep up the great work. Take care. Later eh...Brian.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Hello,

Thanks to everyone for the positive comments. To answer Teran's question, we have, on occasion, explored adding issue(s) but that's never gotten past the planning stages. Some of our other mags here have gone to 8, 9 or 10 issues, but have struggled due to lack of advertising and reader support.

So, for now, we're sticking with 6 issues, but we do post extra content on our web site. Product news goes up at the end of every month, and we also have online-exclusive content.

Rene

[Anonymous]

I also agree with the high praise. This is definately one, if not the best issue I have ever read. I'm amazed at how many things were in it and at how thick it was, in fact, it was thicker than every other magazine i got. you truely outdid yourselves for this fantastic issue and I look forward to many more issues of this caliber. And a quick question for the staff, have you considered making Garden Railways into a monthly publication, because the suspense kills me to have to wait 2 whole months for the next issue! Congratulations on a job very well done!

[ICRRfanfortlife]

I will second the praise for the 20 th. Ann. issue. Although this is only the forth issue I have received they just keep getting better and better. I have spent several houres reading and looking at the pics. and still have not exausted all the information contained.
Great job to the staff and editors.

[mkblk]

[:)] Got my copy of December's Garden Railways a few days ago, haven't put it down yet! It's hard to remember that I have to work to pay the bills. Wow! 200 pages stuffed with great articles, ads, advice ... Great job! Especially enjoyed visiting the Cascade Timber & Mining Railroad. Had to wear a bib to keep from drooling on the magazine!

Nice bucket coaling station on page 79. Maybe a future "Insert" in GR!? Heck, why stop there? You could devote an "Insert" to all of the Edlen's structures. Absolutely breathtaking.

Thanks for such an enjoyable magazine. It'll take a while to read it cover to cover, but at least the wait 'til the next one won't seem so long!