what TRADE Magazines do you guys read regularly

[rj]

Tile Letter
Remodeling News
American Woodworker
Fur Fish Game

[andyl]

Sorry took so long, been on vacation. The FS bench lists for $900, 1085 and 1465 for the 4' 6' and 8' models. Street should be 15% to 20% off list. If you are into this type work it will pay for itself in just a few months tops in time savings.

[Ron]

This Old House is my favourite magazine.I also read Tile and Decorative Surfaces"The Voice of America's Tile Market",Tileletter,Fine Homebuilding and a German magazine about tile;Fliesen und Platten.

This is why I'm so smart

[John Bridge]

Hi ya, smartie.

[Bud Cline]

Ok now this FS Bench thing (now I'm really curious) why would anyone need an 8 footer and what exactly does it do?

I know profiles granite and marble, what about porcelain? Is this a machine that does the profiling or simply a clamp that won't damage the tile being profiled, thereby requiring another machine?

[tileguytodd]

Andy, Thanks Buddy
Thank Brent for me too will ya!!!!!!

[Bryan Klakamp]

Have never seen tileletter magazine. It must be worth the $20 mailing fee?

[gpzrider]

Tileletter
Fine Homebuilding
Tile and Decorative Surfaces
Stone
Floor Covering Weekly
Floor Covering Installer
and anything else related that I can get me grubby paws on...

[gpzrider]

yes, do read the ads...like he said; got to keep up with what's new and question why...

[Sonnie Layne]

I read Bridge's Digest Monthly, Southern Ornamentals, Journal of the American Orchid Society, Scientific American, National Geographic, Fine Homebuilding. Some of those have become real Ad-rags and I only peruse the classified ad section in back of the mag when I've nothing else to do.

When I recieve my periodicals, initially I look at the cover for articles that might interest me, second to that, I'll search PAST the first five pages of ads to finally find the index where I can see what's printed in that issue. Then I turn to those issues, followed by any "regular" articles that are offered every month. Ads that break up an article by two or more pages are a nuisance. Ads that come at the end of an article will catch my eye. Ads that aren't proofed and contain incorrect spelling are tossed out or used as poop sheets in the bird cage (note I don't have a bird).

First page ads are oversold in magazines. Different for newspapers. Full page ads that face each other are equally deadly to each other. Double spread ads that contain more lined same-font text are boring. Ads that sound like snake oil are dismissed and tempt me to cancel subscription.

A nice quarter-page ad, maybe even several from the same company for their different products, in the upper left corner of left page, or lower right corner of right page would attract me firstly.

A reference at the end of a pertinent article is invaluable.

I've worked marketing and written ads for a number of small companies locally. Thing is, they teach you something in school and then the American mind changes. I have never been able to see a study of how the eye moves in relation to what's being read and the placement of the text of the article, those things would be less likely to change. I do know how merchandising a store shelf works as far as eye movement goes, but reading and colour work different in printed rather than abstract form. I think.

Here's some other good questions to ask:

Do you look forward to reading this periodical when you see it arrive in the mail?

On a scale, how would you rate the quality of articles written?

Scale: how many articles written by this periodical would you think directly pertain to your business on average, per month/year?

Scale: Do you think the writers/editor are more advanced in working the field than you about your trade? And what about technically?

Scale: How many times do you put to use the information you receive from this periodical in a year?

Rate: Of the periodicals you subscribe to, how much time is spent reading each? 1) being the one you spend the least time reading 5) being most.

Opine: What do you think is missing from this periodical, or what would you add/subtract from it's content to make it more useful to you?

Oh,,,, and the Bridge's Digest Monthly hasn't quite gone to print yet, but I still read it in my head every 30 days or so. How many inches you wanna buy? I'll give you first position, alternating monthly, for the first year at quarter page rates. Or if you really trust your ad agency, we could make other similar advantageous arrangements. I mean, we need to make some money to cover all this vacationary that John keeps handing out.

Sorry for the lengthy reply, Andy. If you didn't work for a reputable company, you wouldn't have earned a reply. Who is your company's biggest competitor, given that we're talking about any tool used in the tile/stone trade?

best regards,
Sonnie