New Print House for TT

[packman73]

Not a good option. My wife worked for a retail magazine, so I've got a bit of knowledge on this, not just spouting random crap.

First you've got postage to get them distributed to the stores. Then you need to get a UPC printed on the individual magazines so they can be sold. Registering the UPC and that printing is another additional fee. Add in the accounting between the vendor, distributor, and yourself, that's another fee.

I get that printing mags that we're not using is wasteful, but the other options all bring additional expense with them.

Agreed. There are additional costs associated with this option. Now, if someone had the time to look at options along these lines and gather the data, we could make an educated decision on it. Obviously we wouldn't do anything like this unless there was a potential $ upside.

My thoughts on this were to first contact several national auto chains and see if there is any interest, if there is, step two would be determining the how piece along with the pricing model, step three would be proposing the entire concept to the BOD for approval, step four would be initiate the 'program' and monitor it closely for three to six months to ensure that all the processes that are in place are running as automagically as possible and with little human intervention as possible. Step five would be to review the relationship and sales on a quarterly basis and adjust things if needed.

My whole point is that we have ~1500 copies of each TT issue sitting in a warehouse, collecting dust, that we could be selling to potential new members or hobbyists and potentially making some profit on, thus increasing revenue, which at this time, is needed.

And I know you don't spout random crap! Thanks for your input Cory!

 

[Green Lantern]

THERE IS NO WAREHOUSE!

The extra copies are sent to the web-store, officers, and chapters. If you want to make more money on Trails, go buy a set or two for Christmas presents.

Nick

My whole point is that we have ~1500 copies of each TT issue sitting in a warehouse, collecting dust, that we could be selling to potential new members or hobbyists and potentially making some profit on, thus increasing revenue, which at this time, is needed.

And I know you don't spout random crap! Thanks for your input Cory!

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Would it make you feel better if they were able to stop printing at the number we need/use? We'd still be paying for the full run, but that way there would be no waste.

Pls. remember too that there have already been two rounds of significant costs savings with TT, one when Todd took over and another recently when he went from bound to stapled and less color. Are you trying to get blood from a stone?

And please don't try to get blood from Nick, even tho he is a Stone. Har.

 

[packman73]

THERE IS NO WAREHOUSE!

The extra copies are sent to the web-store, officers, and chapters. If you want to make more money on Trails, go buy a set or two for Christmas presents.

Nick

According to everything I've been told, some guy named Andy has them all. And I bought the last 10 years of TT about a month ago.

 

[Metal Spice]

Andy is the web store.

 

[packman73]

Andy is the web store.

Okay, so when Joe TLCA Member makes a purchase, where does the product get shipped from? Someone's garage or at some business that houses our merchandise?

 

[Hottrod81]

I have been following the TLCA threads for a while now. You guys bicker like a bunch of old ladies. Don't you have a private forum for this? If I was looking to join and saw these threads, I would think twice about it.

Take this FWIW.

 

[Metal Spice]

Andy is the TLCA Fulfillment Center. His real, legitimate business houses ALL of our merchandise. When Joe Member orders from our web store or snail mails an order to me, Andy fills it & ships it. HTH.

 

[Trollhole]

FWIW, Toyota Trails won't last long if it's run by a committee.

Henry Brimmer set the standard many years ago of one person in charge of the Trails and he had a whole staff (unpaid students) working for him. Todd Kaderabek has carried Toyota Trails to a higher level. This is not Todd's day job... it's his passion. Todd has always operated the magazine to the benefit of TLCA, not himself and not his subcontractors.

I don't think anybody is doubting that. I'm pretty sure everyone can agree Todd has and is doing an awesome job.

The questions I see on this thread are:
1) How many are printed? 5500. Now I understand it doesn't cost much more to print extra copies once the machine is on but do we really need 5500? Why not 4500 and allow for a certain % of overruns at a discount? How many TT do we sell in the web store over say a 5 year period of time?
2) What happens to the extras? Distributed to the web store first, then to officers and chapters to use for recruiting. Those not distributed are recycled by the printer. FYI, all extras sent to chapters have the postage paid by the chapter. No one is getting "free Trails" except prospective members. So what are the numbers of TT's over the past year that have been shredded?
3) Why don't we hardball negotiate a new printing contract? Because we don't have a printing contract and we don't want one either. Todd is given free reign to publish Toyota Trails to his best ability. The BOD approved his budget and has no reason to second guess him (except at contract renewal).

Finally, and this is for free: unless you're willing to step up and do the work yourself... your criticism has no value.


Flame away,
Happy Trails! N

The way I read these posts no one is criticizing anything (well maybe one). Only trying to help and give ideas.

 

[Trollhole]

Saw this the other day and thought it was pretty cool. Kind of an instant quote. Though they are quoting it full color.

Welcome to Panaprint

 

[66fj40x2]

You guys bicker like a bunch of old ladies. Don't you have a private forum for this? If I was looking to join and saw these threads, I would think twice about it.

They actually do and two email lists for the BoD & executive BoD. From past expierences I can assure you, you're only seeing a small percentage of the bicker..... errr, discussions, that take place daily.

Art, just a couple thoughts on selling magazines to the public. If someone can go to, say Autozone for example, and buy a magazine off the rack, why would they join TLCA? Wouldn't this further reducr TLCA's income? If 80 to 90% of the members only join for Toyota Trails and they can just pick up a copy when they buy oil or an air freshener without any further effort, I don't see this helping.

I'm a simple headed man so can someone explain why we don't just print fewer copies?

Just my 2 cents, please keep the change

 

[packman73]

They actually do and two email lists for the BoD & executive BoD. From past expierences I can assure you, you're only seeing a small percentage of the bicker..... errr, discussions, that take place daily.

Art, just a couple thoughts on selling magazines to the public. If someone can go to, say Autozone for example, and buy a magazine off the rack, why would they join TLCA? Wouldn't this further reducr TLCA's income? If 80 to 90% of the members only join for Toyota Trails and they can just pick up a copy when they buy oil or an air freshener without any further effort, I don't see this helping.

Just my 2 cents, please keep the change

That's why we would sell them in store for more than it would cost for a year membership (aka 6 bucks). That would entice them to join so they only pay 5 bucks for the year. Then again, who's going to buy a magazine for 6 bucks?

 

[wardfoto]

Mike,

We don't print fewer copies, because we get a price break at a certain level that makes it more cost effective to print the extras, than to print less. Better cost savings, more issues to use for promotion and put together collector's sets.

 

[66fj40x2]

That's why we would sell them in store for more than it would cost for a year membership (aka 6 bucks). That would entice them to join so they only pay 5 bucks for the year. Then again, who's going to buy a magazine for 6 bucks?

There seems to some diffculty selling them for $5..... just saying.....

I'm not a current member (for reasons I won't air here) so I don't expect my comments to carry any weight with the BoD or anyone else..... Didn't carry any weight when I was a member for that matter.

It may be time to find out what y'all's membership (past and present) want from TLCA. If they join just for the magazine, if they would be happy with an online version of the magazine, just to go wheelin' or both. This would give y'all an idea how many magazines you actually need to print plus some for the store so y'all can get TT costs set. You can find out how many folks would join just to go wheelin' to determine how many folks you could bring back into TLCA so they go to events with anyone else gettin' their panties in a bunch over insurance or whatever folks get their panties in a bunch about.

I can't be the only one out there that just wants to wheel.

I know all this has been discussed, no doubt to death, in other threads and even more on bodreps, but instead of everyone fussin' 'bout why it can't be done, just do it! Simple post cards with an emphasis on "the results of the survey will determine TLCA's future" then follow through with the results.

Again, just my 2 cents........

 

[packman73]

Mike,

We don't print fewer copies, because we get a price break at a certain level that makes it more cost effective to print the extras, than to print less. Better cost savings, more issues to use for promotion and put together collector's sets.

/BEGIN HIJACK

Collectors sets would be a great item for the TLCA to send in an Event Package...

/END HIJACK

 

[66fj40x2]

Mike,

We don't print fewer copies, because we get a price break at a certain level that makes it more cost effective to print the extras, than to print less. Better cost savings, more issues to use for promotion and put together collector's sets.

I sort'a figured something along those lines. Thanks Justin. Sure seems there's got to be a better way tho...... Maybe not, it's not my line of work and I know Todd is always workin' on these topics.

 

[packman73]

There seems to some diffculty selling them for $5..... just saying.....

I'm not a current member (for reasons I won't air here) so I don't expect my comments to carry any weight with the BoD or anyone else..... Didn't carry any weight when I was a member for that matter.

It may be time to find out what y'all's membership (past and present) want from TLCA. If they join just for the magazine, if they would be happy with an online version of the magazine, just to go wheelin' or both. This would give y'all an idea how many magazines you actually need to print plus some for the store so y'all can get TT costs set. You can find out how many folks would join just to go wheelin' to determine how many folks you could bring back into TLCA so they go to events with anyone else gettin' their panties in a bunch over insurance or whatever folks get their panties in a bunch about.

I can't be the only one out there that just wants to wheel.

I know all this has been discussed, no doubt to death, in other threads and even more on bodreps, but instead of everyone fussin' 'bout why it can't be done, just do it! Simple post cards with an emphasis on "the results of the survey will determine TLCA's future" then follow through with the results.

Again, just my 2 cents........

You mean something along these lines?

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NSR8P8V

 

[66fj40x2]

/BEGIN HIJACK

Collectors sets would be a great item for the TLCA to send in an Event Package...

/END HIJACK

Sending a case or two to our boys in Iraq and Afganistan would be cool too.... Lord knows there getting some good off-roading expierence over there.

Maybe some of our business associate members would donate shipping costs....... or even buy the magazines at TLCA's cost to ship overseas for a sidebar in each issue show-casing their contributions to TLCA and our troops....



edit: I kinda like this idea... someone pitch this to bodreps. TLCA can break even on extra mags, associate members get some great coverage and our troops get a great magazine and may even buy a Toyota and join TLCA when they get home...... I don't see a down side here, but again, I'm a simple headed man..... I'm sure someone on bodreps can kill it

 

[66fj40x2]

You mean something along these lines?

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NSR8P8V

But not online, posts cards are cheap. At this point I think the expense might pay-off in the long run.

[] magazine

[] online magazine

[] just wanna wheel

[] some combination of the above

Just KEEP IT SIMPLE. Y'all just need to determine your path and walk it.... As it is right now y'all are trying to take every path and it just doesn't seem to be working very well..... From my uninformed opinion or course.

 

[packman73]

Postcards - $0.28
Size limits:

• Minimum: 3-1/2 inches high by 5 inches long by 0.007 inch thick
• Maximum: 6 inches long by 4-1/4 inches high
• Additional postage required for larger postcards

.28 * 3400 (members) = $952

SurveyMonkey.com = $59.85 for 3 months.

I'd be game for a short survey like you are suggesting. This one has been together for several months now, just did get the blessing to send it out.

And you are more informed than most...who do you think you are kiddin...