The daily grind of the publishing world is continually evolving with a variety of tasks required that keep our jobs from remaining stagnate--whether we are fielding calls from customers with great story ideas, fulfilling subscription sales, researching the history behind a small 1800s home, photographing said home, working with the media, or planning our next big conference, event, or editorial calendar. Just this month, however, the staff at Alabama Heritage can all add an additional skillset to our resumes: bulk mailing (a.k.a. “where the magic happens” or “from where your magazine gets shipped to you.”)
The Alabama Heritage team took an "all-hands-on-deck" approach to ensure the magazine was shipped to its readers without delay. If you are a subscriber to our magazine, you should have already received our Fall 2019 issue, Issue #134, which is a special edition and companion piece to Issue #125. This edition has bonus material and features that help round out the three-year-long bicentennial for the state of Alabama. Because of its size, the issue was mailed differently than a normal issue. Instead of the black-and-white dust jacket that protects the issue when mailing to subscribers, this special issue was polybagged (meaning, it was in a protective plastic bag). Shipping requirements change, weight class changes, costs change. But we weren’t prepared for the actual mailing to change. Last-minute decisions were made to have all of the magazines shipped from our warehouse in Tuscaloosa because of printer problems.
To expedite the actual mailing of the magazines to you, our customers, we took on an “all-hands-on-deck” approach and affixed mailing labels to every magazine. Our team was phenomenal at keeping stacks organized and separated on various pallets—seventeen pallets, by the way. The small staff at our warehouse that normally handles bulk mail was impressed with our abilities to accomplish the job is such an expedited manner. But we had an end goal in mind: To get the magazine to our customers as soon as possible without delay.
To expedite the actual mailing of the magazines to you, our customers, we took on an “all-hands-on-deck” approach and affixed mailing labels to every magazine. Our team was phenomenal at keeping stacks organized and separated on various pallets—seventeen pallets, by the way. The small staff at our warehouse that normally handles bulk mail was impressed with our abilities to accomplish the job is such an expedited manner. But we had an end goal in mind: To get the magazine to our customers as soon as possible without delay.
A few blisters may have appeared, and several nails may have been broken, but the magazine shipped in a timely fashion! Often an office might take a “retreat” day to re-group, reflect, and plan. This wasn’t intended to be one of those days; however, you learn about your team when you’re sitting in one spot for eight hours, pulling and affixing labels, counting, rubber-banding, sorting, and stacking. After a while, you get into a rhythm and the task becomes rote. It’s then that the fun begins. We admire the mailing labels and where the magazines will be sent: “I’ve got Abbeville!” one of us shouts; “I’m in Texas!” says another; “This pallet is going to Washington State. I wonder how long that will take?” another rounds out.
It’s true. Alabama Heritage has readers all over the country. Often we wonder why. Why are subscribers based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, for example? Are they formerly from Alabama? Do they have family here? Do they just enjoy Southern history? Was it a gift from a friend, family member, or colleague? Whatever the reason, we are fortunate to have such a wonderful following. When we started our magazine in 1986, we were happy to have statewide subscribers instead of just those here in Tuscaloosa. As our readership (i.e., “fanbase”) grows, we continue to strive to provide you with the best most-accessible content, in a beautiful format, even if it does cause a few blisters here and there. Trust us, having happy readers is truly a magical thing. Happy Reading!
It’s true. Alabama Heritage has readers all over the country. Often we wonder why. Why are subscribers based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, for example? Are they formerly from Alabama? Do they have family here? Do they just enjoy Southern history? Was it a gift from a friend, family member, or colleague? Whatever the reason, we are fortunate to have such a wonderful following. When we started our magazine in 1986, we were happy to have statewide subscribers instead of just those here in Tuscaloosa. As our readership (i.e., “fanbase”) grows, we continue to strive to provide you with the best most-accessible content, in a beautiful format, even if it does cause a few blisters here and there. Trust us, having happy readers is truly a magical thing. Happy Reading!
A few pallets ready to ship.
Author
Rebecca Minder is the marketing and digital media manager for Alabama Heritage.
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