For 35 years, Strictly Business has been the trusted voice of the North Country business community, embodying the spirit of “All Things Good About Business.” For more than 418 issues, the magazine has created a rich historical record of the region, capturing the insights and stories of our businesses and community leaders. What started as an idea sparked by research, brainstorming and collaboration quickly evolved into a publication that champions the area’s entrepreneurial drive. And so, the journey of breakfast meetings with Herb and Mike continues...
Mike: Where did the idea of a business magazine come from?
Herb: Mary and I attended a conference sponsored by Printing Industries of America in Cincinnati in the late 1980s. The industry was changing and we wanted to be sure we understood how we could best meet the challenges that would come. Most of the seminars were about technology, but there was one that focused on sales and marketing. The presenter talked about a plan he called “Own Your Own Work.” The idea was intriguing.
Mike: So that was the birth of Strictly Business?
Herb: Not really. It took a lot of research and thought — and a lot of brainstorming with colleagues and friends — before we were comfortable that a magazine that focused on the North Country business community had promise.
Mike: Where did the name Strictly Business come from?
Herb: We asked everyone we knew for suggestions, but nothing that was offered appealed to us. Then an old friend suggested Strictly Business and we knew immediately it was a fit.
Mike: Strictly Business had been publishing monthly for eight years when I joined the company in 1998. The printing part of the business took me a while to learn, but I immediately felt a part of SB. It was common for us to receive letters and emails telling us how much people enjoyed each issue. A man I knew well told me he took a copy of SB with him each time he visited his parents. He barely got through the door before they would ask for it. That kind of positive feedback was invaluable.
But I have to say sometimes we got, and still get, strange or funny messages. One time we got a call from a woman who wanted us to know we had featured a man who was cheating on his wife. We politely explained we couldn’t be the morality police. And then there was the time someone called to ask if we knew a person interviewed in a recent issue was on the sex offender list. We didn’t.
But my favorite feedback came a few years ago in a letter from the owner of a business who had bid on a county contract and lost. We had featured the successful company and its owner as a cover feature and the unsuccessful bidder was furious. He listed all the ways his company was superior and then finished with a line I will never forget. “Instead of calling your magazine SB, you should call it BS.” You can’t make that stuff up!
Herb: This month marks the 35th anniversary of Strictly Business. In the changing world of business, we created something that has stood the test of time. Why do you believe it worked so well?
Mike: Well Dad, there are too many factors to list them all, but here are some of my thoughts. The magazine has taken a positive look at business. I remember you telling me early on, “We don’t publish bad news, closings or bankruptcies,” and SB will always highlight “What’s good for business.” The North Country has grown a lot over the years and we promote the businesses that have remained here through generations, and showcase new businesses that have come into the area. When the Base closed, we lost a good chunk of our diversity and we were worried, yet look at where we are now. Over these last many years, we’ve attracted people from outside the area who have chosen this as their home. And we also need to remember that people like to be recognized for what they contribute. We’ve done that and continue to do that. I often go into offices and see a framed cover of SB on the wall.
Strictly Business has lived on for those reasons and for one more. You have been a driving force for local and regional business and that gives the magazine credibility and stability. So, here’s to 35 more years of all that’s good for business.
Herb: Thank you for that, but make no mistake, in the 27 years you have worked with Mary and me you’ve been instrumental in the company’s growth. You’ve carved out your own path, set your own goals and become an amazing leader. And along the way you’ve earned the respect of the business community.
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