As many readers know, the existence of the Collector depends on advertising from shows and dealers and auctions. So, to improve customer service for our advertising clients, we now have an advertising manager able to answer calls and emails every weekday. Christina Petermann, who has handled the subscription services, has taken on the advertising responsibility.
The Collector has always been associated with community newspaper companies, originally with the Post publications in Rochester, then later with Messenger-Post publications in Canandaigua. After the Canandaigua company decided to shut the Collector down in 2004, the antiques publication shared offices with Neighbor-to-Neighbor News, Inc. in East Aurora.
Many staff members of Neighbor-to-Neighbor perform the necessary tasks to produce the Collector each month. Chris has handled the circulation duties and has pitched in on proofing and production matters from the first issue produced in East Aurora. So, having her step into the advertising role as well was a natural move. While proofreading, Chris will often spot an item in an ad or show report and comment with an “I want that.”
It has been a difficult time in the business side of antiques, but we see signs of dealers and shows adapting. Along with our subscribers, we’ve been making sure sample copies of the Collector find their way to shows, auction galleries, co-ops and other places where we might encourage people to become active collectors, or at least see antiques as interesting décor. Having Chris available to work with our antiques business customers every day will help ensure the antiques message gets out in an effective way.
Our cadre of staff “borrowed” from the newspaper operation and the many underpaid freelance writers who contribute each month enable this small antiques publication to fill regional need. As the “labor-of-love” publisher, I want to thank our staff, advertisers and readers for adding another year to the Collector volumes.
