“I’d Like to Thank the Academy…”
by Carter Hammett
C&CC writer Kelly Gray accepts award on behalf of publisher Brenda Johnstone
When Convenience & Carwash Canada contributing writer Kelly Gray stood up to accept our magazine’s award for Best Editorial Package (B2B Category) at this year’s Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association, it marked the culmination of three years of hard work, dedication and a lot of sweat. Oh, and gasoline too.
Our story, “Pump Up the Volume” which ran in the July/August 2010 issue and documents the history of gas pumps, represents a successful collaboration between publisher Brenda Johnstone, who first identified the story idea; a beautiful graphics job by layout designer extraordinaire Doug Coates, and myself, who tortured the words into submission. In a sepia-toned timeline, gas pumps emerge as technological marvels that have evolved alongside the gas stations that serve customers an increasingly precious resource. It was a fun story to produce, a logistical nightmare to assemble and great collaboration between people who have faith in the little publication that grew.
Three years ago in a rather pioneering move, C&CC was started by Brenda Johnstone, who struck out on her own after two decades in the publishing industry. What was unique about the move was the fact that this woman was establishing a firmly rooted place for herself in a marketplace that had been dominated by an old oily boys’ network for a long time. Suddenly there was a new player in town, and a little bit of tension in the air. Three years later, the magazine flourishes, partnerships evolve and the publication has developed a reputation as a respectable go-to source of well written, cutting edge information.
Meanwhile, the Manitoba Magazine Publishers Association has become the voice of Manitoba magazine publishers over the last six years. The Maggies, as they are affectionately known by people in the publishing biz, are an opportunity to recognize the excellence of both consumer and trade publications in a province that has been traditionally left behind in an industry struggling to find its place in an increasingly high tech world. Not quite so cutting edge as trend catching British Columbia, or as solidly entrenched as a communications capital like Ontario, Manitoba, nonetheless should be proud of its diverse, high quality publications that manage to eke out a living for themselves every year. The Maggies honour the best of what the province has to offer and we think that’s pretty significant.
And Convenience & Carwash Canada continues to strive to be the best at what it does. That includes responding to your needs and telling your stories. Little bylittle, we are branching out in non traditional ways, like this blog, our Twitter page and by diversifying our web site. Three years is a short period of time to grow a business and when they said an industry publication like ours wasn’t required, we puff our chests out just a little bit this time and exhale a gentle sigh of pride.
