A new approach

Despite the Federal Reserve Board’s Aug. 12 assertion that “economic activity is leveling out,” the U.S. economy is still on shaky ground. How it has and will affect our industry is the question on many people’s minds as they prepare to attend GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo, Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 in Atlanta.

Economist Jeff Dietrich, senior analyst with the Institute for Trend Research, Concord, N.H., will shed some light on the subject during a presentation at GlassBuild Sept. 30. His goal: to assist attendees in answering the question, “What leading indicators will help you see the future first and seize opportunities ahead of your competitors?”

Judging by the number of companies and types of products on the show floor this year, it’s clear that our industry is already at work “seizing opportunities” in the form of new technologies and services.

Suppliers are reworking business models and adding product lines in response to changing market conditions and customer demands. At Glass Magazine, we are doing the same.

For example, we are no longer just a print publication. We now provide daily news updates, special editorial features, photo galleries and much more on GlassMagazine.com. We also publish the e-glass weekly and For Technicians Only electronic newsletters.

However, like you, we are not immune to these tough economic times. Most of you know about the struggles of newspapers. In my hometown of Denver, we saw the Rocky Mountain News close its doors this year, and other major city dailies are facing the same fate. Readership of print products hasn’t died, but it has fallen off as more readers turn to the Internet.  Unfortunately, the decrease in readership has produced a decline in advertising for many newspapers, and that decline-- combined with continued increases in print production costs--has made their business model unsustainable. Major magazines such as Time face similar challenges, and so do we.

As a result, we have changed our business model. While you still have the option to receive the print edition of Glass Magazine each month, now you can subscribe to an alternative digital edition. Simply go to GlassMagazine.com and click on the “Get Digital Edition” box on our home page.

The digital edition features the same content and format as the print magazine, with additional functionality. Readers can link directly to related articles, photos and Web sites from the digital page, and quickly search for specific content.  This new digital edition is available free of charge to subscribers, beginning with the September issue. While some readers enjoy the functionality and convenience it provides, others appreciate the positive effect digital publications have on the environment. Either way, I encourage you to see if this new product is right for you.