Nov/Dec 2023 (Volume 15, Issue 6)

 

By Michael Swanger

 

‘Tis the season for giving gifts and as many of you know, a subscription to Iowa History Journal is a great gift for that special Iowan on your holiday shopping list.

 

As Iowa History Journal concludes its 15th year of publication I want to thank our subscribers who purchase gift subscriptions. Not only does every gift subscription help sustain our small, family-owned business, but it exposes our magazine to new, like-minded readers. Like so many small businesses, Iowa History Journal relies on customer recommendations.

 

During the shelf life of this issue of Iowa History Journal popular holiday shopping events will gain the lion’s share of consumers’ dollars, including Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. While such events are designed to benefit brick-and-mortar retail businesses, or those with a massive online presence, they tend to exclude businesses like ours that do not fit neatly into those categories. 

 

With that said, I encourage subscribers who annually give gift subscriptions to Iowa History Journal during the holidays to do so again and I respectfully ask those who have not done so to consider giving a family member or friend a gift subscription. Not only is it affordable ($19.95 for one year, $35.95 for two years), but it is easy to purchase (see the full page ads on pages 25-26 or visit iowahistoryjournal.com) and, as our readers know, our content is unique, informative and entertaining. 

 

Also, I remind readers that single copies of Iowa History Journal — a great stocking stuffer — are sold on newsstands at every Barnes & Noble in Iowa, most Hy-Vee stores (see pockets in checkout aisles), Beaverdale Books and select Walmart, Mills Fleet Farm, Books-A-Million and Hy-Vee Drug stores. 

 

Finally, if you think that magazines are in decline, think again. 

 

According to a recent study conducted by The Association of Magazine Media 91 percent of U.S. adults report having read magazine media (print or digital) in the last six months, including 90 percent under age 25. Sixty-three percent of U.S. millennials say that even in the digital age, “they love the touch and feel of a printed magazine.” 

 

The study also reports that magazines outperform television and the Internet on a variety of engagement attributes. 

 

“Neuroscience demonstrates why paper readers remember more, and survey data shows that readers find magazine content trustworthy, inspiring, and life enhancing.”

 

Readers of Iowa History Journal know that to be true. 

 

Thank you for your business and happy holidays!

 

TO READ MORE FASCINATING STORIES ABOUT IOWA HISTORY, subscribe to Iowa History Journal. You can also purchase back issues at the store.