InSpire Magazine – So What's the Story?
Over the past five years many people have asked when the story of InSpire Magazine would be told, and when the people behind the magazine would be on the front cover. The celebration of five years in print seemed like an appropriate time.
"Our story is no different than others that have started a business," said Denise Fitzsimmons. "It takes time, hard work, passion and it helps to have a background in the business. We had the support from our families and friends."
This behind the scenes story is written to inspire all the readers to follow their dreams, make a change in their lives, and realize that they are the only ones holding themselves back from achieving their goals.
This magazine would not be possible if it were not for the subscribers, advertisers, and the women who were willing to share their story. The comments and support received over the years have been humbling. The best part is hearing feedback that a story has changed someone's life, or that they have gotten inspiration from one of the many stories that have appeared over the years.
So, let's travel back to the year 2003. Denise Fitzsimmons got an idea for a women's magazine while she was visiting her sister on Long Island, New York. She found a local magazine with a focus on women while at a coffee shop and took it back with her to Wisconsin to share with Mary Beth Bockhorst and Jill Huizenga.
"They suggested we put more local content in it and feature local women and their stories," Denise explained. "Jill suggested the name of the magazine be called InSpire, and we agreed that it was a great name. It was then that we made the decision to invest in the future of InSpire."
At that point these three women had the advertising, marketing, and design experience behind them. Renee Wahlen Tillema was hired as the editor and writer. All three knew Renee because they all worked together at another employer.
Jill was attending Marian College, taking business and marketing classes, so she came up with the business plan. Mary Beth came up with a prototype of the magazine, so a model could be presented to potential advertisers. They received bids from local printers, and the planning, selling, and designing began in earnest.
"Our goal from the beginning has been to ignite, to encourage, and to elate the meaning of inspire," Mary Beth said. "InSpire was designed to highlight the accomplishments and achievements of local women in their personal and professional lives. To tell their stories of success, including their trials and triumphs along the way. Our goal was to publish these stories, to inspire other women, and give them the courage to make a difference in the world around them."
The team had about four months to sell advertising, design the ads, write stories and put the magazine together. They encouraged each other along the way, calling every time they made a sale -- or didn't. Family has been important from the beginning, and they are fortunate to work out of their respective homes. This option provides flexibility to do important things for their families. It also means they are always at work.
"We had contacted Schumann Printers of Fall River in January," Jill said. "We informed Schumann that we were going to print a magazine with them. We were so involved with selling and putting the magazine together that we did not contact them again until two weeks before we wanted to go to press. They did not have us on the schedule because they said that they get so many requests to print and most never come to fruition. But they got us on the schedule and we have been printing with them ever since."
One common question over the years has been why the magazine is given away for free. It was and still is the goal to reach women who possibly can't afford to purchase the magazine, or who wouldn't otherwise get a subscription. The hope is that area women will pick it up just because and find out that a story in the magazine changes their life.
The Dodge County area was ready for, and deserved a high-end magazine which featured local talent and women's issues. So many times national magazines and the stories inside are on women on the West or East coast and it is hard to relate to them. Their economics, values, and opportunities are different than what is experienced here in the Dodge County area.
Yes, this magazine is handled by a small staff who wear many different hats. Jill takes care of the finances, circulation, delivery and advertising sales. Denise also sells adverting, does delivery and billing for the magazine. Mary Beth designs the ads and all the pages in the magazine, and also helps deliver. Renee, of course, writes the stories and coordinates editorial. Daune DeVries helps coordinate the makeovers, and Judy Diekvoss helps with billing.
Another common question is when will they run out of stories? If you look at the top of the front cover, you will see the saying, "Every Woman Has A Story." Well, when every woman in Dodge County and the surrounding area has told her story, it might be time to start looking elsewhere.
The InSpire team is fortunate that in this time of economic uncertainty, readership and advertising has stayed strong. The reason for this? InSpire Magazine provides positive, uplifting, and inspiring stories; this is something that we all need, especially during these tough times. In staying true to their original goals of keeping the spotlight on the inspiring people around them, this magazine has been able to live its name every month.
Many thanks for a great five years!
