Hello! And thank you for all of your comments on the latest issue of PWC, which I'm glad has now been delivered.
This issue of the magazine is a sponsored issue, as you have seen, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the reach & wash system. As such, (not surprisingly) you'll see a lot of information about reach & wash products. This type of sponsorship, though you may not have seen it before, is actually very common in the publishing business for all kinds of magazines. More about the sponsorship in a moment.
But, this is not the only information in this issue, with articles about cladding cleaning, using traditional window cleaning tools, the general status of the window cleaner, the benefits of running a window cleaning business and so on.
Following feedback from the last issue, I decided to keep some elements of the new style (like improved page layouts), and drop others like the non-window cleaning content. I'm glad to say that this seems to have been the right thing, and I've already had lots of emails from readers who are pleased to see PWC back to a its 100% window cleaning content.
Regarding the sponsorship; producing a magazine is an expensive process by any standard. (Annoyingly, this has gotten even more expensive lately due to the Royal Mail's new pricing structure - but I wont bore you with my rantings about that!)
It would be nice to think that there was enough advertising revenue floating around from all of the different supliers to offset the cost, but I'm afraid that's just not the case, and in many ways illustrates the unusual economics of the window cleaning supply industry.
From the start, I have given all suppliers (except one) the opportunity to advertise in the magazine. Some have taken it up, but most have not, and if you want to know why there aren't more advertisers in PWC, you'd really need to ask them that question, but I'm happy to tell you that its not for the lack of me asking. As long as its window cleaning related, I'll be happy to have an advert.
I have even given the opportunity for suppliers to sponsor an issue of the magazine, exactly as this issue is sponsored. Again, none has taken up that offer so far, but I am still open to the idea.
I'm always glad to hear honest feedback from window cleaners, both positive and negative. I ask for it all the time, and its very useful to me. I have also noticed that generally speaking you only get feedback when someone isnt happy about something, and thats just human nature.
What I do find a little amusing, however, is criticism from people who are connected with organisations which themselves are sponsored by companies in competition with PWC and its sponsors. I notice there's no shortage of that in this thread, and that's not alltogether unexpected. It is a bit rich when they then whinge about independence though! Still, its good to get feedback from all quarters.
I would very much welcome the opportunity to meet some forum members in person, and discuss the magazine (or any window cleaning topic for that matter!). Please do come and say hello to me on the PWC stand at The Cleaning Show. I'll be exhibiting on stand G14, near the seminar area.
Its my opinion that events like The Cleaning Show, Windex etc should be supported by us. I often hear complaints from window cleaners that there is not enough going on for window cleaners, and when I mention the various events I usually get a blank stare. If we don't support these events, both by attending and by exhibiting (if an organisation), eventually they will disappear.
Not to mention the fact that they're great events, and its a good way to network!
I look forward to meeting you face-to-face (rather than as a dismembodied name on a screen!). Last year at Windex I met many forum members and I expect the same will be true next week, and it really is good to put faces to names!
-Philip
