Was it really 3 and a half years ago that started this thread? How time flies.
I have been having a good little chuckle about rumors of me working in a supermarket or selling double glazing. Let me put that one to bed straight away; if I ever move away from doing the magazine or working with the BWCA, there will only be one job I ever do, and that is (of course) window cleaning! I've never worked in a supermarket, never had anything to do with double glazing, (other than cleaning it.)
I read the thread the thread about another window cleaning magazine by WCE and someone else, and I can say this: it takes a great deal of guts and determination for anyone to get off their backside and actually do something rather than simply criticise from the sidelines. If a couple of members on here have done that then well done to them, and if it helps the window cleaning industry, then thats got to be welcomed. There is a great shortage of people who are willing to put their money where their mouth is, so good for them!
And to you guys, here's my advice:(and I mean it with your best interests sincerely at heart!):
Producing a magazine is more time consuming than you could ever imagine. My opinion is that unless you make enough money from the sales and advertising to cover the costs AND make a profit large enough to cover a decent salary for you both, then seriously guys, don't do it, you will honestly rue the day!
Although you may have done some costings already, here's what you need to do: double or triple them. There is nothing cheap about producing a magazine. Everything (and I do mean everything) costs 2 or 3 times what you think it will, and takes 3 times as long.
And lastly, and most importantly, forget all about what people say on forums. You may have had some interest on here, and that's great, (I remember the interest in PWC when I first came up with the idea) but window cleaners in general are simply not prepared to pay for a magazine, no matter how good it is. I hate to say it, but they just don't care enough about the trade.
You'd probably be lucky to get 20 subscribers from a forum like this. As well as the fact that that means a low income from subscriptions, no advertiser is ever going to pay to advertise to a circulation of less than 2,000, so again income is hit.
My opinion is that a window cleaning magazine is only possible here in Britain if it is paid for by some other means than subscriptions and advertising. That is why PWC is now the magazine of the BWCA, and is free of charge. (And hence, I don't consider a new magazine to be in competition)
Having said that, if you want to do this as a small project that you just want to put a newsletter-type thing together and send out to a small group of interested friends, and you all pitch in on the costs, then that's a good idea that could work. (Except that eventually you'll realise that this forum fills that need better than any publication could!)
Whatever you decide, I genuinely wish you the best. After all, I have been there, and (unlike anybody else on here) I know exactly what its like.
As for me, well its time for me to disappear from forums again for another three years. But I'll be at the Cleaning Show next Spring on the BWCA stand if you want to come and say hello. And there'll be another issue of PWC out before then too.
-Philip