The Beginning: Don’t Walk

Invitation Magazines’ 20-year journey started with a “crazy idea” and sound advice from a colleague in the publishing business.

Written by Rachel West

While most people make a long-term business plan with lots of thought, calculations, research and things of the sort, the story of how Invitation began is different.

I had just turned 29, and I was ready for the next step in my work life. I had worked for several years as a writer for a local magazine in Jackson, Mississippi. I never went into the office regularly, but I had become friends with the owner. One day, we met for lunch at Bon Ami, and I mentioned my crazy idea of launching a magazine in Oxford. She said, “Don’t walk. RUN as fast as you can. Others are looking to launch there.”

In true Rachel fashion, I thought to myself, “Challenge accepted.”

Less than three weeks later, I was in Oxford. I was taking photos at events, meeting with businesses to explain what I was trying to do and asking them to support the publication, working with artists and writers to create great stories, finding young people to distribute the magazines around the area, and more. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it’s a time I truly enjoyed.

Thankfully, because of my previous experience and understanding of the publishing industry,

I had a thorough understanding of the puzzle pieces. But putting them all together to produce a magazine was more than I had ever done before.

The First Issue

From the beginning, I wanted the magazine to be a publication people genuinely wanted to read — a place where they could see themselves, recognize their friends and neighbors, and discover people they might not yet know. I wanted it to create a sense of connection and curiosity about the community around them.

The very first cover was photographed on the balcony of City Grocery. It was a table set almost as if someone had just stepped away — or was about to sit down for a meal, a conversation or a warm welcome. My mom, Sally Malone, who happened to be visiting me in Oxford at the time, took the photograph from the balcony with a tiny, first-generation digital camera.

That photograph captured so much of what I had envisioned for the magazine: a place where people would be able to come together, see one another in new ways and learn more about the people, places and opportunities that make our communities so unique.

The Cover Matters

One of the very first events I covered was an opening at Southside Gallery featuring work      by artist Glennray Tutor. I was more than intrigued by his art and the detail in his work. As a reporter — and never shy to strike up a conversation — I contacted him to see if he would allow me to write a story about his work.

He invited me to his home studio, where we talked for a very long time. He shared details about how he created art, the hours he spent perfecting each piece and all the nuances that went into his work. As I was leaving, he offered to let us use one of his paintings on the front cover of the magazine.

I was stunned — and more than honored. We had published just one issue, and this very accomplished artist was allowing our brand-new publication to put his work on its cover. It was a tremendous honor, but it also meant something more. Having Glennray Tutor on our cover helped show everyone, very early on, that we were committed to producing a quality product to showcase the remarkably talented people who make our community so special.

Why Oxford

I opted to come to Oxford because I knew it was a creative place. I had long admired this community and the people who make it up — the mix of personalities, passions and perspectives, and the way people have built, shaped and honored Oxford together. There are sports fans, environmentalists, artists, entrepreneurs, intellectuals and so much more, all contributing to the character of this place.

My vision was — and still is — to highlight the incredible people who make up our communities and to celebrate the ways we come together to help, support and inspire one another.

When I arrived with that idea, though, not everyone understood exactly what I was trying to create. I remember having many conversations with people who were curious about the magazine and what we were doing. I would often tell them, “Just keep picking up the magazine. You’ll understand. As you see it unfold each month, you’ll begin to see the idea and understand what we’re trying to do.” I knew we didn’t have to explain the vision all at once.

We could simply keep telling the stories, introducing the people and celebrating the community — and let the magazine speak for itself.