The People: Support System
From our earliest days to today, the people and businesses who support Invitation are the reason we’re still here.
Written by Rachel West
I realized within the first four weeks after the first publication that I was going to need help if
I was going to sustain this crazy idea I had come up with. People were beginning to understand what we were offering to readers: a free magazine, supported entirely by advertising. Without advertisers, it simply wasn’t possible to bring this idea to life. And, of course, in order to pay the bills and keep the magazine going, I had to generate revenue.
I was introduced to Lona Waller, who was willing to work part-time. Lona was energetic and a great fit for introducing the publication to our community. She was a go-getter, and for an entire year, she was the only person selling advertising for the magazine.
But as we headed into our second year, it became clear that Lona needed some help. She introduced me to Lynn McElreath 19 years ago, and I am more than honored to say that Lynn is still a member of our staff today.
Because of Lona and Lynn’s commitment to our purpose and their ability to build and maintain long-term relationships, I am proud to say that we have partnered with some clients for nearly the entire time we’ve been in business. Our longtime advertisers include: Van Atkins Jewelry, Glenda Keenan, Oxford Dental, North Mississippi Health Services, Staggs, Dr. Michael Robertson, Sportsman’s Lawn & Landscape, Hodges Orthodontics, Cannon Motors, Hunt Marketing, Sugar Magnolia, Cannon Cleary McGraw, Southside Gallery, Drewery’s Termite & Pest, Oxford Urgent Care, Visit Oxford, Reeds, Sanctuary Antiques and Corinth Tourism.
I’ll never forget, in those first few months of publication, Walker Swaney (from Oxford Dental) coming up to me at choir practice at church and saying, “Rachel, I know you need to make money if you’re going to continue to do this. So, I think I need to buy an ad.”
The truth is, we simply would not be here today without every single business and organization that has supported Invitation with their advertising dollars — from October 2006 through the issue you are reading
For 20 years, you’ve helped make this crazy idea possible. We cannot thank you enough.
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