Give us your feedback

It is six months since I started as the general manager of the Stratford Press.

There's an old saying: `When the going gets tough, the tough get going'.

These are tough times for local business people, including your local newspaper. We are pretty much a

whole new team at the Stratford Press who are dedicated to giving you our clients and readers the very best

service.

Our vision for your paper is simple: making it more relevant, interesting and interactive, and putting the wow

factor into it. Not forgetting of course, short news bytes and photos of local people going about their daily

business.

The Stratford Press with our 28,000 readers throughout Central Taranaki provides unbeatable value and is the best way for local businesses to market themselves.

We are committed to giving our advertisers outstanding service. We are not interested in just selling advertising space to our valued clients. Our focus is very much on designing advertisements that are business solutions that will grow your business.

Working at the Stratford Press is a privilege and our team - yes, we are all women -  recognise and respect

that. 

So what changes have you noticed, and what do you think? Give us your feedback.

Do you like the new streamlined look?

What do you think of our new cartoonist?

Many of you complain about Bryan Vickery's weekly column, yet heaps of you read it, and some even enjoy it.

Perhaps you like being provoked, and that is the idea of the column.

Our new editor Erika is a skilled wordsmith and she loves news. Erika wants more letters coming in debating

local issues. Lively letters reflect positively on a vibrant community. There is nothing wrong with a good- natured debate and disagreement.

 Jess, our new reporter - who at 19 is our youngest member of staff, loves sport and has a real passion for life. Jess is hoping to make the paper more appealing to young people. The Stratford Press is everyone's paper,

both young and old.

Christina, our new administrator/ receptionist/designer, has a degree in graphic design and is a beautiful, intelligent young lady. She enjoys building relationships with clients coming through the door and on th telephone.

Becky, our new advertising sales consultant is a very artistic dynamic woman with a real thespian flavour. She loves Stratford and really cares about the people and businesses here, as she has lived here most of her life.

Vickie, who is also new to the sales team is one of the most outgoing people I have ever met. She is positive,

energetic, and bubbly and a very dedicated hard worker.

People are contacting us on our Facebook page and you can now follow us on twitter.

We are a brand new team and we are enthusiastic about the paper. But most of all, we work to support local businesses and the wider Stratford community.

We are unashamedly parochial, and will fight to support what is good and positive about our community, and scrutinise, question, and where necessary criticise, developments deemed not to be in the district's best interests.

We need to urge all locals to show loyalty to Stratford businesses by shopping locally.

Retailers often say: ``Things are quiet, I can't afford to advertise.'' My honest response is always the same: ``Marketing is not a cost, it's an investment.'' However, your advertising needs to be specific, targeted and cost effective.

The Stratford Press has an exciting  new development for our retailers and advertisers. Thanks to an innovative

agreement with the Radio Network, including News Talk ZB and The Coast, we are now offering dual media

reach and advertising for only a slightly increased cost.

So what are you waiting for? Support us so we can support you. Henry Ford said it best: ``Early to bed early to rise,

you won't get anywhere if you don't advertise''. We welcome your feedback, including constructive criticisms.

Let us know what you like, what you don't like, and what you think we could be doing better.