Affiliate
Rebecca Sterner
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Publishing Consultant
http://rebeccasterner.com
Lakeville, MN
Tel: 952-469-3450
Fax: 952-469-5950
Rebecca Sterner is an independent publishing consultant providing strategic planning and problem-solving for magazine publishers, and creative marketing services in magazine circulation.
Clients include successful start-ups and established publications: Utne Reader, Birdwatcher's Digest, Science News, Pillsbury Publications, Catholic Digest, and others. These clients work with Sterner on finance, fulfillment, analysis, marketing and staff development solutions. Clients are not provided with a generic "template" of cliches, but thoughtful customized solutions designed to move the business to the next level of performance.
Direct mail packages, renewals series and other promotions created by Sterner's team are known for their effectiveness, creativity and understanding of the editorial product.
Current consumer magazine clients range from Meredith and PRIMEDIA to smaller titles like New Moon.
Sterner's background includes a year as Interim President for Utne Reader/Lens Publishing. During the owner's sabbatical and search for a new president, Sterner took over management of Utne Reader. She hired and built a completely new management team, launched a book publishing business, brought on-line service from huge loss to break-even, built incentive plan for all employees, implemented open-book and financial accountability policies, and transformed demoralized staff into effective, creative leaders. Her tenure was completed when new president was hired, and she continues to consult with Utne Reader.
From 1992-1994, Sterner was chosen by Lila Wallace Foundation and Council of Literary Magazines and Presses to consult with 11 non-profit literary magazines awarded marketing grants.
Prior to starting her consulting practice in 1987, Sterner was a publisher/account executive in Webb's Custom Publishing Division. She prospected for new client publishers of sponsored magazines. When successful in selling new projects, acted as general manager on the titles. Launched Bridal Fair, a consumer magazine with a circulation of 150,000--75,000 on the newsstand. Sold advertising and managed the editor, production staff, and 4 independent ad sales reps. Also managed Kawasaki Good Times Magazine and Delta Dental Plan Magazine.
Her background also includes 6 years in circulation at The Family Handyman, including three years as the circulation director, where she was known for aggressive testing, and tight, accurate budgets. Working closely with editor, production manager, ad manager and publisher, she was a key to turning around a struggling magazine to profitability. She was responsible for modeling the publishing team's "what-if" scenarios and full publishing financials. Renewal rates, newsstand sales, direct mail response and profitability all improved dramatically during her tenure.
Early in her career, Sterner held various positions related to publishing, including: staff writer for non-daily newspaper, advertising dispatcher for Grand Forks Herald, proof reader, production manager at ad agency specializing in bio-medical accounts, technical writer for large insurance company.