Thank you to our readers, customer appreciation sale starts Monday

A year ago I was a 39-year veteran of the newspaper business that felt like it was the first day of kindergarten.

As I pulled into the back parking lot of the Daily American Republic I took a deep breath. When I got out of my vehicle, a friend who accompanied me that day said, “You’ve got some people staring at you.”

What the heck was I thinking? I left the comforts of Indiana where I had spent my entire career and built countless relationships to take over as publisher of Butler County Publishing (the DAR, Dexter Statesman and The Prospect-News in Doniphan).

I knew no one.

That has all changed thanks to a fantastic group of employees and a community that has opened its arms to my wife and I. I’d be lying if I said work and life haven’t been hectic at times, but it’s been worth every minute. As Deb likes to say, “We’re on an adventure.”

The DAR has gone through many changes since Nov. 1, 2018, and most because of necessity. Change in the newspaper industry is measured in seconds these days instead of years. Some good, some difficult. But in order to remain a vital part of the community changes are sometimes needed.

Our decisions were made with our customers and employees in mind. Our goal is to continue to keep the DAR an important part of the community and the place Butler and surrounding counties turn for their news and sports coverage. We also want to help local businesses be successful through our many advertising products.

That includes our printed product and website.

Circulation rates were increased a month before I arrived, and our annual Customer Appreciation Sale really wasn’t a sale. There was no discounted rate, and our customers were upset.

Any business that refuses to listen to its customers is doomed to fail. Our readers and advertising customers are priority No. 1, so we lowered our circulation rates and had another sale.

We didn’t lower our rates to their original level because some increase was needed because of skyrocketing costs to produce the newspaper.

It’s time again for our Customer Appreciation Sale, and we’ve taken a deep discount on our yearly and six-month circulation rates. The sale is Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The first 50 people who come into our office will receive a T-shirt. We will also offer cookies and coffee as a thank you to our customers.

The rates are $90 for a year (the regular price is $135), and $52.50 for six months (the regular price is $72.50).

DAR employees spend a lot of time and effort producing each newspaper. Some may think it’s magic, and in a sense it can be. But it takes a talented team to whip up that magic potion every day.

I’m proud of what our team does. I hope you are too and will subscribe during our Customer Appreciation Sale.

And thank you for reading the DAR.

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Chris is publisher of the Daily American Republic. He can be reached by email at cpruett@darnews.com .