As we mark the first year anniversary of Lehigh Valley Woman’s Journal, it is a great feeling to see all the hard work pay off. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide a publication which is dedicated to educating and inspiring women. We are also grateful to be able to offer the businesses in the area an opportunity to promote themselves by providing a public service.

In addition, we feel much gratitude for the growth that we have enjoyed over this past year. It was not without growing pains and trial and error to determine what works. We know the value of perseverance and flexibility in business. We have found it extremely rewarding when business owners tell us that they are experiencing growth as a result of their articles and ads published in the Lehigh Valley Woman’s Journal. Equally rewarding are the calls and emails from readers who say that they “love the magazine”.

I am thrilled that we are no longer just a publication, but that now we offer complete business promotion services. Some of the best and most talented people have joined with LVWJ to help not only make it a quality magazine, but to also provide their services to you as well. We are available to promote your business through advertising in print and on the web, graphic and web design, our e-newsletter, virtual assisting, writing services and by providing custom made promotional products.

We have grown over this past year despite the very difficult economy. This can be attributed to our all working together to provide our advertisers with a quality product and great value. most of all, it is attributed to our advertisers. As you look through the pages of this magazine, you will see that these advertisers are innovative, forward-thinking and committed to serving your needs. they are also wise because they have not slacked off in their advertising during this difficult period in our economy.

Studies of sales strategies during the last two major recessions are unanimous and fairly conclusive — aggressively advertising helped drive sales.

American Business Press Study of the 1974- 75 recession found:

• Companies that didn’t cut advertising experienced higher sales and net income
• Cutting advertising had negative effects on sales and profit levels
• Maintaining or increasing advertising budgets during recessions protects market position from competitors
• The effects lasted through the two years of the recession and the two years following

McGraw-Hill analysis of 600 industrial companies following the 1980 recession results:

• Business-to-business firms that maintained or increased advertising expenditures averaged higher sales growth.
• Sales growth lasted during the recession and for the following three years.

The chart in the next column illustrates the fact that “Recession Advertising = Recovery Profits”. All our advertisers are businesses who are committed to excellence both in their advertising and their service to you! they are providing our readers with a valuable public service. They share our mission to educate and inspire women and they are spending their advertising dollars to do so. Without them, we would not have a publication.

I hope that LVWJ can continue to bring people together during the next year and the years to come. our vision is to see our readers increase the encouragement that they give to the businesses that make LVWJ possible. We hope that you will call, email or visit those businesses which you will read about on the following pages.

If you enjoyed reading their articles or learning about them through an ad, please encourage them. share their information with your family and friends. Let our advertisers know that you support them during these difficult days and that you appreciate them. If we all work together, we can not only survive this difficult economy, but thrive!