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- Editor’s
Note:
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- This
column is a regular feature in the Wayback Times in which my
husband takes interesting people out to lunch … and sends
me the bill.
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- (It's
a tough job, but someone has to do it!)
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- Send
us an e-mail if you have someone in mind for one of Peter Neilly's
interviews over lunch.
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- Peter Neilly is Out
to Lunch
- Breaking bread with
interesting people
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- Out to Lunch!
with Peter Neilly
- Regular readers of this column know how it works. I take
guests out to lunch, interview them, and send Sandy (The Warden)
the bill. It's a great deal. I get to meet very interesting people,
eat for free, and she pays for it. We purchased the Wayback Times
in 2007 and after two years of Sandy footing the bill for lunches
for myself and Wayback guests, I thought it would be a nice gesture
on my part to offer to return the favour and take her out to
lunch; my treat. BIG MISTAKE. This is going to cost me big time!
Instead of the local diner or McDonald's, Sandy has chosen the
Woodlawn Inn in Cobourg for our Out To Lunch interview. After
visiting the Cobourg Antique Market and Legacy Building Supply,
we checked into the Woodlawn Inn to enjoy a wonderful dinner,
a night's stay in a lovely suite and breakfast the next morning.
The only thing we didn't actually have was lunch. No matter.
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- Peter: Okay, I think this helps make up for the lunches
you've had to pay for over the last two years. Congratulations
on two years with the Wayback Times. This is issue #77, of course,
and that number has a special significance for us, since we met
on July 7 in 1977 (7/7/77).
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- Sandy: It does, and thanks you. It's ironic that I
was working for a publishing company when we met: Thomas Nelson.
I've come full circle, although my job description has changed
a tad. This is a very nice gesture. I was going to originally
suggest Quebec City, but deadline is too close … was that
part of the plan? The Woodlawn Inn is one of my favourite places,
so Quebec will have to wait.
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- Peter: Enquiring minds want to know. How have the
last two years as publisher, editor, CEO, accounts manager and
all round chief cook and bottle washer at the Wayback Times been?
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- Sandy: It has been a real learning curve for me, which
is a great thing especially at this time in my life. I think
we tend to back off from challenges as we get older, but they
really help you grow. (Sometimes they cause growing pains, though!)
I wasn't fully aware of the scope of things covered by a newspaper
and all things related. There are so many aspects to a business
of this nature.
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- Peter: What has the best part of running the Wayback
Times been, and what has been the worst?
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- Sandy: The best part, without a doubt, is the people
I've met. After that, it would be the new skills I've acquired.
Before I took on this job, my computer experience was limited
to editing photos for eBay (and the Wayback Times) and sending
e-mail on a PC. I have learned more about Macintosh computers
(I work with three) than I ever thought possible. The creative
aspect of the paper is something I really enjoy, unless I don't
have enough time to do something properly. The worst part would
probably be the week prior to printing deadline and trying to
deal with material that arrives late and unprepared. As well,
I'm not too keen on the bookwork, but Anita is helping me with
that, I'm very happy to say.
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- Peter: I have had several people ask me where the
company name "This is Livin' Publishing" came from.
I know you explained it in your first editorial two years ago
but for those who missed it, could you explain?
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- Sandy: It was something my mother used to say. She
was one of those rare and refreshing people who came from very
humble beginnings and really made something of herself despite
the fact that all the odds were against her. I recall her sitting
on her deck at our home in Toronto in the early 1980s. She was
battling cancer and fighting for her life. On this particular
afternoon she was feeling better than most days. She had a cold
lemonade in one hand and her feet in a kiddy pool. She looked
at me and said, "Man, this is livin'" and she meant
it. In the great scheme of our busy lives, we forget that the
simple little things bring us the most pleasure and joy. Mom
always appreciated the things that a lot of us take for granted.
Using the name "This is Livin' Publishing" is a way
to pay tribute to her. It's also a great concept for running
a business and it's intended to denote taking pleasure in my
work and optimism for the future of the business. It is a bit
tricky to answer the office phone and say "This is This
Is Livin' Publishing" however, hence I use "Wayback
Times". Much easier and it doesn't sound like I am stuttering.
It was one of those things I didn't think about until I actually
had to say it.
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- Peter:: You have managed to increase readership, circulation,
and advertising. The Wayback Times now has a combined readership
in print and online of over 125,000 per issue. You must be proud
of what you have accomplished. What's next for the Wayback Times?
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- Sandy: When I bought the WT from Jay Telfer,
he had really laid most of the groundwork for me and had done
a wonderful job. With all of the greatly talented people who
are involved with the paper, it's no doubt that it has continued
to thrive. The website success has been due almost entirely to
the efforts of John Cosway, our Webmaster who is also
a valued freelance writer for the paper. John is a semi-retired
journalist formerly of the Toronto Sun and he is a great asset.
He knows his stuff. It's also important to explore new ways to
inform and entertain our readers. There is such an abundance
of material for a paper of this nature and it is my thought that
we should address many different avenues. Antiques definitely,
but also the enormous spectrum of collectibles that are driving
the market in many areas today.
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- Peter: Do you think having experience in the antique
business as a dealer and show promoter has helped you with the
paper?
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- Sandy: Sure, I think it has helped. Advertisers expect
positive results from the paper and we do our best to promote
both dealers and the show promoters with a more perceptive understanding
of how things work. Most people have no idea of the amount of
work the promoters go through to get a show organized. And then
there are the vendors - a remarkable bunch of people. Participating
in shows is very hard work, with no guarantee that you'll make
a profit. Some of the older dealers amaze me with their energy
and positive outlook. It seems to me that people who smile the
most, sell the most. Enthusiasm is contagious.
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- Peter: Things have changed dramatically in just the
past few years in the antique business. The fact that there are
fewer American buyers because of the strength of our dollar is
just one reason. What other changes have you noticed?
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- Sandy: Because we go to many antique shows each year,
we have the opportunity to converse with many dealers. A large
number of them say they are now buying from the States, which
is quite a turnaround from prior years. . Collecting trends are
always changing, but one constant remains; quality sells. We
have also noticed an increase in the number of younger people
attending the shows in the past several months. The Christie
show especially had lots of younger people in attendance and
they were buying. That was very encouraging to see. There seems
to be a lull in the market for some dealers and shop owners right
now. This is a period of transition for almost everyone in all
walks of life while we wait to see how the economy will play
out for us. It's a process of being cautious for a little while,
but it seems that overall we're beginning to shake off the anxiety.
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- Peter: I have personally witnessed the stress factor
that overtakes you on the days prior to taking the paper in to
be printed. Last minute changes and late ads seem to take their
toll. I don't even like to open the office door that week. How
do you manage to get through it?
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- Sandy: Oh, come on, I'm not that bad, I hope. It hasn't
escaped my attention that you have now mastered frozen pizza,
which requires turning on the oven; something you never knew
how to do before. Sometimes, when things get stressful, I think
back to years ago when I had to wait for a bus in Toronto to
get to and from work and realize that I wouldn't trade it for
a minute. I look out of the office window at our rural landscape
and feel very privileged to be here. Feeding "my" birds
is a great (and expensive) hobby and I really enjoy seeing all
the different species that come to the feeders or nest in the
area. This last winter, the three deer that arrived every morning
to feed on the apples that had fallen to the snow from our trees
also had a very calming effect on me. There's always something
to enjoy when you look out the window here. It's a blessing.
Oh, and chocolate always helps.
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- Peter: Has anything, besides the huge amount of work
involved in putting out the paper, surprised you?
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- Sandy: The logistics involved and the mileage we cover
just to deliver the paper was something I didn't expect. As you
well know, we travel over 5,000 kilometers each issue just to
drop off papers at antique shops, shows and advertisers. That's
like driving to Florida and back six times each year. I really
appreciate all those people who help to distribute the papers
to the various shows - I know that you sure do, too. Many weekends
involve getting papers delivered to a few shows going on at the
same time and that would be impossible without the help of those
special dealers who lug a bundle or two with them for us. Thank
you all so much. Every now and again we can't get the papers
to a show, but it's not for lack of trying, believe me.
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- Sandy: What has surprised you the most about your
extremely tough job of taking people out to lunch?
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- Peter: I am often told by many people if I ever want
to retire from the paper they would be happy to take over my
job. The one thing that stands out in my mind about the people
I have interviewed is that being "successful," whatever
you perceive that to be, requires a real passion for what you're
doing. They love what they do and it shows - and it is almost
infectious. Spending time with positive people is very uplifting,
especially when you are paying for the lunch we are enjoying.
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- Sandy: Well, if you start getting requests to bring
future guests here, don't be surprised. This has been great.
It was a lovely gesture on your part to celebrate our first two
years with the paper. The Woodlawn Inn was a great choice for
this interview and the company was pretty good, too.
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- Peter: And to think that two years ago my first interview
was with Rene Huard of The Antique Hunter fame, and all
he requested was lunch at the local Swiss Chalet. Our next Out
to Lunch guest might have to have hot dogs on our front porch.
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- Out to Lunch Archives:
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2008
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