THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509080216
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
It has been nearly a decade since the city last promoted itself via a magazine.
Now, thanks to a burst in new housing and a desire by city officials to lure new commercial and industrial businesses here, another glossy effort is underway to get out the good word about Suffolk.
About 10,000 copies of ``Discover Suffolk,'' a promotional magazine about the city, are expected to be distributed by mid-January. Funded mostly by advertising revenue and about $5,000 from the city, the magazine's creators hope it encourages prospective Suffolkians to check out the city.
Not since the ``Surprising Suffolk'' marketing campaign was created in 1984 has the city attempted to reach out via a full-color periodical.
Virginia ``Jinks'' Babey, founder and creative director of Virginia Graphic Design in Suffolk, was the catalyst behind the magazine. ``The time has come,'' she said, ``for Suffolk to produce a real good quality guide.''
The magazine will be distributed free. It is hoped to be both a bonanza for local advertisers as well as a catalyst for the city to inform new and prospective residents and businesses about the city.
Since coming to the city in January, Suffolk City Manager Myles E. Standish has long wanted Suffolk to create a new marketing campaign geared at reaching a large audience about the benefits of coming to Suffolk.
Although still on the drawing board, the creation of a new marketing strategy will begin soon. Most of the work, said Standish, will likely be developed within the city.
``This is going to be an outstanding economic development tool,'' said Standish at a Wednesday news conference announcing the magazine.
The city currently has no magazine or other resources where city information is provided. by CNB