Woodturning Design

[Reed Gray]

It was posted over on WC that the parent company that published this magazine along with several others went bankrupt, and left Joe Herman out on a limb so to speak. Really too bad.

robo hippy

[Don Orr]

Wow-that's not good-for Joe or us. Maybe another publisher will pick it up and keep it going.

[Justin Stephen]

That's too bad. I had let my subscription lapse and had recently considered re-upping it. I guess not. :(

It's a tough time to be in the magazine business.

[John Keeton]

Unfortunately, it was predictable. The company had been struggling for some time. Quite a loss for turners, and for Joe. He has contributed a lot to the art and hopefully, he will find another outlet.

[Eric Holmquist]

Very sad development, not just for the woodturning community, and a great guy like Joe, but for all the crafts the parent company had in their portfolio.

[jared herbert]

I just renewed my subscription so I guess I am out of luck.

[Dan Hintz]

I guess those recent mailings asking $100/yr for a subscription renewal must be even more painful to some...

[Dan Hintz]

Of course, this is (part of) the editorial section on their website, directly from Joe:

I recently received an e-mail from “Alan” with some rather pointed observations and some suggestions of what he would like to see in future issues. And it got me to thinking about the direction of the magazine—a topic that we haven’t formally reviewed for quite a while.

So, with that thought, I am asking you to send some suggestions: What topics do you want us to touch on in future articles? What specific types of projects would you like to see? Our focus has always been on the beginning and intermediate turner—should that focus change? Are our regular features still worthwhile, or do we need to change direction and, if so, to what? Should we start a regular “Tips and Tricks” feature?
Seems a bit odd to ask people what they want in future issues if the magazine is going to go belly up, no?

[Malcolm Tibbetts]

Of course, this is (part of) the editorial section on their website, directly from Joe:

Seems a bit odd to ask people what they want in future issues if the magazine is going to go belly up, no?

Dan, you are assuming that Joe was aware of the pending doom. Actually, the final issue was all ready to go to print, when Joe got the news. He graciously called me with the news that my latest article was not going to see the light of day. Let's hope another publisher picks up the pieces.

[Reed Gray]

I did send an e-mail to Wood Magazine which is part of Sunset magazines and told them I thought they should make a go at this magazine. Maybe if others chimed in.....

robo hippy

[Josh Bowman]

Dan. Where I work now it's common to get "the tap" on the shoulder that you're layed off.
It has to be a shock for him and his family. I hope he is ok money wise. Something like this could ruin you. Our prayers go out to him.

[Greg Just]

I just recently renewed my subscription- guess that was a mistake. I really enjoyed the magazine.

[Dan Hintz]

Dan, you are assuming that Joe was aware of the pending doom. Actually, the final issue was all ready to go to print, when Joe got the news. He graciously called me with the news that my latest article was not going to see the light of day. Let's hope another publisher picks up the pieces.

Too true... I hope another company picks up the mag. I ordered back issues, so I have the complete set.

[Bill Blasic]

Yes Joe had no idea as issue 51 is at the printers, 52 ready and Joe was working on 53. He was fired on Friday as was everyone else at the company. I have written to Fox Chapel Publishing as I thought they would be a good match. publicity@foxchapelpublishing.com
This was a profitable magazine so if you have other ideas post them and lets get someone to take over this magazine.
Bill

[Gerald McGrantham]

It is really a shame. Woodturning Design was my favorite magazine. I just renewed last month and they cashed my check on 7/21.

They had to know that the magazine was done before they cashed my check, but still they cashed it.

No emails of explanation and nothing posted on the website. A real class act that All American Crafts!

Joe, I'm sorry you and others lost your jobs. I sincerely wish all of you the best of luck.

Gerald

[Joe Herrmann]

Thanks, I appreciate all the positive comments. There was no "Formal Announcement" on the site as we were asked not to comment but the word got out quickly and I thought I should inform folks. Even though AAC had been struggling for several years, the demise was sudden and kind of unexpected as they thought they had bought enough time to get things moving in the right direction, but that was not to be. I'm hoping that someone comes along who is willing to keep the publication going but who knows what the future will bring. In the meantime, I'll teach classes in my shop and I can always substitute teach, if necessary, to tide us over. Things will work out--as my wife is fond of saying: "one door closes and another opens." I do thank all the subscribers and feel really bad that some are left holding the bag as are some of the designers that wrote for me. My comments in the editorial quoted above ARE an indication that this came as a surprise to everyone. I would have never been involved in anything underhanded. Thanks again for all those who contributed to the success of the magazine over the years. Bless you all!!

[Dan Hintz]

My comments in the editorial quoted above ARE an indication that this came as a surprise to everyone. I would have never been involved in anything underhanded.

Joe,

Please don't misunderstand my earlier comment... I found it odd, but I made the (erroneous) assumption you knew the day-to-day runnings of the business behind the magazine. I did not realize there was a parent company playing (pulling?) the strings. Your commentary is completely understandable in that light.

[Joe Herrmann]

Not a problem Dan... I actually worked from my home in Ohio but the publisher was headquartered in NJ; I was not involved in the day-to-day politics.

[Harry Robinette]

Joe
The work you did is what made the mag. Your hours of work gave all of us a magazine we could count on for what was happening in the turning world. Thank you and hope all works out for you.
Harry

[John Terefenko]

Here's looking at you. All well and fine but i just renewed 2 years plus I also get Creative Woodworks & Crafts a scrollsawing magazine. Money down the toilet. I think from now on I am going to buy magazines off the shelf. Who is next?? With the paper age coming to an end I would be weary to buy any more magazines or even newspapers.

[Mike Peace]

Joe Herrmann, thanks for soliciting me to write my first article based on me posting some pictures here on SMC of some coffee scoops I had turned. Without that encouragement I never would have thought of writing an article for a magazine. It turns out that I enjoyed the process of developing an article and making the pictures to illustrate it. And I went on to get several more published, one in WD and most in American Woodturner.
Best wishes for the future.

[BILL DONAHUE]

I too, recently renewed but having been a financial advisor for the last 35 years, I know that things don't always work out as planned. I also want to thank Joe Herrmann for giving me the opportunity to have two articles published in Woodturning Design. I'll look forward to meeting Joe at future symposiums and hope to write again for Woodturning Design under new ownership. Thanks, Joe.

[Steve Hayes]

I was hit twice, turning and scrollsawing. Luckily I didn't have a subscription, I would just buy month to month. I had asked if they had considered going all digital. It would cut down on a bit of overhead and possibly sign on more subscribers. I've gone all digital except for those 2 magazines. Sad to lose such a fantastic publication.

Steve

[Dave Fritz]

My gosh, I just got a renewal in the mail today. Looking at the website of the publisher you wouldn't know there's a problem. Is this a bit of a scam?

Dave Fritz

[Thomas Bennett]

My gosh, I just got a renewal in the mail today. Looking at the website of the publisher you wouldn't know there's a problem. Is this a bit of a scam?

Dave Fritz

Go ahead an renew your subscription and pay for it with a check from your Nigerian bank....

[Jim Meyer]

Joe Sorry to hear the bad news. Thanks for all your hard work making WD magizine a great publication. Good luck with any future endevers. Jim

[Rick Gibson]

Sorry to hear that, it was a good magazine. I didn't subscribe but picked each issue up at my local grocery store. I was hoping they would come out with a pdf digital issue at a slightly lower cost like many of the flatwork magazines are doing. I bought many of the back issue DVD's from the other woodworking magazines and the only one I was not happy with was American Woodworker as they used flash and I could not transfer the issues to my tablet for reading in my more comfortable chairs. I'll miss WD