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In Life, change is constant. Nothing stays the same, everything grows, evolves and develops to its potential. That growth and evolution is highly dependent upon the energies of the people who have the dream to succeed.
Candy and Bill Richey have the dream, and for the past seven years have succeeded far more than they ever thought possible.
“We created the Valley Bugler when the local daily killed all of the weekly newspapers,” said Candy recently.
“Our portrait studio and photo lab needed an effective means of marketing, and the daily just didn’t cut it for us and many other small businesses. We get lost in there because we don’t have huge marketing budgets,” she said.
After looking around the area and asking local businesses what frequency of publication would be the most beneficial to them, it was unanimously selected to go monthly.
Always with a positive outlook, they thought an added twist to their publication would be to base it upon good news and community events. The old newspaper excuse of “if it bleeds, it leads” would not be a part of the Bugler. They have proven that good news does sell, and sells very well.
“We really began the Bugler to promote the Mount St. Helens Portrait Studio and photo lab,” Candy said. “But it began to have a life of its own very quickly, and now we have so many dedicated readers and advertisers that it is truly heartwarming and has always been profitable. And we will continue to publish until a new owner takes over.”
Born in a newspaper family, Candy has ink in her blood, but it is the photography that drives her soul. “Bill and I have some books we want to publish, and we cannot do that married to the newspaper,” she said.
The Richey’s goal is to sell the newspaper and move to Oklahoma, where they will be in the center of the United States, making travel to anywhere in the U.S. doable in less than two days.
“There is an added benefit. Bill is a genius and has a couple of inventions that need to be produced. I have genius uncles in Wichita, Kansas who are engineers, machinists and inventors. Bill wants to get with them to develop his inventions,” she said. “Our goal is to be in our new home in Claremore, Oklahoma before Christmas.”
There are several entities interested in buying the Bugler, but according to Candy, no money has exchanged hands yet. “We really hope it is someone who likes the concept and wants to continue it, but make changes that make it their own,” she said. “I have pushed it as far as I can, it is time for some new blood to get in here and make it grow even more.”
Currently the Bugler has two people who work to deliver it every month, the Castle Rock Senior Center members provide the mailing services, Bill who has a few customers he calls on every month as well as keeping Candy organized, and Candy who does 95 percent of the ad sales and 100 percent of the graphics. “I couldn’t do it without the help Bill gives, but a younger couple who both like ad sales as well as writing and graphics could really make the Bugler fly,“ she said.
If you are interested in becoming a newspaper publisher, and further developing the Valley Bugler to even greater success, give Candy a call at 360.751.4183.
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