WAUKESHA, Wis. — How about some good news from the
magazine-publishing industry?
Kalmbach Publishing Co. of
Waukesha, Wisconsin, is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2009 and still
going strong.
This independent, niche publisher produces the world's
best-selling magazines for model railroading (Model Railroader),
scale modeling (FineScale Modeler and Scale Auto),
beaded jewelry making (BeadStyle and Bead&Button),
astronomy (Astronomy), and railroading (Trains).
Kalmbach publishes 15 magazines and a host of
special-interest publications. Its book department produces 35 books
annually. Kalmbach maintains nearly 30 Web sites, and it produces the
world's largest jewelry making show, the annual Bead&Button Show in
Milwaukee.
Collectively, more than 1 million enthusiasts worldwide
read Kalmbach print publications, not to mention the tens of millions that
visit the company's online properties. In 2008, the company generated more
than $50 million in sales for the sixth year in a row.
Albert Carpenter Kalmbach founded A.
C. Kalmbach and Co. in 1933, one year after graduating from Marquette
University. In January 1934, Al combined his two passions of publishing and
model trains when he introduced the first issue of The Model Railroader
magazine. By July of that year, the magazine's paid circulation surpassed
1,000.
From 1943 to 1989, Kalmbach grew from two magazines —
Model Railroader and Trains (both still in publication today) — to 15
magazines.
In 1989, the company moved to its current location in
Waukesha. In the 20 years at the Waukesha location, Kalmbach has doubled its
sales, from $26 million (1989) to $54 million (2008).
Throughout its 75-year history, Kalmbach has maintained
its founder's core business philosophy: Put the customers first.
"The customer is the real boss of us all," Al once
wrote. "Not a cent can be paid out for payroll unless it comes in from the
customers, and not a one of us would have a job for long if we didn't please
the customers."
Al's commitment to extraordinary customer service was ahead of its time, and
his principles remain the foundation of the company's business practices
today.
"We're proud of the fact that customers that subscribed
to Model Railroader in the 1950s remain loyal subscribers to this day,"
Kalmbach President Gerald B. Boettcher said. "That tells us
that we're keeping true to Al's editorial and service standards."
In addition to its editorial properties, Kalmbach
produces the annual Bead&Button Show, the world's largest consumer bead
event.
About 15,000 jewelry-making enthusiasts travel to
Milwaukee's Midwest Airlines Center to attend this weeklong event that
features more than 500 classes and workshops, an international marketplace,
silent and live auctions, and a chance to mingle with the world's foremost
experts on the craft.
Kalmbach Publishing Co. plans to continue to grow by
actively monitoring trends and looking for opportunities to acquire existing
products and launch new ones.
ACS is proud to have provided software and services to
Kalmbach for almost 27 years.
