– PUBLISHER'S NOTE – Dear Reader: 2020 will forever be a year for the history books. Whichever way you slice it, the 10 months we’ve spent so far have been, for most Americans, some of the strangest of our entire lives. Some have been at home for more continuous weeks than ever before. Some haven’t seen loved ones since spring. Social unrest, a global pandemic, and a Presidential election have dominated the headlines. I’ve even spent a considerable amount of time wondering what hobbies my neighbors have learned in the past few months. If you were to look on any social media platform, it looks a lot like sourdough starters, backyard crafting, TikTok challenges, and random woodworking projects. In reality, what I’m realizing is that we’ve all learned that we contain an allotment of durability that we weren’t aware of before. If you’re one of the people who has taken up woodworking in your spare time, you might find that like others who have come before you, there are specific types of wood that work better than others: walnut, for example: extremely strong, stable, and shock resistant. Or ash, a carpenters favorite, for its toughness and flexibility. Traits that we’ve also come to see present in so many of our friends and neighbors, and especially my fellow small business owners. We’ve had to modify our entire lives over the better part of the last year, but the challenges have only served to highlight the way many of us already approach our respective industries. With resolve, courage, and the ability to pivot at a moment’s notice to adapt to a changing market or our customer’s demand. The very definition of flexibility resounds in my ears even as I consider the impact that COVID-19 has had on my community and those around me: ‘the ability to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances or conditions’. We can’t open the doors? We’ll shop outside. We can’t serve inside? Al fresco it is. Online shop? Done. Curbside pickup? Check. Our resilience is what first made us small business owners. We peered into the market and saw that we were needed: our products, our services, our personalities and strengths. And our resilience is what will sustain us through this, and the next chapter to follow. Perhaps we’ll have some new hobbies to boast about as well. I hope you enjoy this edition and as always, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with any questions, comments or ways in which we may be of service.
Jody Robinson
jody@hbmagazine.net (714) 469-3495
DIANE SILVERSTEIN Absolutely Fabulous • Advertising Partner since 2006 Local print advertising is an essential part of our marketing strategy. After 14 years in business, I have found Jody’s publications to be the place to call home for our local print advertising. Not only is Jody very accommodating and easy to work with, she really cares about us and has become a part of our business family. Her magazine feels like our community: friendly, smart, pro-business and fun. I highly recommend Community Publications to anyone who is looking to advertise locally.
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