There have been some significant changes at the Western Wheel recently. You have probably noticed that the newspaper page is a bit shorter. Our press runs faster and more efficiently when printing at the new size. I really like the new look. The page doesn’t need to be folded in the middle so you see the entire page when the paper is on a rack or on your doorstep.
Our process for inserting the flyers into the newspaper has changed completely, from a manual inserting process to an automated process. Moving to a new inserting process has resulted in changes to our distribution system including different processes for newspaper delivery drivers and carriers.
The big change for the paper carriers was that previously the newspapers would be placed into bags as part of the manual inserting process before delivery to the carriers. Now with the automated inserting, putting the newspapers into bags before delivery to the doorstep is done by the paper carriers. This was a huge change for the carriers. There was a pay increase for this extra work and I have been very impressed by the maturity of the carriers willing to adapt.
The newspaper industry is changing and in this economy the revenue isn’t what it used to be. We can’t continue doing the same things and get different results. Changing with the times isn’t easy. Thank you very much to everyone at the Western Wheel, from the carriers to the office staff for working through the changes and continuing to provide newspapers to be proud of 52 weeks a year.
