Tuesday, February 04, 2025

Trending Younger By Listening to Younger People

 February 4, 2025

   Getting lots of feedback off of Willow's suggestion in yesterday's post. You know, the one where she told me about the young cowboy with 2.4 million followers who teaches newbies how to cook over a campfire.

Willow II

   That prompted this email:

   "I saw your blog post yesterday about the magazine appealing to younger people. I made a comment on it this morning, but I thought I'd expand a little in this email with a few suggestions.

  1. My comment on your blog was about "bushcraft" becoming more popular with young people.  Have a short feature with photos that explains how something was done back then.  How a fire was started in a wood-fired cook stove, or out on the trail.  How cowboys out on the trail for days kept dry when it rained or snowed.  How soap or candles were made.  What people did for toothaches or common injuries when there was no dentist or doctor around.

  1. Add a section called Professions of the Old West, highlighting a different one each issue, or every other issue.  Tell what a blacksmith, barkeeper, wheelwright, telegraph operator, miner, milliner, professional gambler, or teacher did then, what their day was like, if it was a hard life, were they able to have a family, what their pay was.  Famous examples of each if there were some.

  1. Change your focus some on Collecting the West.  Right now, it's all about high end collectibles that most people will never be able to afford, let alone young people. I'm talking about adding things that are cool but can be bought for $50-$500, instead of your usual 5K to 300K price range.  Add some affordable collectibles like Western tokens, bottles or ceramic whiskey jugs with advertising, signs, mining equipment, lanterns, railroad china, Fred Harvey memorabilia.  These don't have to be auction house results, they can be things that were sold on Ebay or other sites, things that young people could find and buy for themselves. 

That's it.  That's my 6 cents!
Take care,
Lauren Kormylo

   And, Lauren's input, got this reaction, in house:

   "I love her perspective and completely agree. My circle of friends craves culture and are eager to learn traditional skills like making their own food and home goods. I sell what I call vintage western decor, and I can hardly keep it in stock. People love it not just in Texas, but across the U.S. Plus, the price point makes it accessible to a wide range of customers."  

—Jana Earp, True West Regional Account Director (and also a millennial)

   Of course, there is always that one Aussie Bastard Punk out there. . .

"The answer on how to get more people under age 70 interested, is simply, get a little hipper. The Issac/Primeval cover for the next issue will be a good start. 

James B. Mills' idea of a good cover

   "Like I've said, True West need to become 'the cool kids' again. In some ways, amigo, in recent years, True West have been that kid still listening to Def Leppard, while the cool kids are all slam-dancing to Nirvana, ha.
   "Hmm, if only True West had a Young Gun who speaks their language at their disposal...."
—James B. Mills

"Hope I die before I get old."
—The Who, "Talkin 'Bout My Generation"

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:17 PM

    You had mentioned in a blog about 10 years ago how you were toying with the idea of doing a regular feature in the mag about a Day in the West and what professions were used (ie blacksmith, cobbler, gunsmith, etc). Sounds like a good chance to do that! Mark TW Maniac 235

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ken Skinner2:20 PM

    Really !? "True West" has an employee named EARP!!

    ReplyDelete

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