PAGE Cooperative
Still Growing savings and revenue for newspapers
Over 40 years ago an invoice that accidently landed on the wrong desk, sparked an initiative to band newspapers together. That invoice was addressed to a large newspaper chain but was received by a publisher at an independent paper. When he saw the difference in pricing from the same supplier, the idea was born to form a purchasing cooperative for newspapers.
The PAGE Cooperative was established in 1984, and rapidly attracted newspapers as well as key suppliers who understood the advantage of a centralized payment organization that removed credit risk and streamlined accounts payable and receivables.
As retiring PAGE Board Member, Jeff Brown recently put it, “the PAGE model enabled the publisher to maintain the relationship with the supplier while leveraging the best prices through the Cooperative.
Gary Blakeley, who was appointed CEO in 2019, has taken steps to renew and grow PAGE with initiatives which are timely and beneficial, and all newspapers should visit PAGE to learn how they can save and benefit.
As Gary explained, “for over a decade, newspapers have been undergoing significant transformation, however the fundamental benefit of publishers banding together has not changed”.
“PAGE members meet with the common objective of controlling costs” Gary added “but they also find added benefit of sharing best practices with fellow papers and receiving end of year dividends”. Our suppliers/preferred partners, see this Win-win relationship as they gain the efficiency of marketing and selling to PAGE members while receiving guaranteed management of accounts receivable.
Gary added, “in 2022 and beyond, PAGE is focused on savings and growth. We want our members, to easily check their prices and explore solutions with us. We have placed a link on our site for this very purpose. https://pagecooperative.com/maximize-membership
We also seek to be faster and more agile. Our newsletter is digital and published quarterly, our website is monitored for member contact, and we send frequent outbound emails with vital updates and scheduled webinars from our preferred partners. He added that “we are growing with new members and preferred partners with diversified solutions which include digital advertising, Insurance advisory, IT Security and Real Estate brokerage”.
Gary concluded, “as we reach the middle of the 1st Quarter, the right time to look for savings, is all the time. Members and non-members should look to PAGE and see how they can save as well as generate revenue from their purchases.