Just got my first issue.

I subscribed a couple of months ago, and just got my first issue yesterday... until now, I had never picked up a single issue of RMC.

Okay... I see what you guys all mean now! It's not bad at all. I think with MRH, and RMC, I have a complete view of what I want out of my modeling!

Za big news indeed.

Kind of Sudden?

This seems to be kind of sudden . . . the December RMC says nothing about Priest leaving so far as I see.  I wonder how rapidly this all evolved.  I hope the magazine has someone in the wings capable of taking over as editor on short notice.

Jumped Conclusions

he's been involved with many manufacturers including Athearn and Walthers among others.  He may not be leaving RMC; his stint with ScaleTrains might be another gig on top of all he already does. 

Time will tell

Time will tell ... my guess is he's taking RMC and the NMRA mag production with him. That way Steve keeps doing RMC and Cynthia keeps doing the NMRA mag, and White River still owns those. Steve and Cynthia actually don't work for White River, they contract out to them. Working remote these days as a contractor is no big deal with publishing.

And its true Steve does a lot of projects for hobby manufacturers. Scale Trains benefits by having Steve available locally as their research and marketing guy -- with fingers already in RMC and the NMRA mag, there's some ready-made marketing outlets already for two of the four big general hobby magazines.

Plus, ScaleTrains is very web savvy, while White River is more into paper and ink publishing and not so much web. I would expect to see a lot more web-based promotion showing up with this move for Steve and Cynthia, backed by ScaleTrains.

I would also expect one benefit to White River to all this is more web-based marketing for their products as well. Sort of a win-win arrangement.

Facebook

Shane posted to FB today that Stephen and family are moving to Tennessee and his ST employement is full time. That’s very good for ST.

Tom

Well that answers that

Well that answers that! Agreed, ST is getting an awesome resource in Stephen. Expect Steve and maybe Cynthia to be heading up a regular ScaleTrains sponsored YT podcast, then, among other marketing moves.

What this means for RMC and the NMRA mag is anybody’s guess!

Dang it!

I JUST subscribed to RMC after seeing them on "What's Neat This Week"!

I just got my first issue two days ago!

It figures, and it's probably all my fault for liking it!

Well...

There goes another layout!  

I thought this one was going to be his "final" layout. 

Randy

@randy

I looked over Stephen Priest’s website and he is/was a busy guy. Maybe he is seeing the writing on the wall regarding print publications and the changing in advertising. Picking up and moving family to another state is IMO a huge deal, no matter what industry you are in. There is never a last layout!

TomO

True enough. I've picked up

Why?

would a model manufacturer need a full time editor? ....DaveB

Why? would a model

Have you ever seen a train car with stuff misspelled on it?

Of course you haven't... it's because the model train manufacturer has good editors!

Decent editors are important!

Stephen Priest

You're obviously not aware of all his skills and assets.

He's a superb graphics design artist and he has amassed a prototype drawings library second to none. He's also very articulate and has a charismatic presence that can be quite engaging.

Can you see why ScaleTrains may want him as their marketing and product research guy? Can  you see why a graphics design artist who also is an engaging conversationalist and very good at expressing himself might be good at marketing, especially if marketing today includes VIDEOS and good visuals?

And Stephen's digital prototype drawing library that he has built is massive. Any model railroading manufacturer would give their eye teeth for that alone!

Charismatic...

Bingo.

I had never picked up a Model Railroad Craftsman magazine in my LIFE! Never thought I would, however, after watching the What's Neat This Week where him and his wife were guests on the show, I ordered a subscription to MRC that day.

Just got my first issue two days ago, and am not disappointed... but it was just something about the guy, that I figured I'd give the publication a shot.

Any company would kill for a guy like that heading their marketing.

Let's just hope he never decides to start a religion or something...

"You're obviously not aware

  My  question was not about the quality of his editorial/marketing skills, it's why would a small company need to spend that much on a guy who is apparently not working hands on designing or manufacturing their core product? Getting stuff built is the primary task , promotion depends on having product to promote. Good product pretty much sells it's self in my experience, I've never made a decision to buy something just because a guy was a good salesman. How many hours per week or year would it take to research and promote a few toy trains anyway? Seems like publishing a monthly magazine would take more skills, more time, and be worth more? ......DaveB

Last layout?

It's always the last layout until you tear it down to build the new last layout.  I'm on my third (fourth?) last layout.

I can't comment on the business side of the hobby, but I am sure this is either a step up for Stephen or an escape from a bad situation.  Either way, I wish him good luck in his new job. 

Now if only Scale Trains would hire an S guy

Paul

@ctxmf74. there are Portable skills there.

Marketting

That’s what good marketting and sales make you think.  Good product obviously counts, but good marketting counts just as much if not more.  It pains me to admit that an an engineer with a natural predisposition to despise marketting, but it’s true.

I didn’t know about scaletrains.com before, looks like they have some decent stuff. 

...

You might as well call the Editor the CEO for these kinds of products, their view and vision makes or breaks the direction for the magazine from what gets published to who gets the boot...

Big position.

Stephen Priest

If you do a Google search of his name it shows what a talented and efficient guy he is. His company and crew seem to be what a small mfg. like Scaletrains.com would want. I am sure his sales skills are very good but I would think they went for all his talent. I can’t see him cold calling the LHS but like Joe says his catalog of prototype drawings maybe the thing. Sounds to me that Scaletrains maybe getting ready to increase their release of product and need the help. This should be interesting to watch. One of the many things Scaletrains does so well is communicate with the modelers. I am sure Shane will do more FB and email sharing and Shane doesn’t seem to shy away from telling us what the company is doing.

TomO

Also...

...sounds to me like jumping ship.

Like was pointed out: Either a substantial upward move (expensive relocation involved, so it better be substantial)... or leaping from a sinking ship.

Time will tell. Until then its speculation.

Andre

Products that sell themselves

"how a model railroading

   They make stuff we need and we buy it? Given that most things are not made in quantities large enough to satisfy modeler demand I see little reason to pay someone much to promote what's not available that I'd buy on my own if it was. Promoting a few HO scale cars seems limited in it's effect compared to furthering the greater hobby as the head of a magazine? ....DaveB