Marking Our 25 Years

By Marcia Grand -- TWICE, 8/8/2011

Twenty-five years ago Richard Ekstract, while lying on a Caribbean beach, had an “epiphany” relating to launching with me, a wellwritten, easy-to-read weekly consumer electronics publication. Given in 1986 there were 15 other CE trade publications, its understandable why most thought it was a very crazy idea.

Apparently not all that crazy, because, within 6 months of our first issue, TWICE had already become No. 1 in advertising pages, while later taking down the vast majority of other publications. Clearly my decision to listen to Richard, leave my job at Consumer Electronics Magazine and launch TWICE with him, was the second best decision I’ve ever made – marrying my husband, definitely the first.

Though much has changed within these 25 years, I’m very pleased to say, one thing has not. TWICE is still the acknowledged leader in the field by far, with over 75 percent in advertising page market share from January through June 2011.

More importantly, the magazine, The Official CES Daily produced by TWICE — and our e-products enjoy the respect, trust and praise of so many of you in the industry. In fact, in a recent study, when asked how frequently retail subscribers read their print editions of TWICE, a whopping 93 percent said regularly.

On this our 25th Anniversary, thanks so much to you our readers for your years of praise and loyalty. To our advertisers, there would be no TWICE without you – and just saying we appreciate your advertising is honestly a huge understatement. To the TWICE staff — now and throughout the years — you are TWICE. I’m honored and privileged to have worked with all of you.

These days, without a doubt, the CE industry is definitely “No Place for Sissies” (as Bette Davis said about old age). But how lucky are we all to be in the most exciting, dynamic and changeable industry on earth? Agreed, not as easy as it once was – but what is?