Clear Sky Publishing’s managing director and founder Chris Coward said it has allowed them to improve the business.
He said: “Simon Bax and I launched the publishing group this time last year, and decided to replace the old software system, which we had inherited from the previous publisher. Working with PCS has been easy, and we are very pleased with how smoothly the move over to their software has been. We feel we can provide an exceptional service across our print and digital platforms.
“We knew that it would be straightforward to work with the MNA and utilise their ad creation services – they are able to allow us to offer enhanced options to our advertisers. Working with PCS and MNA gives us so much scope to improve the business and already we are seeing areas where we are saving time, such as page planning and digital ad planning.”
The MNA already handles ad creation for Iliffe Media, which includes creating adverts from scratch as well as refreshing old adverts and building digital adverts. Steve Mills, ad creation manager at the MNA, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this contract with Clear Sky Publishing, which will see us working with weekly papers such as the North Devon Gazette, Mid Devon Weekly, Torbay Weekly and The Moorlander, as well as Exeter Magazine and Riviera Magazine.
“For a while now we have created advertisements for the Iliffe Media Group, which involves their sales people submitting instructions for amendments to current running ads, as well as the creation of new adverts. We are also building digital adverts for Clear Sky Publishing, which is something we have done for the last few years for both MNA and Iliffe.”
Steve said they currently handle around 1,200 ad creation instructions each week and are used to working to tight deadlines. “Monday to Wednesday is our busiest time because typically weekly titles are distributed Wednesday to Friday so advertisements have to be created and proofed ready for output in line with publishers’ print deadlines”, he said.
“We know that with ad creation we are competing against companies off-shore but they primarily work on an overnight service with a premium charge for last-minute amends on the day of print. We have a close relationship with our customers and they know we can make amendments quickly, and help them out if there are any last-minute changes at no premium cost.”
Clear Sky Publishing is utilising PCS’ content management system – Knowledge Publish, as well as its advertising production software – Knowledge Pulse. Matt Whiles, operations director at PCS, said: “We’ve previously worked with Chris Coward at Clear Sky Publishing, and he knows our software systems well. It’s great to see that his previous positive experience with our publishing software has led him to choose PCS again.
“We have been able to easily install the software, and it’s fantastic to hear that they are already saving time across their editorial and advertising teams. We look forward to continuing to work with Clear Sky Publishing – providing them with the software solutions they need to help their teams perform at their best.”
You can find out more about PCS Publishing in our Publishing Services Directory.
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